On this page6 sections
At a glance
- Loy Krathong 2026
- Tuesday 24 November
Source: Department of Livestock Development: important days of 2026, with Loy Krathong on 24 November (in Thai), checked 1 Oct 2026
What the festival is
Loy means to float, and a krathong is a small decorated float, set on the water after dark with a wish. The Tourism Authority of Thailand describes the festival as a way of giving thanks connected with water.
It is a community occasion rather than an all-day street party, and it can be a calmer evening than the Wan Lai days of Songkran.
Checking the date and the places
The date moves with the moon. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday 24 November: the Department of Livestock Development's calendar of important days for 2026 gives that date, and the Fine Arts Department and the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Tokyo office list Sukhothai's ten-day festival as running from 15 November until that night. Pattaya normally marks the festival, with celebrations by the water and in public spaces.
Pattaya City names the local sites, the times and any environmental rules each year. Wait for its announcement rather than relying on an old map pin or a previous year's programme.
In 2025, when Loy Krathong fell on 5 November during national mourning, Pattaya City held its Pattaya Beach event as a mourning tribute without the usual entertainment, asked people not to float krathongs in the sea and provided pools in the event area instead; many people went to inland sites such as reservoirs and temples. Expect the 2026 plan to differ, and wait for the city's announcement.
How to take part respectfully
- Buy a simple biodegradable krathong, not one made of foam or plastic.
- Launch it only where local instructions allow, and set it down gently rather than throwing it.
- Mind the water's edge: steps, piers and wet sand get slippery and crowded after dark. Keep children close, and keep candles and incense away from hair and clothes.
- Ask before photographing anyone who is praying, and give people making a wish some space.
For the wider customs, see Thai etiquette.
Getting around that night
Roads near the announced celebration points can be busy. A room close to the celebrations saves a journey but brings more noise, while a quieter base may need a car when the roads are full.
Agree where a ride can collect you away from the busiest roads, and plan the way back before the crowd builds. Getting around Pattaya covers the options.
November averages 72.1 mm of rain, against 8.3 mm in December, in the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals: see Pattaya's weather month by month.
Questions
Can I release a sky lantern in Pattaya?
Do not assume so. In 2025, Pattaya City's programme banned the sale and lighting of fireworks, sparklers and sky lanterns at its Loy Krathong event. The lanterns in many Loy Krathong pictures belong to Yi Peng, the lantern festival in Chiang Mai, and another province's programme does not apply in Pattaya. Follow the city's rules for the year, and ask at your hotel if you are unsure.
Is Loy Krathong on the same weekend as the fireworks festival?
Not in 2026: Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November and the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November, the same week but not the same weekend. Check both dates if you are booking a late-November stay, because the fireworks weekend brings heavy demand for beachfront rooms.
What should I wear for Loy Krathong?
Everyday clothes are fine by the water, with shoes that grip on wet steps. If the evening includes a temple, cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes before entering the worship hall.
Is Loy Krathong a public holiday?
No. It is not among Thailand's 2026 public holidays on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's calendar or the Bank of Thailand's holiday list, so banks, offices and shops keep their normal hours; the celebrations are in the evening.
