Loi Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November, the night of the full moon, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has published a national calendar of events running from 15 to 29 November. Explera DMC Thailand sets out the confirmed dates, where to send clients and what agents still need to book with less than three weeks to go.
Explera handles ground arrangements as a Thailand DMC for travel agents. Its Thai company, Explera DMC Co., Ltd., holds TAT licence 14/05119, the Tourism Business Licence issued by the Department of Tourism, and the group is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and a member of ASTA (900408341). Write to b2b@explera.co.th.
What dates has TAT confirmed for Loi Krathong 2026?
TAT's calendar, published on 5 November, lists more than twenty Loi Krathong events across Thailand, and 24 November is the main night almost everywhere. Sukhothai Historical Park holds its Loi Krathong, Candlelight and Fireworks Festival from 15 to 24 November. In Chiang Mai, the CAD KhomLoi Sky Lanterns Festival is listed for 24 and 25 November at Mae On, outside the city.
Phuket's Loi Krathong by the Sea at Saphan Hin runs from 16 to 25 November, and Tak's festival of 1,000 floating krathong runs from 21 to 24 November. Loi Krathong is not a public holiday, so offices and banks open as usual.
What is happening in Bangkok?
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has named five riverside and canal sites under the theme of Rattanakosin's waterways: Rama VIII Bridge from 16 to 25 November, Phra Sumen Fort and Mahakan Fort from 23 to 25 November, and two sites on Khlong Prem Prachakorn. The official opening is at Mahakan Fort at 6pm on 24 November, and a heritage route linking Wat Saket, Wat Ratchanatdaram, Wat Thepthidaram and Mahakan Fort runs from 17 to 29 November. Reports differ slightly on some opening dates, so reconfirm before printing them. For clients who want the river, a Chao Phraya dinner cruise on 24 November is the simplest option, and a Thailand DMC can hold the seats. Our Bangkok destination guide covers the riverside hotels.
Why Sukhothai, and what about Chiang Mai?
Sukhothai has the longest programme in TAT's calendar, ten nights inside the historical park, and it is the place most associated with the festival's origins. Rooms close to the park are limited, so book the night of 24 November first and consider earlier nights in the festival if that date is full. Our Sukhothai destination guide has the background for client briefings.
Chiang Mai is covered in detail elsewhere: our Yi Peng 2026 guide for agents sets out the venues, the lantern rules and the flight changes, and our guide to selling Yi Peng explains the festival itself. The Chiang Mai destination guide covers where to stay.
What rules apply to krathong and sky lanterns?
Sky lanterns are a Chiang Mai tradition, not part of Loi Krathong everywhere. Chiang Mai province issues an announcement each year that limits releases to permitted places and times, because lanterns are a risk to aircraft and buildings. We have not yet seen the 2026 announcement in an official source, so treat dates in ticket listings as provisional and reconfirm them before final payment.
For krathong, organisers ask people to choose natural materials such as banana stem and leaves rather than foam; Bangkok encourages this at Mahakan Fort. Brief clients to buy a natural krathong, to follow the staff at each pier, and never to release a lantern on their own.
What should agents book now?
With less than three weeks to go, start with what runs out: hotel rooms for the night of 24 November in Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and on the Bangkok riverside, seats on river cruises, and tickets for any ticketed lantern venue. Airlines often retime evening flights into Chiang Mai on lantern nights, so check the final schedule after booking.
Our hotel bookings team can hold rooms, and our tours and activities team can add a guided evening at a festival site. For a group, one Thailand DMC handling hotels, transfers and the evening keeps everything on one booking, quoted as one package price. The full range is on our Thailand DMC services page.
Next steps
Send your dates, destinations and group size through our contact page. The trade desk replies within 24 hours and will tell you what is still open for 24 November.
Sources
- TAT Newsroom: Loi Krathong 2026 lights up Thailand's rivers and historic cities
- Nation Thailand: Bangkok prepares Loy Krathong celebrations at five sites
- Nation Thailand: Bangkok plans Loy Krathong at 5 sites from November 17
Frequently asked questions
When is Loi Krathong 2026?
Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. TAT lists events from 15 to 29 November, and most main nights fall on 23 and 24 November.
Is Loi Krathong a public holiday in Thailand?
No. Offices, banks and shops open as usual, but roads near festival sites are busy in the evening, so allow extra time for transfers.
Can clients release sky lanterns in Chiang Mai?
Only where and when the province allows, which in practice means ticketed venues outside the city on the permitted nights. Check the 2026 provincial announcement before travel.
Is it too late to book Loi Krathong 2026?
Not for most places, but rooms near the main sites and river cruise seats for 24 November go first. Send your request now and keep an alternative night or location in mind.
