Vijit Chao Phraya 2026: Bangkok Riverside Light Festival
On this page
Vijit Chao Phraya is Bangkok’s flagship cool-season riverside light festival: projection mapping, illuminated landmarks, lasers, and (on headline nights) drones and fireworks along both banks of the Chao Phraya. Organised through the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), it turns the river corridor into a free evening walk for residents and visitors during high season.
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.
2026 Dates: Anticipated, Not Final
| Edition | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 Nov – 13 Dec 2026 | Anticipated by TAT after the 2025 closing; full programme (drone nights, fireworks nights, site list) still pending |
| 2025 | 9 Nov – 23 Dec 2025 | Completed: theme “Light of Siam – Mother of the Land”; free nightly ~18:00–22:00 |
TAT’s December 2025 wrap-up stated that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, through TAT, anticipates Vijit Chao Phraya 2026 from 13 November to 13 December 2026. Time Out Bangkok and other local coverage echo that window. Do not treat it as locked until TAT publishes the official 2026 programme. Previous years have shifted length and highlight nights.
Re-check TAT News / official Bangkok tourism channels a few weeks before your trip if your dates sit near either edge of the window.
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, but those exact 2026 nights are not published yet. Plan a flexible evening walk first; upgrade to a cruise only when the official schedule is out.
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 confirms the calendar. The Asiatique dinner cruise sails at 8 PM along the central stretch between Wat Arun and Rama VIII Bridge. The 2026 site list is still pending, so confirm which landmarks are lit before you commit to a night.
Exact 2026 pin maps will follow the official announcement. Avoid relying on last year’s site list as gospel.
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 often falls in late November; check the events calendar so you do not double-book the same night.
- 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 News (24 Dec 2025 wrap-up anticipating 13 Nov–13 Dec 2026); public viewing free and ~18:00–22:00 drawn from the completed 2025 edition.
