目錄
Chiang Mai’s festivals are more than a series of events. They feel like moments when the entire city pauses and breathes together. On the night of the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, thousands of lanterns slowly rise into the sky, and even strangers waiting along the roadside fall silent as they look up at the same view. During Songkran, Tha Phae Gate is filled with flying water and deafening music, transforming the same old city into a place with a completely different rhythm. To plan a trip around Chiang Mai’s festivals, understanding the dates, locations and practical arrangements for each celebration is one of the most worthwhile things you can do. This guide covers the dates, cultural backgrounds and practical itinerary advice for four of Chiang Mai’s major festivals in 2026 and 2027, giving independent travelers the information they need to plan their visit.
Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Essential Festival Information
Chiang Mai holds its annual Flower Festival on the first or second weekend of February. The 2026 event will be the festival’s 49th edition. Activities are centered around Nong Buak Haad Public Park, beside the moat at the southwestern corner of the Old City, and extend onto several major roads nearby. Admission is free. The main events include a floral float parade, orchid and flower exhibitions, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival Queen contest, and traditional Lanna music and dance performances.
The confirmed dates for the 49th Chiang Mai Flower Festival are Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, 2026. The theme is “Royal Blossoms Beneath the Sky, the Timeless Beauty of Nakhon Ping,” combining flowers associated with the Thai royal family with traditional Lanna culture. The opening ceremony and floral parade will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14. The procession will travel from Nawarat Bridge along Tha Phae Road and Kotchasarn Road before reaching Nong Buak Haad Public Park. Approximately 25 floral floats will take part, accompanied by traditional bands and student dance groups.
The 2027 Chiang Mai Flower Festival is expected to take place around Friday, February 5 to Sunday, February 7, 2027, following the usual schedule of the first weekend in February. The exact dates should be confirmed through the official websites of Chiang Mai Municipality or the Tourism Authority of Thailand before departure.
Itinerary Advice
Visitor numbers increase noticeably during the Flower Festival. Roads around the Old City may be closed or heavily congested on the Saturday morning of the parade. It is best to walk to the parade route in advance, or take a Grab to a location inside the Old City and continue on foot.
For those interested in the nighttime illuminations, Nong Buak Haad Public Park remains open until late during all three days of the festival. The illuminated floral displays at night offer a completely different experience from the colorful exhibitions seen during the day, making it worthwhile to visit both before and after sunset.
The Flower Festival takes place shortly before Chiang Mai’s haze season usually begins in late February. Early to mid-February is therefore one of the last relatively reliable periods for better air quality, making it a particularly good time to plan a visit.
Songkran: Chiang Mai’s Citywide Water Fight
Essential Festival Information
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year and is officially celebrated every year from April 13 to April 15. Chiang Mai’s version is widely regarded as one of the largest Songkran celebrations in Thailand. The water fights often begin as early as the afternoon of April 12 and may continue through April 16 or 17, creating a festive period that can last nearly an entire week.
The official Songkran dates in 2026 are Monday, April 13 to Wednesday, April 15. In 2027, the festival falls from Tuesday, April 13 to Thursday, April 15.
Songkran in Chiang Mai has two very different sides: its traditional religious rituals and its citywide water-fight celebrations.
On the traditional side, worshippers visit temples such as Wat Phra That Doi Suthep to take part in Buddha-image bathing ceremonies. Younger people also gently pour scented water over the hands of older relatives to show respect and ask for blessings.
On the celebratory side, roads around the moat and Tha Phae Gate are closed to traffic, creating an approximately four-kilometer water-fight route. People carry water guns and buckets, and the celebrations continue from morning until late at night.
Itinerary Advice
Traffic around Chiang Mai’s Old City becomes extremely difficult during Songkran. Accommodation should be booked at least three to six months in advance, preferably somewhere within walking distance of the city center.
Essential items include:
- A waterproof phone pouch
- Quick-drying clothing
- Sandals or shoes that can get wet
Valuables such as passports and large amounts of cash should be left in the hotel safe rather than carried into the water-fight areas.
