[image]
[title]Want to see a lantern festival straight out of Tangled and live out your real-life Disney dreams? Every November, Chiang Mai’s skies light up with thousands of glowing lanterns as locals and visitors gather to release them as an offering of light, carrying prayers and wishes up to whoever’s calling the shots in the heavens, while symbolically letting go of bad luck and misfortune. Known as Yi Peng, this centuries-old Lanna tradition takes place on the full moon of the second month of the traditional northern Thai lunar calendar, falling on November 24-25 this year.
If you've had that dreamy, lantern-filled scene saved on Instagram forever but dread the planning, we've done the hard part for you. Here's everything you need to know before heading to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng, from getting there to the best events to catch this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
Where the magic happens and how to get there
The festival's iconic mass lantern releases take place at designated venues in the outskirts of Chiang Mai as it is prohibited in the city centre due to aviation safety risks.
Fly up for the quickest journey
Flights from Bangkok take roughly one hour and 15 minutes. The tricky part is securing one at a sensible price: Yi Peng is a busy travel period, so book as early as you can. With this year’s festival close, check remaining flights before committing to an event ticket. Some services have already been cancelled or moved around lantern-release windows, so don’t ignore those airline notifications.
Take the longest but also most scenic route by train
An overnight sleeper train from Bangkok waking up to Chiang Mai's lush green landscapes? Sounds picture-perfect and like an adventure worth adding to the bucket list. But, as with every adventure, there's a little fine print. The journey takes around 10-13 hours, and if you miss out on reserving a sleeper berth, your office syndrome might just flare up. There are also cheaper seating options with fans instead of air-conditioning, but hey, a little sweat never killed anybody and can be part of the adventure.
Go by bus for the most budget-friendly (and the last-minute spontaneous travellers)
Buses run regularly between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with the journey taking around 9-11 hours. Prices average B500-B1,200, depending on how much comfort you're willing to pay for (your back will thank you for the upgrade). It's quite a ride, so make sure you've got a playlist ready, a book or two to keep you entertained and, whatever you do, don't forget a jacket. The AC on the bus lets you experience winter like you’ve never before in Thailand.
Where to release sky lanterns
Lantern releases must take place at authorised venues and times; buying a lantern in town does not give you permission to launch it. These are separately ticketed events occurring November 24-25 2026. Prices below are published adult rates, rather than a guarantee of seats remaining. Check the selected night, final price and transfer details before paying.
Join the big release at Chiang Mai CAD Yi Peng Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival
The mass release you’ve seen all over Instagram may well be CAD. Its 2026 programme combines a coordinated lantern launch with Lanna performances, prayer and meditation, cultural activities and a Thai buffet. Published packages include two sky lanterns, a krathong and return transfers from designated city meeting points. This is an afternoon-to-evening outing, so allow time for check-in and the shuttle rather than arriving for the lantern moment alone. Advertised tiers start at B4,900 at CAD Cultural Center Lanna, Mae On. One ticket page currently marks its inventory out of stock so confirm remaining seats and the final tier price with the seller. Visa cardholders may also be eligible for exclusive benefits and privileges, so check Visa Destinations Thailand for the latest offers and terms.
Check CAD tickets and transfers
Send a wish skyward at Sky of Wishes Festival
The name says it all. Sky of Wishes at Mungmana Farm, San Pa Tong, advertises 100,000 lanterns across two nights – an organiser’s target, rather than a count of what you’ll see overhead. Its programme includes live performances, cultural activities, a walking street food market and a coordinated release, with three sky lanterns per ticket. Standard tickets cost B3,900, VIP B5,900, Premium B7,900 and Elite B14,900. Dining improves with the tier, from the market food experience to buffet or upgraded dining. Premium includes hotel pickup and a return shuttle, while Elite adds private hotel transfers; Standard and VIP transport is an add-on to check before booking. A little wish-making never hurt anybody, but an unplanned ride home might test the mood.
