2024 Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand: Nov. 15-16

The Yi Peng Festival, also known as the Sky Lantern Festival or the Festival of Lights, is a radiant spectacle deeply rooted in Thai culture and tradition. This captivating event, marked by the release of thousands of lanterns into the night sky, holds profound significance for both locals and visitors alike.

If you are planning a trip to Thailand in 2024, do not miss the festival in Chiang Mai. 

What is the Yi Peng Festival?

The Yi Peng Festival, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a cherished cultural event primarily celebrated in northern Thailand, with the largest and most elaborate festivities taking place in Chiang Mai.

Yi Peng is deeply rooted in religious significance, serving as a tribute to the Buddha and marking the transition from the monsoon season to the cooler months.

Central to the Yi Peng Festival is the captivating tradition of releasing khom loi, or floating lanterns, into the night sky. These lanterns, meticulously crafted from delicate paper and bamboo, are adorned with wishes, prayers, and aspirations written by participants.

As night falls, the lanterns are illuminated, symbolizing the release of worries and the embrace of new beginnings. The mesmerizing sight of thousands of lanterns ascending gracefully into the heavens creates a breathtaking spectacle.

In addition to the lantern releases, local people adorn their homes with various types of lanterns and gather at temples to listen to monks' prayers.

Nowadays, the Yi Peng Festival isn't just a local event anymore; it's renowned worldwide, drawing in more and more people who eagerly add it to their bucket lists.

When Is the Yi Peng Lantern Festival 2024?

In 2024, the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival will be held for two days on November 15th and 16th, 2024. The date of the Yi Peng Festival is based on the Lanna Lunar Calendar and changes every year.

The name Yi Peng indicates the time when the festival is celebrated.  Yi means 'two' in Thai, and Peng means 'full moon day'. Therefore, Yi Peng refers to the full moon in the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, which is usually in November. Additionally, the festival typically lasts for two days.

The festival often coincides with the Loi Krathong Festival, another revered Thai celebration focused on floating illuminated krathongs (decorative baskets) on waterways.

Yi Peng Festival Lantern Release Venues in 2024

One important thing to note is that witnessing the spectacle of thousands of sky lanterns soaring into the night sky typically requires attending a private event, for which tickets are available at prices ranging from USD 80 to 300.

In 2024, in addition to the renowned Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lanterns Festival (referred to as CAD) and Yee Peng Lanna International 2024 (also known as Mae Jo), four additional venues have been announced (as of April). These venues offer similar schedules, providing attendees with more options to choose from.

If you're eager to experience this mesmerizing event, you can secure your tickets now. We are an authorized agent for booking tickets for two of the venues. Click here for more details and to reserve your ticket.

Chiang Mai CAD Yi Peng Festival

Free Activities in Downtown Chiang Mai 

If you don't want to attend a private event, you can still experience a lot of festive activities in downtown Chiang Mai. 

 The activities are similar each year. For reference, here is the schedule for 2023 for reference: 

Release Water Lanterns

Yi Peng Festival Dates: 2024, 2025...

The official date of Yi Peng is announced the year before. So we don't know exactly when the festival will take place in future years, but we know it will likely happen on the night of the full moon or one day before or after. Here are the upcoming full moons (and tentative Yi Peng Lantern Festival dates).