Yi Peng (sometimes written as Yee Peng), a famous Thailand festival, usually coincides with Loy Krathong Festival. It is a festival unique to northern Thailand and is usually celebrated in November.
During the festival, people launch paper lanterns into the air for good fortune. Hence, it is also known as the Floating Lantern Festival or the Festival of Light.
When Is Yi Peng Lantern Festival 2023?
In 2023, Chiang Mai's Yi Peng Lantern Festival will take place from November 27th to 28th, 2023.
The date of the Yi Peng Festival changes every year. Yi Peng festival was created by the Lanna people of Northern Thailand and its date is based on the Lanna Lunar Calendar. Its name indicates when the festival is celebrated.
Yi means 'two' and Peng means 'full moon day'. Yi peng means the full moon night in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar).
Yi Peng is celebrated in tandem with Loy Krathong, normally starting one or two days before Loy Krathong. In 2023, Loy Krathong will take place on November 28th.
Click to know the interesting history and stories about Yee Peng Festival.

Yi Peng Mass Lantern Release in Chiang Mai in 2023
Chiang Mai is the best place to experience Yi Peng Lantern Festival. During the festival, you will find beautifully decorated temples and houses adorned with small tea lights, hanging lanterns, and colorful streamers all over the city.
The highlight of the festival is the mass lantern release which offers a gorgeous spectacle of thousands of sky lanterns (khom loi) released into the night sky.
If you would like to experience this amazing event, Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lanterns Festival (Chiang Mai CAD for short) is a great option. Try to book a ticket and hotel as early as possible.
Ticket for Yi Peng Festival 2023 at Chiang Mai CAD
The tickets for Chiang Mai CAD are on sale now. Asia Highlights — Official Partner of Chiang Mai Arts and Design (CAD) since 2019.
Here are the prices for three kinds of tickets. Premium tickets are most recommended, as you will get closest to the stage and the chanting monks, receive priority shuttle transport with a business van, and have a buffet dinner for a special food zone.
- Premium ticket: US$ 199
- VIP ticket: US$ 179
- Standard ticket: US$ 139

In 2023, Yi Peng Festival will be observed with lantern releases on November 27th-28th. We would like to recommend doing the Mass Lantern Release on November 27th because:
A. That would make you one of the first to enjoy the ceremony and share it with your friends on instant apps.
B. You can attend the folk activities, which are only held on November 28th (the day of Loy Krathong).
Click to see celebration timeline, and questions you might have about experiencing the Yi Peng Festival.
Get Your 2023 Chiang Mai CAD Lantern Mass Release Tickets Here!




