Yi Peng Lantern Festival

ยี่เป็งเชียงใหม่

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Religious & SpiritualChiang Mai
Dates24–25 November 2026Confirmed listing
Duration2 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageYi Peng's defining image, thousands of paper
LanguageThaiCurrency: THB
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai

Yi Peng is a Lanna festival of lights celebrated in Chiang Mai on the full moon of the second month of the northern Thai lunar calendar, usually November, best known for mass releases of glowing khom loi sky lanterns. It runs concurrently with the national Loy Krathong festival, giving Chiang Mai simultaneous sky lanterns and floating river candles.

Yi Peng takes its name from the Lanna lunar calendar: yi means two and peng refers to a full moon day, marking the full moon of the second month in the calendar once used by the old Lan Na Kingdom that ruled northern Thailand from around the 13th to 18th centuries.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Yi Peng's defining image, thousands of paper sky lanterns rising together into the night sky above Chiang Mai, comes from a specifically Lanna Buddhist tradition rooted in the old Lan Na Kingdom and even earlier animist customs from the pre-Buddhist Haripunjaya kingdom centered on nearby Lamphun

02

The mystery stays covered

Large-scale organized mass-lantern-release events, often staged by universities or private organizers outside the city, have become globally recognizable, while within the old city, smaller individual releases, temple decorations with khom fai paper lanterns, and hanging khom pariwat lanterns that spin from candle heat create a quieter, city-wide version of the same light-based merit-making

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Yi Peng lanterns

Water and renewal

Living ritual

called khom loi

The sacred route

Living ritual

are released as an act of Buddhist merit-making believed to send away misfortune and carry wishes skyward

The local code

Living ritual

drawing on a legend in which birds circling the Buddha with torches in their beaks were promised beauty and good fortune in future lives

Tradition 5

Living ritual

temples and homes also display khom fai hanging paper lanterns in traditional Lanna shapes as part of the same light-based devotional practice

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

24–25 November 2026

Getting around

Base the route around Chiang Mai; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.

What to wear

Comfortable, modest clothing for temple visits and evening outdoor gatherings; a light jacket helps since November evenings in Chiang Mai's hill-adjacent climate can turn cool, and closed...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near Chiang Mai or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

THB

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map18.79 N, 98.99 EOpen in Google Maps

Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Nearest airportCNX — Chiang Mai
TransportBase the route around Chiang Mai; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.
Stay areaStay near Chiang Mai or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Chiang Mai via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Chiang Mai, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable, modest clothing for temple visits and evening outdoor gatherings; a light jacket helps since November evenings in Chiang Mai's hill-adjacent climate can turn cool, and closed shoes suit uneven ground at outdoor release sites.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Thailand and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Yi Peng Lantern Festival?

Yi Peng Lantern Festival is listed for 24–25 November 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Yi Peng Lantern Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

2 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLyipengchiangmailanternfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates24–25 November 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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