Chiang Mai Lantern Festival 2026: Yi Peng Tickets Left

Every November, thousands of paper lanterns rise above Chiang Mai in near-perfect unison, drifting upward like a slow-motion constellation being born. Yi Peng is the Chiang Mai lantern festival you’ve seen on Instagram: Thailand’s most photogenic festival, and possibly its most spiritual. The 2026 edition falls on 24–25 November, coinciding with Loy Krathong, the nationwide water lantern festival.

But here’s what most guides won’t tell you: the iconic mass lantern release you’ve seen on Instagram isn’t free, it isn’t in the city centre, and the biggest event has already sold out for 2026. This guide breaks down exactly where to go, what each event costs, and how to experience Yi Peng without blowing your budget, or missing the magic.

Quick answer: which lantern ticket? For 2026, CAD Khomloy (the biggest release) is sold out. The other giant is Sky of Wishes at Mungmana Farm, where the organiser expects more than 30,000 guests, from 3,900 THB on either night. The cheapest are Chiangmai Wonderland (1,590 THB, but you get there yourself) and Horizon Village (about 2,400 THB). For a more cultural evening across both nights, book Yee Peng Lanna International (about 6,000 THB). Or skip tickets: the temple and moat celebrations are free. All ten events with tickets on sale are compared below.

Book the room before the ticket. Chiang Mai hotels fill up for Yi Peng weekend, and every ticketed release starts from a pickup point in town, so you need a bed there either way. These open on 24–26 November, covering both festival nights: Baan Klang Wiang Hotel by Chiang Mai Gate, Aksara Heritage on the Old City’s temple street, or Cross Chiang Mai Riverside on the Ping River for krathong night. More picks and a live price map in Where to Stay.

What Is Yi Peng? Chiang Mai’s Lantern Festival Explained

Yi Peng is a Lanna Buddhist festival celebrated primarily in northern Thailand, centred on Chiang Mai. The name translates roughly to “second full moon”, referring to the second month of the Lanna calendar, which falls in November on the Western calendar. During Yi Peng, participants release khom loi (sky lanterns) into the night sky as offerings to the Buddha, symbolically letting go of misfortune and making wishes for the year ahead.

The tradition dates back centuries to the Lanna Kingdom, which ruled northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. Unlike Loy Krathong, where floating krathongs are released onto water, Yi Peng sends offerings skyward. Both festivals happen simultaneously, which means Chiang Mai gets a double celebration: lanterns floating up and krathongs floating down.

A single khom loi is a rice paper cylinder stretched over a bamboo frame with a fuel cell at the base. Light the cell, wait 30 seconds for hot air to fill the lantern, then release. Watching several thousand rise at once, flickering against a dark sky like embers from an enormous fire, is genuinely one of those travel moments that lives up to the hype.

Yi Peng vs Loy Krathong: What’s the Difference?

Visitors often confuse the two because they overlap. Here’s the quick distinction:

In Chiang Mai, you’ll experience both on the same evenings. Locals release krathongs into the Ping River and the Old City moat while khom loi float overhead. It’s the combination that makes November in Chiang Mai so extraordinary.

Where to Experience Yi Peng

Free mass lantern releases are banned in and around Chiang Mai city during the festival because stray lanterns endanger aircraft: the 2025 no-release zone covered all of Mueang Chiang Mai and Hang Dong districts plus parts of four neighbouring districts. That doesn’t mean you can’t see lanterns. It just means the biggest, most photogenic mass releases happen at licensed, ticketed venues outside the city.

You have two categories of experience: paid organised events (mass releases) and free public celebrations (temples, moat, river).

Paid Organised Events (Mass Lantern Releases)

These are the events that produce the famous photos: thousands of lanterns released together in a coordinated ceremony. Most include return transport from a pickup point in Chiang Mai, dinner, lanterns and a krathong. Wonderland is the exception: no transport, but a 300 THB food coupon instead.

Every event below had 2026 tickets on sale when we checked on 9 October 2026, cheapest first. Prices are the lowest tier per person. Klook prices are converted from the US dollar price Klook shows, so treat them as approximate. To see how far each venue is from the Old City, use the map of the venues at the end of this guide.

Our pick: with CAD sold out, Sky of Wishes is the one for the full mass-release spectacle. Horizon Village is the best value with transport included, and Wonderland is the cheapest if you can arrange your own ride. Choose Yee Peng Lanna International for a more spiritual evening.

Other events on the list. Chiang Mai Tourist Police have circulated a list of 13 lantern-release events for 2026. Five of them had no ticket page we could find on 9 October: CNX Miracle Land (Mae Taeng), Chiang Mai Authentic Sky Lanterns (Mae On), MCM Lanna Culture Sky Lantern Festival & Muay Thai (Wat Ban Pong, Mae Taeng), The Zentric of Lanna Legacy (Mae On) and Amazing Lanna Sky Lanterns (Chiang Mai Art Museum, venue still to be confirmed). The list isn’t complete either: Horizon Village isn’t on it. Being on the list doesn’t confirm a release permit, so check with the organiser before you book anything not in the table above.

