Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Where Bangkok floated krathongs in 2025, what bookable riverside dinners and cruises cost, the park rules and how to get there.
Loy Krathong in Bangkok falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the full-moon night of the twelfth Thai lunar month. The city has not yet published its 2026 river and park programme, so this post separates what is confirmed (the date, bookable riverside dinners and cruises with prices) from the 2025 pattern that the 2026 programme is likely to follow.
For the rest of the city after dark, see the Bangkok nightlife guide and the Bangkok nightlife neighbourhoods.
Facts checked on 22 October 2026. Line-ups, prices, sold-out status and transport plans change, so confirm on the organiser page before you go.
Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Visit Thailand Today states it as “Tuesday 24 November 2026, not the 25th”, and Shangri-La Bangkok dates its Loy Krathong programme to the same day. One eSIM travel guide gives “around 24-25 November” and says the Tourism Authority of Thailand publishes official dates closer to the event, so the two sources differ slightly. The floating happens in the evening, mostly between sunset and midnight.
Last year’s river festival used nine Chao Phraya piers, including Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Rakhang, Tha Maharaj, Asiatique and SookSiam at ICONSIAM, and krathongs went into closed basins rather than the open river. The city also opened 33 parks until midnight, among them Lumphini, Benjakitti, Chatuchak and Santichaiprakarn, with more than 100 official floating points. Visit Thailand Today notes that the 2026 river programme had not been announced, so treat these locations as the 2025 baseline.
Another guide describes Asiatique and ICONSIAM as the largest riverside crowds, with people arriving from about 18:00, the banks facing Wat Arun as the main viewing area, and the Benjakitti and Lumphini lakes as quieter options that suit small children.
Bangkok parks banned foam krathongs, sky lanterns, fireworks, firecrackers and alcohol sales last year and asked for one krathong per family. Banana-trunk and banana-leaf versions are the recommended choice, and bread is discouraged in parks because it fouls still water. Bangkok’s governor asked people not to add coins, because children jump into rivers to retrieve them. Sky lantern releases are restricted in Bangkok, particularly near the airports; the lantern tradition belongs to Yi Peng in Chiang Mai, which runs 23 to 25 November 2026.
For the river, take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, which connects to Sathorn Pier, then use Chao Phraya Express boats or the free ICONSIAM and Asiatique shuttles. The same guide says Grab fares surge and pick-ups clog around 22:00 to 23:00 after the finale, and that the BTS runs until midnight. Lumphini and Benjakitti are a short walk from the MRT. Dinner cruises and riverside tables sell out days or weeks ahead.
For drinks after the floating, see the best bars in Bangkok or the 10 best clubs in Bangkok.
Visit Thailand Today: Loy Krathong guide, Shangri-La Bangkok: Loy Krathong 2026, Ticket2Attraction: Noah Cruise Loy Krathong 2026 and eSIM Pass: Loy Krathong 2026.
About two hours, listed as 19:45 to 21:45. It starts from ICONSIAM and passes Wat Arun, Rama VIII Bridge and Asiatique; the listing does not name the pier.
Visit Thailand Today says stalls sell simple banana-leaf krathongs from about ฿20, and elaborate ones cost a few hundred baht. Another guide quotes ฿30 to ฿150 from riverside vendors.
Not in the parks, which banned sky lanterns last year, and releases are restricted across Bangkok, especially near the airports.
Not on the pages checked on 22 October. The 2025 programme used nine river piers over three nights and 33 parks open until midnight.