Try the workshops at Chiangmai Wonderland Sky Lanterns Festival
For a lower general-admission price, Chiangmai Wonderland costs B1,590 and runs 4.30pm-10pm at CM Event CNX, Moo 8, Buak Khang, San Kamphaeng, behind the old municipal office. The advertised package includes two sky lanterns, a krathong, a traditional Lanna oil lamp and a B300 food coupon. Buddhist prayers and blessings sit alongside cultural performances, nine hands-on workshops and a kad mua-style food market, with displays exploring the local Yong community. Arrange your return journey, as the ticket listing does not specify a shuttle.
Make an afternoon of CNX Loy Krathong Sky Lantern Festival
At Miracle Land, Mae Taeng, CNX combines Lanna dance and victory drumming with arts and crafts workshops, local food stalls, candle-lighting, krathong floating and the mass sky lantern release. The B3,500 Deluxe ticket includes two sky lanterns, a krathong, a traditional oil lamp, 20 food and drink coupons and return songthaew transfers. VIP costs B5,000, with extra coupons and upgraded transport and seating, while B9,800 Elite includes three lanterns and food and drinks at the event stalls. Outbound shuttles are advertised from Lanna Polytechnic, 1pm-4pm, with returns from 8.45pm. Check the pickup instructions on your ticket before setting off.
Let Lanna Lantern Festival handle the logistics
Lanna Lantern Festival at Lanna Space (Khuang Lanna), in the Chiang Mai-Lamphun area, bundles festival dining, return transfers from downtown Chiang Mai, cultural performances and krathong floating into its main packages. Standard costs B3,999, VIP B4,999, Premium B5,999 and Elite B9,999. Standard through Premium include three sky lanterns, while Elite includes five, elevated seating and a private khantoke dinner. The programme also advertises crafts and a Muay Boran demonstration. Check the venue pin and your pickup confirmation: similarly named lantern festivals operate elsewhere, so the event name alone won’t get you to the right field.
Find Lanna Lantern Festival tickets
Join the ceremonies at Yee Peng Lanna International
For an evening centred on Buddhist ritual, Yee Peng Lanna International at Lanna Dhutanga, near Mae Jo University, pairs the lantern release with monk chanting, meditation and traditional northern Thai performances. Published Standard tickets cost B4,600, including a buffet and return shuttle from a central Chiang Mai pickup point. Premium costs B6,400, adding closer seating and an upgraded souvenir set. It is a religious ceremony as well as a photo opportunity, so dress respectfully and follow the hosts’ cues. Sellers publish different check-in and programme times; use the instructions issued with your booking.
Find Yee Peng Lanna International tickets
Time Out tips for planning your Yi Peng trip
Book the whole trip together. Check flights or train seats, accommodation and event availability before paying for any one part. Major releases sell tickets six to nine months ahead so at this stage ‘swipe’ the Visa card and secure flights, accommodation and event tickets as soon as you can.
Keep checking your flight. Chiang Mai airport has asked airlines to avoid November 24, 10am-noon, and 7pm-1am on the nights of November 24 and 25. Official figures as of October 30 recorded 108 cancellations, 80 retimed flights and 105 extra services for November 21-28. Those are schedule changes across the period, not a live count of today’s disruption. Check directly with your airline before leaving for the airport and allow extra time for crowded check-in periods.
Keep some baht handy and have a reliable payment method that doesn’t charge international fees. Compare exchange rates rather than exchanging your entire holiday budget at the airport. Visa is widely accepted at larger businesses, but small stalls require cash. If a card terminal offers currency conversion, choose Thai baht to leave conversion to your card issuer.
Safety first. Follow local restrictions, listen to event staff and leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals. If the paper catches fire or a lantern drifts towards you, alert staff rather than improvising. Releases are only permitted at approved places and times, so leave the launch and any fireworks to the supervised programme.
Plan your ride home ahead of time. It's all fun and games until the lanterns have floated away, your feet are tired and suddenly everyone wants to leave at once – think concert crowd, but with considerably more sleepy tourists. Many organised events offer return shuttles, so check whether yours is included in the ticket. If not, pre-booking a taxi or arranging a ride back into the city will save you the wait with thousands of other festival-goers.
With all the planning out of the way, you can get on with making a wish and watch Chiang Mai light up with thousands of lanterns dancing across the night sky.