Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November, the full moon night of the twelfth month in the Thai lunar calendar. Chiang Mai holds its own lantern festival, Yi Peng, around the same dates. Indian travellers can currently enter Thailand visa free for a limited stay under a scheme revised in September 2026, and can fly direct to Bangkok before connecting onward to Chiang Mai.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Loy Krathong is one of Thailand’s most photographed nights, and if you are timing a trip from India around it, a few practical details, the exact date, the visa rules, and how flights and lanterns interact, matter more than the festival lore itself.
When exactly is Loy Krathong 2026?
The festival falls on the full moon of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, which lands on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Because the Thai lunar calendar does not line up exactly with the Gregorian calendar, the Gregorian date shifts from year to year, which is why you will see slightly different dates mentioned for past and future editions of the festival. Celebrations are concentrated into a single evening, typically from around 6 pm to 10 pm, when people float small decorated krathongs, made from banana leaves, flowers and a candle, on rivers, canals and ponds across Thailand as an offering of thanks and a symbolic letting go of misfortune from the past year.
What is Yi Peng, and is it the same thing?
Yi Peng is a separate, northern Thai lantern festival centred on Chiang Mai, held around the same full moon as Loy Krathong, so the two celebrations overlap on the calendar in 2026. Where Loy Krathong is about floating offerings on water nationwide, Yi Peng is best known for sky lanterns released into the air, and Chiang Mai sees both traditions side by side during the same days.
What are the current Thailand entry rules for Indians?
Thailand revised its visa exemption scheme for Indian passport holders with effect from 15 September 2026, reducing the visa free tourist stay from 60 to 30 days. This is a recent change, so if you read an older travel guide quoting a 60 day stay, treat that as outdated rather than current. Before travelling, confirm the latest position with the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate, since entry conditions can change, and have a return ticket, proof of accommodation and a passport valid for at least six months ready at immigration. Thailand also asks arriving travellers to complete a digital arrival card shortly before landing, so fill that in during your layover or just before your flight rather than leaving it for the immigration queue.
How do I fly to Bangkok or Chiang Mai from India?
Several Indian cities have direct flights to Bangkok, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, operated by carriers such as IndiGo, Air India and Thai Airways. There are no direct flights from India to Chiang Mai, so the usual route is a direct flight into Bangkok followed by a short domestic connection, which takes a little over an hour.
Anything to know about lantern safety around the festival?
Chiang Mai enforces a designated aviation safety zone around its airport during Yi Peng, and sky lantern releases are restricted or banned within that zone to protect aircraft. Because of this, some flights into and out of Chiang Mai around the festival dates get rescheduled or cancelled each year, so if you are flying through Chiang Mai in that window, check your flight status in the days beforehand rather than assuming normal operations. If you want to release a lantern yourself rather than just watch, look for an organised, ticketed Yi Peng event outside the restricted zone, since these are set up specifically to let visitors take part safely and legally rather than improvising a release near the airport or a built-up area.
Common Questions
Is Loy Krathong a public holiday in Thailand?
It is a widely observed cultural festival rather than a nationwide statutory public holiday, though many events and markets run around it.
Where is the best place to experience Loy Krathong?
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya are all popular, each with a different scale and style of riverside celebration, so the right choice depends on whether you want a big-city atmosphere or a smaller, more traditional setting.
Do I need a visa in advance, or is it visa free for Indians?
As of the current 2026 rules, eligible Indian tourist visits can enter visa free for a limited stay, but policies have changed before and can change again, so check the latest rule for your travel dates rather than relying on an earlier year’s information.
Can tourists release sky lanterns during Yi Peng?
Organised ticketed lantern release events exist for visitors, but freely releasing lanterns, especially near the Chiang Mai airport safety zone, is restricted and enforced, so stick to permitted, organised events.
Is Loy Krathong celebrated only in Thailand?
Similar lantern and water festivals exist in neighbouring countries, but Loy Krathong as described here refers specifically to the Thai tradition and its dates.
What should I pack for a Loy Krathong trip?
Light, breathable clothing for the day, something to cover up for temple visits, and comfortable footwear for walking along crowded riverside areas in the evening, since riverside paths can get busy and uneven after dark. If you are visiting as a first-time traveller to Thailand, note that the festival also means higher demand for flights and hotel rooms around the dates, so book earlier than you would for an ordinary week.
Planning a Loy Krathong trip? Search and compare flights to Bangkok on HappyFares, set a price alert for your travel window, and ask Meera, our AI assistant, about connecting options to Chiang Mai.
Festival dates, visa rules and flight schedules change. Verify current specifics with the Royal Thai Embassy, the airline, or Chiang Mai airport before you travel.
