Thailand Events in November 2026: Loy Krathong, Yi Peng and the Royal Barge Procession

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November is arguably Thailand’s single best events month, and 2026 makes it even more special. It opens with the full Royal Barge Procession — a ceremony so rare it hadn’t happened in years before its October rehearsals — and closes with Loy Krathong and Yi Peng, the country’s most photographed festival. Cooler, drier weather is also settling in across most of the country by November, making it one of the most comfortable months to travel.

This guide lists the most relevant Thailand events in November 2026, including confirmed dates, locations and practical information for travelers.

Thailand Events in November 2026 at a Glance

Date	Event	Location	Type	Tourist Relevance
November 6	Royal Barge Procession (Royal Kathin Ceremony)	Wat Arun, Bangkok	Royal / Ceremonial	Very High
November 15–24	Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival	Sukhothai Historical Park	Cultural / Historical	High
November 19–21	Surin Elephant Round-Up	Surin	Cultural / Wildlife	Medium
November 24–25	Loy Krathong and Yi Peng	Nationwide, especially Chiang Mai	Cultural / Religious	Very High
November 28–29	Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok	Bangkok	Sport	Medium

November 6: Royal Barge Procession (Royal Kathin Ceremony)

When: November 6, 2026

Where: Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, ending at Wat Arun Ratchawararam

Type: Royal ceremonial procession

After a month of public rehearsals in October, the full Royal Barge Procession takes place on the Chao Phraya River on November 6 for the Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun. Dozens of ornately gilded royal barges, rowed in strict formation by hundreds of oarsmen in traditional dress, process along the river from Wasukri Pier past the Grand Palace to Wat Arun — one of the rarest and most visually spectacular ceremonies in Southeast Asia.

Public viewing is permitted along both banks of the river between Krung Thon Bridge and Wat Arun, the same stretch used for October’s rehearsals.

Tourist tip: This is not an annual event — the last full procession was years ago, so 2026 is a genuinely rare opportunity. Expect large crowds at the best riverside viewpoints and around Wat Arun itself; arrive early or book a riverside restaurant or hotel with a direct view. See our best riverside hotels in Bangkok guide and our Wat Arun and Wat Pho guide for planning around the ceremony.

November 24–25: Loy Krathong and Yi Peng

When: November 24–25, 2026 (November 24 is the exact full moon of the twelfth lunar month)

Where: Nationwide, with the most famous celebrations in Chiang Mai; also major observances in Sukhothai and Bangkok

Type: Cultural / religious festival

Loy Krathong is Thailand’s festival of light: small floating baskets (krathong), traditionally made of banana leaf and flowers, are released onto rivers and canals nationwide to pay respects to the water spirits and let go of the past year’s misfortune. In the north, it overlaps with Yi Peng, the release of glowing paper sky lanterns — together they produce Thailand’s single most photographed festival moment.

Chiang Mai is the clear focal point for Yi Peng specifically, with the CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival running November 24–25 at the CAD Cultural Center Lanna in Mae On District — a ticketed mass lantern release that has become one of Thailand’s signature tourist experiences. Bangkok, meanwhile, sees Loy Krathong celebrated along the Chao Phraya and in temple grounds and hotel riverside events citywide.

Tourist tip: The big ticketed Chiang Mai lantern-release events sell out well in advance and are worth booking the moment tickets open — a free, authentic alternative is simply joining locals along the Ping River or at any temple for krathong floating, which needs no ticket. See our where to stay in Chiang Mai guide and best hotels in Chiang Mai guide — book several months ahead, since this is Chiang Mai’s single busiest week of the year.

November 15–24: Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival

When: November 15–24, 2026

Where: Sukhothai Historical Park

Type: Cultural / historical festival

Sukhothai is widely considered the birthplace of Loy Krathong, and its festival is arguably the most atmospheric version in the country: candlelit processions and krathong ceremonies staged directly among the illuminated ruins of Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rather than along a modern riverside.

The festival runs across roughly ten days leading up to the November 24 full moon, with the largest events concentrated on the final two or three nights.

Tourist tip: If you want Loy Krathong somewhere quieter and more historically grounded than Chiang Mai’s lantern spectacle, Sukhothai is the destination to prioritize — plan to arrive close to the full moon dates for the fullest program.