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Events Schedule for Chiang Mai Yi Peng & Loy Krathong Festival
During the period of the festival, there will be a variety of celebration activities in Chiang Mai. Here is the schedule for the 2022 Chiang Mai Yi Peng (Loy Krathong) Festival for reference.
Yee Peng Festival 2022 Agenda "Celebrating the Glorious Ping River" 7-9 November 2022 ( Free event in the city)
Events in the city 2022 | Time | Date | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
Magival Lanna Lantern Decorations "Yee Peng Lantern Fesival" | 10.00 a.m.-9.00a.m. | 5-13 Nov | 5 City Gates around the ColdTown, 3 Bridges, 4 Coner, and the street in front of Chiang Mai Municipality Office |
White Pagoda and Spirit House Worship Ceremony | 8.00 a.m. | 7-Nov | Chiang Mai Municipality Office, the White Pagoda |
Ping River Worship and Respect Offering Ceremony | 9.00a.m. | 7-Nov | Pier at Sri Khong Temple |
Mahachati Sermon | 5.00 a.m. – 9.00 p.m | 8-Nov | Sri Don Chai Temple |
Opening of "Chiang Mai Yee Peng Festival 2022" | 6.00 p.m. | 7-Nov | Tha Pae Gate |
"Lighting Blissful Lanna Candles" Activity | 6.00 p.m. | 7-9 Nov | Three Kings Monument and the internal part of the moat |
Lanna Hanging Lanterns Contest (Large hanging Lanterns) | 6.00 p.m. | 7-Nov | Tha Pae Gate |
Mister & Miss Yee Peng 2022 Contest | 7.00 p.m. | 7-8 Nov | Tha Pae Gate |
Traditional Floating Krathong Ceremony – Paying Respect to the Ping River | 6.00 p.m. | 7-9 Nov | By the Ping River in front of the Municipality Office |
Lanna, The Land of Artisans and Crafts Activity | 6.00 p.m.- 9.00 p.m. | 7-9 Nov | Tha Pae Gate |
Traditional Lanna Archway Display | All-Day | 4-9 Nov | Communities and Temple in Chiang Mai Municipality |
Celebrating the Glorious Ping River Chiang Mai Yee Peng Festival Activity | 6.00 p.m.- 9.00 p.m. | 7-9 Nov | 6 Piers of Ping River 1 River Bank of Chai Mongkol (Mae Kha Canal) |
Symphonic Multimedia, Lights and Sounds Shop by the River | 8.00 a.m. | 7-9 Nov | Pier at Sri Khong Temple |
Firework Displays for Royal Celebration "Drivin Lights Of Joy, Glorious Ping River | 8.30 a.m. | 7-9 Nov | Raft On the Ping River platform at Sri Khong Temple |
Hand-made Banana Leaves -fresh flowers Krathong Contest | 1.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. | 8-Nov | Chiang Mai Municipality Office |
Yee Peng 2022 Kids Contest | 6.00 p.m. | 8-Nov | Chiang Mai Municipality Office |
Lanna Lantern Parade Contest 2022 | 7.00 p.m. | 8-Nov | Tha Pae gate, Tha Pae Road to Chiang Mai Municipality Office |
Thai Country Music and Dance Contest to preserve Thai culture | 5.00 p.m. | 8-Nov | Chiang Mai Municipality Office |
Large Krathong Parade Contest for Royal Trophy (highlight) | 7.00 p.m. | 9-Nov | Tha Pae gate, Tha Pae Road to Chiang Mai Municipality Office |
Award Ceremony for Large Krathong Parades | 10.00 p.m. | 9-Nov | Chiang Mai Municipality Office |
Suggested read: How to Best Experience Yi Peng Lantern Festival 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand
More Experiences in Chiang Mai during Yi Peng Festival 2023
Chiang Mai is a city full of various unique experiences. Your Chiang Mai tour will be enriched with activities or tours, such as:
- Elephant jungle sanctuary to have a close encounter with elephants;
- Evening tour to Doi Suthep and visit the sacred Wat Phra That Doi Suthep;
- Street Food Tour to explore Chiang Mai's colorful night markets;
- Contact us for more suggestions based on your interests.
We have also especially designed several tours including Yi Peng Festival. Our tours include tickets for the Chiang Mai Sky Lantern Festival, unique Thai cultural experiences, and the best sights of Thailand from the northern hill tribes to sunny southern beaches.
Yi Peng Festival Dates: 2023, 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).
Day 1 in Chiang Mai | Day 2 in Chiang Mai | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Yi Peng Lantern Festival (the 1st mass event); Loi Krathong (small krathong) | Yi Peng Lantern Festival (the 2nd mass event); Loy Krathong Parade in the city/big krathong | ||
2020 | Oct. 31 | Saturday | Nov. 1 | Sunday |
2021 | Nov. 19 | Friday | Nov. 20 | Saturday |
2022 | Nov. 8 | Tuesday | Nov. 9 | Wednesday |
2023 | Nov. 27 | Monday | Nov. 28 | Tuesday |
2024 | Nov. 15 | Friday | Nov. 16 | Saturday |
2025 | Nov. 5 | Wednesday | Nov. 6 | Thursday |
2026 | Nov. 24 | Tuesday | Nov. 25 | Wednesday |
2027 | Nov. 13 | Saturday | Nov. 14 | Sunday |
2028 | Nov. 1 | Wednesday | Nov. 2 | Friday |
2029 | Nov. 20 | Tuesday | Nov. 21 | Wednesday |
2030 | Nov. 9 | Saturday | Nov. 10 | Sunday |
2031 | Nov. 17 | Friday | Nov. 18 | Saturday |
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