April is the hottest time of year in Chiang Mai, with daytime temperatures sometimes reaching 38 to 40°C. Although the seasonal haze is usually beginning to clear, travelers should still check real-time air-quality data on IQAir before departure. The large amount of water used during Songkran may temporarily reduce dust in busy areas, but early April can still fall at the end of the haze season. Travelers with respiratory sensitivities should take additional precautions.
To experience both sides of Songkran, consider visiting a temple around Doi Suthep on the afternoon of April 12 to participate in a Buddha-bathing ceremony before returning to the Old City for the water celebrations. This makes it possible to experience the quieter cultural traditions and the energetic street festivities on the same day.
Yi Peng Lantern Festival and Loy Krathong
Essential Festival Information
Yi Peng and Loy Krathong form Chiang Mai’s most iconic annual festival combination. Their dates are calculated according to the full moon of the twelfth month in the Thai lunar calendar, so they change from year to year.
Yi Peng originated in Lanna culture. The name means the full moon of the second month in the traditional Lanna calendar. It takes place at the same time as Thailand’s nationwide Loy Krathong festival. In Chiang Mai, visitors can therefore see sky lanterns rising into the night while decorated krathong float along the river, creating an experience unique to northern Thailand.
For 2026, the main CAD events are scheduled for Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25. Tickets for the 2026 festival have already gone on sale.
Yi Peng in 2027 is currently expected to fall around November 13 and 14. Because the dates are based on the lunar calendar, travelers should confirm the final schedule through the official ticketing websites before departure.
Chiang Mai currently offers several paid Yi Peng events, each with a different atmosphere.
CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival
The CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival is the largest event and attracts the highest number of participants. Attendance reached approximately 15,000 people in 2025.
The program includes northern Thai and Lanna music and dance performances, Buddhist chanting ceremonies, a northern Thai buffet dinner and the coordinated release of sky lanterns. Tickets generally include shared round-trip transportation, making this the most popular option among international visitors.
Releasing sky lanterns independently within the city is currently prohibited. Violations may result in fines of up to THB 200,000. Attending an officially approved event is the safest and legal way to release a lantern.
Mae Jo University Event
The Lanna Dhutanka or Mae Jo University event is held in a more open setting. It is suitable for travelers who want to experience a mass lantern release beneath a wider, less obstructed sky. The program also incorporates traditional Lanna cultural and religious ceremonies.
Lanna Yi Peng Festival
The Lanna Yi Peng Festival places greater emphasis on traditional rituals and cultural atmosphere. It is generally smaller in scale and may appeal to travelers looking for a more focused cultural experience rather than the largest possible lantern release.
Itinerary Advice
Capacity at the CAD festival is limited. For the 2026 event, purchasing tickets three to six months in advance is recommended. The festival attracted approximately 15,000 participants in 2025 and remains extremely popular.
Hotel prices in Chiang Mai commonly increase to two or three times their regular level during Yi Peng. Accommodation should ideally be booked six months to one year in advance. The Old City and Nimman Road areas are generally the most convenient choices for transportation and access to other festival activities.
Yi Peng events are mainly held at night. During the day, consider visiting temples in the Old City or walking along the moat to experience the atmosphere before the festival. In the days leading up to Yi Peng, city walls, temples and public spaces are decorated with lanterns and illuminated installations.
Travelers can also visit the Ping River before or after the main festival night to take part in free Loy Krathong activities. Releasing a krathong does not normally require an event ticket, and the riverside atmosphere is often simpler and more intimate than the large paid lantern festivals.
For more information about Chiang Mai’s Lanna heritage, continue with The Aesthetic Logic of Chiang Mai: How Lanna Culture Defines the City’s Visual Language and Pace of Life and Chiang Mai’s Square Old City: How Power Was Drawn into the Urban Landscape.