Free Public Celebrations

You don’t need a ticket to feel the magic of Yi Peng. The Old City comes alive on festival nights:

• Wat Phan Tao: The most photogenic temple during Yi Peng. Hundreds of paper lanterns and candles line the grounds. Monks chant while reflected candlelight shimmers in the pond. Free entry, but arrive before sunset to claim a spot.
• Tha Phae Gate: The heart of the city’s celebrations. Street performances, food stalls, and a general party atmosphere. This is where locals and tourists mingle most naturally.
• The Old City Moat: Walk along the moat to see krathongs floating on the water, illuminated by candlelight. Vendors sell krathongs for 20-100 THB so you can join in.
• Ping River (Nawarat Bridge area): The main krathong-releasing spot. Crowded but atmospheric. Food carts line both banks.
• Wat Chedi Luang: Another gorgeous temple with candlelit ceremonies. Less crowded than Wat Phan Tao but equally beautiful.

Between the temple ceremonies, the moat, the river, and the street celebrations, you can easily fill two full evenings without buying a single ticket.

Hanging lanterns (khom khwaen) at Tha Phae Gate, the heart of Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng celebrations. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Yi Peng Schedule

The festival spans two main evenings, though the city’s festive mood starts days earlier.

November 24 (Evening 1)

• Temple ceremonies begin at sunset (~17:30)
• Ticketed lantern releases (all outside the city): shuttles leave from mid-afternoon and events run into the evening. CAD Khomloy runs 15:00–21:00 from the CMECC and MAYA mall pickup points; check your own ticket for times
• Tha Phae Gate celebrations and street food from late afternoon
• Krathong floating on the Ping River and moat

November 25 (Evening 2)

• Check the venue programme for the lantern release or temple event you plan to attend
• Second night of CAD Khomloy and other organised events
• Wat Phan Tao candlelit ceremony (the most photographed moment)
• Old City moat and river celebrations reach maximum intensity
• Fireworks in some locations

Important: Do not release sky lanterns in Chiang Mai during the festival. Unlicensed releases are banned across the city and surrounding districts, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 THB, because stray lanterns endanger aircraft. All legal mass releases happen at licensed venues. For help with anything during the festival, call the Tourist Police on 1155.

How to Get Tickets

Tickets for the big organised events go on sale around a year ahead, and the largest sell out first:

• CAD Khomloy: sold out for 2026 on the official site, yipenglanternfestival.in.th. Its six tiers ran from Standard (4,900 THB) to Elite (15,900 THB). Watch the site for the 2027 on-sale date
• Yee Peng Lanna International: sold through Klook, covering both nights at Thudongkasathan Lanna
• Sky of Wishes: sold only through Ticketmelon, with separate pages for 24 and 25 November. Four tiers: Standard 3,900, VIP 5,900, Premium 7,900 and Elite 14,900 THB
• Another night of lanterns: the Lanna Lantern Festival at Lanna Cultural Village, on the Lamphun side of Chiang Mai, also books through Klook
• Be wary of resale. Resale listings for CAD on GetYourGuide and Viator have run at two to three times the 4,900 THB face price. If CAD still appears for sale now, it is resale

Standard CAD-style tickets include a round-trip shuttle from a set pickup point (not your hotel), a Thai Lanna dinner buffet, two sky lanterns, one krathong, and cultural performances. Higher tiers add better seats, front-row seating at Premium and an exclusive waiting area at Elite. Check what your own event includes before you book.

Budget tip: If even 1,590 THB feels steep, skip the organised events entirely. The free temple and moat celebrations are genuinely magical. You’ll still see scattered lanterns in the sky from the private venues, plus the full Loy Krathong water festival. Many repeat visitors prefer the free experience.

What to Wear

Yi Peng is a Buddhist festival, and respectful dress matters, especially at temple events. Shoulders and knees should be covered. White clothing is traditional (symbolising purity), though not required. Many Thai attendees wear white; you’ll feel more part of the ceremony than a spectator if you do the same.

For organised events like CAD, the dress code is more relaxed: smart casual works fine. Comfortable shoes are essential regardless; you’ll be standing and walking on uneven ground for hours. November nights in Chiang Mai drop to 18-22°C, so bring a light layer.

Getting to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hour, from 1,200 THB one-way on AirAsia or Nok Air), plus international connections from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and several Chinese cities. Most visitors stay a few extra days. Our guide to things to do in Chiang Mai covers what to fill them with.

Alternatives from Bangkok:

• Train: about 12.5 hours on the overnight Special Express sleeper. First-class berths cost around 1,450–1,650 THB. It’s a classic Thai experience.
• Bus: 9-10 hours from Bangkok’s Mo Chit bus terminal. VIP buses from 500 THB.
• Drive: ~680 km via Highway 1. Roughly 8 hours with stops.

Book flights early: November is peak tourist season in northern Thailand, and Yi Peng weekend sees the highest demand of the year. Prices can triple if you wait until October.

