In short
- National Loi Krathong programme: 15–29 November 2026, according to TAT.
- Full-moon night: Tuesday 24 November 2026.
- TAT names Sukhothai, Chiang Mai (Yi Peng lanterns), Tak and Phuket among the regional celebrations.
- Events also take place in Bangkok and across Thailand's five regions.
What to do
- 1Check the TAT programme before fixing your dates, and treat Tuesday 24 November as the fixed point.
- 2Book transport and accommodation for the nights around 24 November before the rest of the trip.
- 3Decide which celebration you want to attend before booking internal transport.
- 4Re-check times and riverside locations with local organisers close to the date.
What has changed since October?
Our 16 October story had the full-moon date, Tuesday 24 November, and a list of Bangkok viewpoints; the national programme was still unconfirmed. TAT has now published it: Loi Krathong 2026 runs from 15 to 29 November, with the full moon on Tuesday 24 November. The full-moon date itself is unchanged.
The second change is geographic. TAT names four regional celebrations alongside the Bangkok events: Sukhothai's historic festival, Chiang Mai's Yi Peng lanterns, Tak's processions and Phuket's seaside celebrations. It also describes riverside ceremonies and illuminated heritage sites in Bangkok and across the country's five regions.
Where are the main celebrations?
The programme is national rather than a single festival in one city. If you are choosing a base, these are the celebrations TAT lists:
- Sukhothai: the historic festival.
- Chiang Mai: Yi Peng lanterns.
- Tak: processions.
- Phuket: seaside celebrations.
- Bangkok and the five regions: riverside ceremonies and illuminated heritage sites.
Our Loy Krathong guide sets out what happens at each of these celebrations and how the evening is organised, from Sukhothai to Phuket.
What does this mean for your dates?
The window runs two weeks, so 24 November is not the only date that matters. If the full moon itself is the reason for the trip, that evening is fixed; if you mainly want to see krathongs on the water, the days either side of it fall inside the national programme. The TAT programme lists dates and places; admission arrangements are set by local organisers, so check before you travel.
Travel inside Thailand that week needs booking ahead: Bangkok to Chiang Mai covers train, bus and flight options and a Sukhothai stopover, while Bangkok to Phuket compares flight, bus and train via Surat Thani. When to go gives November weather region by region.
The full-moon date is the focal point on 24 November; the two-week programme gives other dates if you need more flexibility.
Travelling soon? Plan around it
Build a day-by-day Thailand route that keeps flexible days where the weather and transport are uncertain.
FAQ
Questions
Is the full moon still on 24 November?
Yes. TAT gives Tuesday 24 November 2026 as the full-moon date of Loi Krathong.
Does the programme cover only Bangkok?
No. TAT describes celebrations in Bangkok and in the country's five regions, naming Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Tak and Phuket.
Are the 15–29 November dates confirmed?
TAT has published the national programme for that window. Individual events keep their own schedules, which local organisers confirm.
Sources
- TAT Newsroom · Loi Krathong 2026 lights up Thailand’s rivers and historic cities · Nov 5, 2026Official
We cross-check each story against official pages and several media, and rewrite it in our own words for travellers.