Chiang Mai Festival Dates for 2026–2027
The table below compares the confirmed and estimated dates, main venues and admission requirements for Chiang Mai’s major festivals in 2026 and 2027.
| Festival | 2026 Dates | 2027 Dates | Main Location | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai Flower Festival | February 13–15 | February 5–7, to be confirmed | Nong Buak Haad Public Park and Tha Phae Road | Free |
| Songkran Festival | April 13–15 | April 13–15 | Tha Phae Gate and the Old City moat | Free |
| Yi Peng Lantern Festival | November 24–25 | November 13–14, estimated | CAD, Mae Jo University and other venues | Paid for selected events |
| Loy Krathong | November 24 | November 13, estimated | Ping River and the Old City | Free, excluding lantern events |
All festival dates, particularly those calculated according to the Thai lunar calendar, should be reconfirmed through the official event websites before departure.
Other Chiang Mai Festivals Worth Adding to Your Itinerary
Inthakin City Pillar Festival
The Inthakin City Pillar Festival is held at Wat Chedi Luang for seven to nine days, usually between late May and early June.
Local residents visit the city pillar, known as San Phra Inthakin, to honor Chiang Mai’s guardian spirit and pray for favorable weather, sufficient rainfall and the wellbeing of the city.
This festival is less familiar to international travelers than Chiang Mai’s major tourism events. Its atmosphere is more closely connected to the city’s everyday religious practices and local community life.
The festival dates are calculated according to the Thai lunar calendar and vary each year. Travelers should confirm the exact schedule before visiting.
Chiang Mai Design Week
Chiang Mai Design Week is held for approximately ten days in early December, with events concentrated around Nimman Road and the Old City.
The program includes exhibitions, markets, workshops and street installations featuring work by local designers, craftspeople and creative brands. Most exhibitions are free, although some workshops require advance registration or an additional fee.
This festival-style event is one of the highlights of visiting Chiang Mai at the beginning of the dry season. It also offers a valuable opportunity to understand the city’s contemporary design, craft and creative industries.
Chiang Mai’s festival calendar ultimately offers another way to understand the city itself. The excitement of Songkran and the quiet contemplation of Yi Peng exist within the same historic urban landscape, and both are equally authentic expressions of Chiang Mai.
Choosing the right festival and the right season can turn a trip into more than a sightseeing itinerary. It becomes a way of entering the city through one of its most meaningful cultural doors.
Frequently Asked Questions
The confirmed dates for the 49th Chiang Mai Flower Festival are Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, 2026.
The main venue is Nong Buak Haad Public Park. The floral float parade begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, departing from Nawarat Bridge. Admission to the festival is free.
Chiang Mai’s Songkran is widely regarded as one of Thailand’s largest water-fight celebrations and one of the versions that most visibly combines public festivities with traditional religious customs.
The official festival dates are always April 13 to April 15, but the water fights in Chiang Mai often begin on the afternoon of April 12 and may continue for nearly a week.
The roads around the Old City moat form an approximately four-kilometer water-fight route. At the same time, traditional activities such as Buddha-image bathing ceremonies continue at temples throughout the city.
No. Independently releasing sky lanterns within Chiang Mai’s urban area is prohibited.
Violators may face fines of up to THB 200,000, and serious cases may result in criminal liability. All lantern releases must take place at officially approved venues.
Travelers should purchase tickets for recognized events such as the CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival or approved events near Mae Jo.
Yi Peng is a northern Thai Lanna tradition in which illuminated paper lanterns, known as khom loi, are released into the night sky.
Loy Krathong is celebrated throughout Thailand. Participants place small decorated floats, traditionally made from banana leaves, onto rivers and other waterways.
In Chiang Mai, the two festivals take place on the same night. Visitors can therefore experience lanterns rising into the sky and krathong floating along the river during the same celebration.
The main CAD Yi Peng Lantern Festival events in 2026 are scheduled for Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25.
Yi Peng is calculated according to the lunar calendar, so the dates change every year. The 2027 festival is currently expected to take place around November 13 and 14.
Tickets should be purchased through the official event website three to six months in advance, and all event times should be reconfirmed before departure.
Yi Peng is best for travelers seeking a visually spectacular cultural event, while Songkran is more suitable for visitors who enjoy energetic street celebrations. The Flower Festival is easier to attend because it is free and generally requires less advance planning.
For Yi Peng, accommodation should ideally be booked six to twelve months in advance. For Songkran and the Flower Festival, booking three to six months ahead is generally recommended, especially for hotels within walking distance of the Old City.