Loy Krathong 2026
Loy Krathong (วันลอยกระทง) falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026 in 2026, waxing day 15, 12th month. Here is what the day commemorates, what people do and its dates for the coming years, worked out from the Thai lunar calendar.
- วันลอยกระทง
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What Loy Krathong commemorates
More a folk festival than a Buddhist one, Loy Krathong gives thanks to the water that feeds the rice fields and asks forgiveness of the water goddess (Phra Mae Khongkha) for polluting it. Some also see it as a tribute to the Buddha's footprint.
What people do on the day
People float a krathong made of banana leaves and flowers with a candle and incense. Choose natural materials: foam krathong pollute the canals.
Loy Krathong is not an official public holiday: schools, offices and shops stay open.
Loy Krathong is not one of the five days when alcohol sales are banned.
How the date is set
Loy Krathong falls every year on waxing day 15, 12th month. Because the Thai lunar year has 354 days, the calendar date moves 11 days earlier from one year to the next, then about 19 days later in adhikamat years, when an extra eighth month is added.
Loy Krathong dates from 2026 to 2033
Dates computed from the Thai lunar calendar and checked against the official calendar up to 2027. For later years, a one-day difference remains possible.
Year Date Day Lunar date 2026 (adhikamat year) 24 November 2026 Tuesday waxing day 15, 12th month 2027 13 November 2027 Saturday waxing day 15, 12th month 2028 1 November 2028 Wednesday waxing day 15, 12th month 2029 (adhikamat year) 20 November 2029 Tuesday waxing day 15, 12th month 2030 10 November 2030 Sunday waxing day 15, 12th month 2031 (adhikamat year) 29 November 2031 Saturday waxing day 15, 12th month 2032 17 November 2032 Wednesday waxing day 15, 12th month 2033 6 November 2033 Sunday waxing day 15, 12th month
These tools give general information. They do not replace the advice of a doctor or a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Loy Krathong in 2026?
- Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, waxing day 15, 12th month. The following year it will be on Saturday, 13 November 2027.
- Why does the date of Loy Krathong change every year?
- Because it follows the Thai lunar calendar: waxing day 15, 12th month. The lunar year is shorter than the solar year, so the calendar date moves by several weeks from one year to the next.
- Is Loy Krathong a public holiday?
- Loy Krathong is not an official public holiday: schools, offices and shops stay open.
- Can you buy alcohol on Loy Krathong?
- Loy Krathong is not one of the five days when alcohol sales are banned.
- What do people do on Loy Krathong?
- People float a krathong made of banana leaves and flowers with a candle and incense. Choose natural materials: foam krathong pollute the canals.