November 19–21: Surin Elephant Round-Up

When: November 19–21, 2026

Where: Surin, Isan (northeastern Thailand)

Type: Cultural festival

The Surin Elephant Round-Up is Thailand’s largest gathering of elephants, running annually since 1960, with over 200 elephants and their mahouts taking part in a street parade and stadium performances. Surin sits well outside the destinations covered on this site, in Thailand’s northeastern Isan region, but it’s a genuinely singular event for travelers with a wider Thailand itinerary.

Tourist tip: Stadium tickets and Surin accommodation both sell out months ahead — this is not a spontaneous add-on to a trip, so plan well in advance if it’s a priority.

November 28–29: Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok

When: November 28–29, 2026

Where: Bangkok

Type: Sport / running event

Bangkok’s official capital city marathon brings full and half marathon distances through the city’s streets, drawing both Thai and international runners as one of the country’s flagship road races.

Tourist tip: Expect road closures around the route on race morning — check the official course map if you’re staying centrally that weekend and not running.

No National Public Holidays in November

Thailand has no nationwide public holidays in November 2026 — the run of national holidays picks back up in December with the King’s Birthday (December 5) and Constitution Day (December 10). That leaves November’s calendar driven entirely by cultural and ceremonial events rather than office and bank closures.

What Is November Like for Travelers in Thailand?

November is when Thailand’s weather genuinely turns in most travelers’ favor. The rainy season has ended or is ending across the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi) and the north (Chiang Mai, Pai), with cooler temperatures, lower humidity and clearer skies setting in — the start of the long November-to-February high season.

The Gulf islands — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao — are the exception: November sits in the middle of their own rainier stretch, which runs roughly October through December, so this is a month where the Andaman side is generally the safer weather bet.

Bangkok cools noticeably too, making November one of the more comfortable months for walking-heavy sightseeing around the temples and old town.

See our best time to visit Phuket guide and best time to visit Koh Samui guide for more region-specific detail.

Where to Stay in Thailand in November

Your choice of base depends heavily on which November event you’re planning around.

Bangkok

Bangkok is the base for the Royal Barge Procession and the Amazing Thailand Marathon. See our where to stay in Bangkok guide, with a riverside area worth prioritizing specifically for the barge procession — our best riverside hotels in Bangkok guide covers those options directly.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the obvious base for Yi Peng and Loy Krathong. See our where to stay in Chiang Mai guide and best hotels in Chiang Mai guide — book as early as possible, since this is the single highest-demand week of the year in the city.

November Events in Thailand: What Should Tourists Prioritize?

If you’re planning a Thailand trip specifically around November events, the strongest options for international travelers are:

1. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng — November 24–25, Chiang Mai (nationwide)
2. Royal Barge Procession — November 6, Bangkok
3. Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival — November 15–24, Sukhothai
4. Surin Elephant Round-Up — November 19–21, Surin

Both the Royal Barge Procession and Loy Krathong/Yi Peng fall in the same month in 2026, which makes November a genuinely exceptional time to build a Thailand trip around events specifically — few years line up this well.

Bottom Line

November 2026 is likely Thailand’s single strongest events month of the year: a rare Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok on the 6th, followed by Loy Krathong and Yi Peng nationwide on the 24th and 25th, with Sukhothai’s candlelit historical-park version and the Surin Elephant Round-Up adding further options in between.

Weather also cooperates — the Andaman coast, Bangkok and the north are all moving into their most comfortable stretch of the year, though the Gulf islands remain in their own rainier season through November.

If you’re planning a November trip, book Chiang Mai and central Bangkok accommodation well ahead — both cities see genuine demand spikes around these dates — and check official sources closer to your travel dates, since specific programs can still shift.

Sources

• TAT Newsroom — Royal Barge Procession 2026 and Rehearsals — confirmed November 6, 2026 procession date.
• TheSkyLive — Full Moon November 2026 — astronomically confirmed November 24, 2026 full moon, used to verify the Loy Krathong/Yi Peng date against conflicting secondary sources.
• Yi Peng Chiang Mai Lantern Festival — Official Site — confirmed CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival dates, November 24–25, 2026.
• TAGTHAi — Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival 2026 — confirmed November 15–24, 2026 dates.
• Thai Holiday Guide — Surin Elephant Round-Up 2026 — confirmed November 19–21, 2026 dates.
• Ahotu — Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok — confirmed November 28–29, 2026 dates.
• Office Holidays — Thailand 2026 — confirmed no national public holidays fall in November 2026.