On the nights of 24 to 26 November 2026, thousands of lanterns will rise above Chiang Mai’s ancient city in one of the most breathtaking spectacles on earth. This is why you need to be there.
There are perhaps a handful of moments in a lifetime of travel that stop you completely. Not because of what you see, but because of what you feel. The Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai is one of them.
Held on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, Yi Peng falls this year across 24 to 26 November, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand running official events throughout. As dusk settles over the ancient moat and Chiang Mai’s temples begin to glow with candlelight, thousands of khom loi, hand-crafted rice paper sky lanterns, are released into the night. The effect is not easily described. It must be witnessed.
Yi Peng is a Lanna tradition, rooted in the ancient northern Thai kingdom centred on Chiang Mai. It coincides with Loy Krathong, and on the same evenings the Ping River fills with floating krathong, elaborately decorated baskets carrying candles and offerings downstream, while the sky above fills with light. The two celebrations together produce a sensory experience that no production elsewhere in the world can replicate.
“Yi Peng is unlike anything else in the world of travel. The sight of thousands of lanterns rising above Chiang Mai on a clear November night is something that stays with a person for the rest of their life. We warmly invite travellers from the UAE and the wider Gulf region to experience this extraordinary celebration of light, culture, and the Lanna spirit firsthand.” — Ahmad Mad Adam, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dubai and Middle East Office
For premium travellers, the experience extends beyond the release itself. Chiang Mai’s finest properties position November as the pinnacle of the northern season: dry, clear, and cool, ideal for evenings outdoors, temple walks at dawn, and private experiences curated around the festival. Ticketed mass lantern releases offer an intimate alternative to the public celebrations, with transportation, dinner, and cultural performances included.
November in Chiang Mai is not simply a festival. It is an argument for being in the right place at the right time. Direct flights from Dubai connect in under six hours.
About the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT): The Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes the Kingdom as a leading global destination for travel, culture and lifestyle experiences, providing accurate information and dedicated support for international visitors. Tourism Authority of Thailand – Dubai and Middle East Office. Tel: +971 4 325 0184