Where to Stay

Accommodation in Chiang Mai books up fast for Yi Peng weekend. The Old City and Nimmanhaemin (Nimman) areas are the most convenient bases.

Best Areas for Yi Peng

• Old City (within the moat): Walk to Wat Phan Tao, Wat Chedi Luang, and the moat celebrations. This is the festival’s beating heart.
• Riverside (Charoen Rat area): Close to the Ping River krathong events and Nawarat Bridge. Good mix of boutique hotels.
• Nimmanhaemin: Chiang Mai’s hipster district. More modern hotels and restaurants, 10 minutes by songthaew to the Old City.

Expect to pay 50-100% more than usual for Yi Peng weekend. A standard Old City guesthouse that’s normally 800 THB/night might run 1,500 THB. Mid-range hotels go for 2,500-4,000 THB. Book at least 2 months ahead for any decent options.

Hotels We Like for Yi Peng

Each name opens Booking.com for 24–26 November, both festival nights.

• Baan Klang Wiang Hotel: a 4-star hotel on Ratchamanka Soi 6 by Chiang Mai Gate, inside the walls and a short walk from Wat Phan Tao and Wat Chedi Luang. It has parking, which matters when the Old City streets close up. Our review.
• Aksara Heritage: a 4-star heritage hotel on Ratchadamnoen Road, the Old City’s main temple street, with kitchens in the rooms. Our review.
• Cross Chiang Mai Riverside: a 5-star resort on the east bank of the Ping River, for krathong night by the water. Our review.
• 137 Pillars House: a 5-star colonial-era suite hotel in quiet Wat Ket, 10 minutes from the Old City. Our review.

Compare live prices: the hotel map below shows real availability around the festival dates, or start from our Chiang Mai guide to pick an area first.

Photography Tips

Yi Peng is absurdly photogenic, but the conditions are tricky: low light, moving subjects, massive dynamic range between dark sky and bright lantern flames.

• Gear: A fast lens (f/1.8 or wider) makes a huge difference. Phone cameras struggle with the low light. Latest-gen iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S-series handle it reasonably well in night mode.
• Settings: ISO 1600-3200, aperture wide open, shutter speed 1/60-1/125. Use burst mode during the mass release.
• Tripod: Essential for long exposures of the moat reflections. Most organised events don’t allow tripods, but temples and the moat are fair game.
• Position: At Wat Phan Tao, arrive 90 minutes early to claim a spot near the pond. The reflection of candles and lanterns in the water is the money shot.
• Video: The mass release is actually more impressive on video than in photos: the motion of thousands of lanterns rising is what makes it extraordinary.

Practical Tips

• Transport: Grab and Bolt work in Chiang Mai. Surge pricing is extreme during Yi Peng. Pre-book or use songthaews (red trucks, 30-40 THB per person around the city).
• Cash: Many street vendors and krathong sellers are cash-only. ATMs are everywhere, but carry 1,000-2,000 THB in small bills.
• Crowds: The Old City gets packed. Use the moat’s quieter western and southern stretches if you want atmosphere without the crush.
• Food: Street food stalls set up along Tha Phae Road and around the moat. Khao soi (Chiang Mai’s signature curry noodle soup) is a must. Khao Soi Khun Yai, near the Old City, is the local favourite for lunch; it closes long before the evening celebrations.
• Combine with day trips: If you’re spending a few days in Chiang Mai around Yi Peng, the Doi Suthep temple, Bua Tong sticky waterfalls, and the Chiang Mai night bazaar are all worthwhile between festival evenings.
• Weather: November is dry season in Chiang Mai: expect clear skies, low humidity, and temperatures of 18-30°C. Perfect festival weather.

The Eco Debate: Are Sky Lanterns Harmful?

It’s a fair question. Thousands of paper lanterns dropping into agricultural land, forests, or waterways isn’t ideal. Some facts to consider:

• Chiang Mai’s lantern ban is partly environmental, though aviation safety is the bigger driver
• Licensed events like CAD now use “eco-friendly” lanterns with biodegradable materials and shorter fuel cells that extinguish before landing
• Many events organise post-festival cleanup crews
• Traditional krathongs made from bread or banana leaf are fully biodegradable; avoid the styrofoam versions sold by some vendors

If environmental impact concerns you, attending a licensed event with eco-lanterns is better than buying street lanterns of unknown composition. Or skip the lanterns entirely and focus on the candlelit temple ceremonies and krathong floating, equally beautiful, zero debris.

Plan Your Yi Peng Trip

Yi Peng is worth the trip. Whether you splash out on a CAD ticket or simply wander Chiang Mai’s Old City with a 20-baht krathong in hand, the combination of candlelight, lanterns, and centuries of Buddhist tradition makes for a memorable evening. November is also Chiang Mai’s best month weather-wise: cool, dry, and clear.

Pair it with a few extra days to explore Chiang Mai’s temples, night markets, and mountain scenery. Check our Thailand Events Calendar for what else is happening during your visit, or browse our guide to Thai festivals if you’re planning around other events like Songkran.