Vijit Chao Phraya 2026: Dates, Schedule & Where to Watch
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Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 runs for 31 nights, from 13 November to 13 December 2026, at 13 sites on both banks of the Chao Phraya between Rama III Bridge and Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) programme brings light-and-sound shows, projection mapping, drone formations, fireworks and cultural performances to the river, and past editions were free to watch from public promenades, piers and boats.
It is not a ticketed arena show. You wander, cross by boat, stop for dinner, and watch installations from public space, then leave when you are done.
Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 schedule
What TAT has confirmed for the fifth edition, themed “Light of Imagination”:
- Dates: every night from Friday 13 November to Sunday 13 December 2026 (31 nights)
- Where: 13 locations on both banks, between Rama III Bridge and Rama VIII Bridge
- What: light-and-sound shows, projection mapping, drone formations, fireworks and cultural performances
Reported schedule (PPTV and TrueID, checked 10 November 2026): lights nightly 18:00–22:00. Fireworks from about 20:45 at Memorial Bridge on Saturdays and Sundays (14–15, 21–22, 28–29 November, 5–6 and 12–13 December) and at Krung Thep Bridge on Fridays (20 and 27 November, 4 and 11 December). No fireworks or drone shows on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. The two reports disagree on which nights have drone shows, so we don’t list them. The organisers post each night’s programme on the Vijit Chao Phraya Facebook page.
| Confirmed 2026 site | Bank or crossing |
|---|---|
| Rama VIII Bridge | Bridge across the river |
| Wat Arun | Thonburi bank |
| Wichai Prasit Fort | Thonburi bank |
| Memorial Bridge (Phra Phutthayotfa) | Bridge across the river |
| Phra Pok Klao Bridge | Bridge across the river |
| Krung Thep Bridge | Bridge across the river |
A full list and map of all 13 sites has not been published. Check TAT News or official Bangkok tourism channels for the nightly schedule before you book a cruise for a specific night.
Past edition, for context only: 2025 ran 9 November to 23 December 2025 under the theme “Light of Siam: Mother of the Land”, free, nightly from about 18:00 to 22:00 across 15 locations. The 2026 run is shorter and its times may differ.
Is It Free?
Yes for public viewing. The 2025 edition presented programmes free of charge nightly from 18:00 to 22:00 across curated riverside locations. Expect the same model unless TAT announces otherwise.
Paid options people add on purpose:
- Chao Phraya dinner cruises (operator prices vary; book refundable if dates might move)
- Riverside restaurant tables with a view
- Hotel rooftops facing the river
Those are optional experiences, not festival admission.
What It Looks Like
Recent editions lit temples, bridges, historic sites, and contemporary riverside landmarks with projection mapping, lasers, and themed light installations. In 2025, TAT described 15 curated locations on both banks over a 45-night run, drawing more than 1.7 million visits by the authority’s initial assessment.
Headline nights (drones, fireworks) are the ones that sell out cruise decks first. Fireworks are reported on Friday and weekend nights; drone nights are not settled between reports. Plan a flexible evening walk first, and book a cruise for a Friday, Saturday or Sunday if fireworks matter to you.
Best Ways to See It
Walk the promenades. Start from a central pier or riverside park and follow lit stretches on foot. Crowds thicken on weekends and after 19:00.
Cross the river. A short ferry hop changes the viewing angle and lets you cover both banks in one night.
Boat without a full dinner cruise. Ordinary Chao Phraya passenger boats still give river-level views if you time a hop during lighting hours.
Dinner cruise. Best when you already know which night has drones or fireworks. Prefer operators with free date changes until TAT publishes the nightly schedule. The Asiatique dinner cruise sails at 8 PM along the central stretch between Wat Arun and Rama VIII Bridge. The full 2026 site list is still pending, so confirm which landmarks are lit before you commit to a night.
TAT has named the main 2026 sites (see the schedule above), but a full map of all 13 locations has not been published yet. Avoid relying on last year’s site list.
Practical Tips for Travellers
- Go after dark, leave before the last BTS/MRT crunch if you are far from the river, or stay riverside and walk back.
- Weeknights are calmer than Friday–Sunday in November–December high season.
- Bring a light layer: Bangkok evenings in November–December can feel cool after heat and humidity all day.
- Combine with other November events: Loy Krathong falls on 24 November 2026, inside the Vijit run, so expect bigger riverside crowds that night; check the events calendar for the rest of the season.
- Banks and government offices still follow the normal public holiday calendar (e.g. Father’s Day 5 Dec, Constitution Day 10 Dec) even while the lights run.
Getting There
Use BTS/MRT + a short walk or tuk-tuk/Grab to the nearest pier for your chosen bank. River boats (Chao Phraya Express and tourist boats) connect many central stops. If you are staying in Silom, Sathorn, Riverside, or Rattanakosin, you can often walk to a viewing stretch without a long transfer.
Browse Bangkok stay areas if you want a hotel within walking distance of the river for the festival weeks.
Related Guides
- Bangkok visit guide
- New Year’s Eve in Bangkok: late December countdown after Vijit wraps
- Loy Krathong: floating krathongs on the same river system
- Thailand festivals overview
- Events calendar
Sources for dates: TAT announcement reported by Nation Thailand and Thansettakij (22 October 2026) confirming 13 November to 13 December 2026; public viewing free and ~18:00–22:00 drawn from the completed 2025 edition.
