Loy Krathong 2026 in Phuket: All Events, Dates and Where to Float a Krathong

When is Loy Krathong 2026?

Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, the night of the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, according to Phuket 101 and the Tourism Authority of Thailand's national calendar. A few resort and travel pages give 25 November instead, and one Patong resort describes the celebrations as spanning both nights, so check the date of any event you plan to attend. Phuket 101 lists 13 November for 2027, though another guide gives 14 November, so confirm next year's date closer to the time.

The festival is not a public holiday, and in Phuket it stays on the water. Our Phuket festivals calendar shows where it sits in the year, and our Loy Krathong guide explains the custom and what a krathong should be made of.

The main public event: Loi Krathong by the Sea at Saphan Hin

The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists the Phuket Traditional Tourism Festival, Loi Krathong by the Sea, at Saphan Hin from 16 to 25 November 2026. Phuket 101 describes Saphan Hin Lake in Phuket Town as the biggest local gathering, with a fun fair, food stalls and krathong competitions. It is a town-fair atmosphere rather than a beach party, and it gets very crowded on the night itself, so go early or come on one of the earlier festival days. Details of the stage programme were not published in the sources we checked, so look for municipal notices nearer the date.

Suan Luang Park, also in Phuket Town, is named by travel guides as a quieter family alternative, and Phuket City Municipality has opened it in the past to ease crowding at Saphan Hin.

Where else to float a krathong

• Patong Beach: the biggest crowd on the sand, with food stalls and music, according to Phuket 101. See our Patong area guide.
• Nai Harn Lake: a favourite with local families and calmer than the main beaches.
• Karon: the beach and Karon Lake behind it are a few minutes apart. See our Karon guide.
• Kata: a quieter evening on the sand. See our Kata guide.
• Bang Tao and Laguna: the lagoons are suggested for people staying on the north-west coast.
• Rawai: you can float one straight off the pier.
• Hotel pools: Phuket 101 notes that most hotels join in, and many resorts run their own krathong evening.

Resort and hotel events

Several resorts have published Loy Krathong evenings. Prices are as listed by the venues or by Phuket 101, and ++ means service charge and tax are added.

• Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, Kamala: a Loy Krathong festival from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm on 24 November. Price not stated.
• Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Nai Yang Beach: a festive dinner on 24 November, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm, listed at THB 1,695++ per person, with a community market, khim music and a Four Regions Thai dance show.
• Pullman Phuket Karon Beach Resort: a Loy Krathong buffet dinner on 24 November, 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm. Price not stated.
• Anantara Layan Phuket Resort: a set-menu dinner at Dara Cuisine on 24 November, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, at THB 3,850++ per person, with krathong making and a complimentary floating-candle ceremony by the pond. Advance reservation is required.
• Anantara Vacation Club Phuket: an evening on 24 November, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm, at THB 1,999++ per adult and THB 999++ per child aged 6 to 12, with live music and a buy-one-get-one cocktail offer.
• Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas: Loy Krathong - Ritual of Lights on 25 November, 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the main pool, at THB 3,500++ per adult and THB 1,750++ per child aged 4 to 11, with Thai dance, khim and a fire show.
• Karma Royal Boat Lagoon: a three-night Phuket Nights and Loy Krathong Lights package from 23 to 25 November that includes the Saphan Hin celebration on the 24th.
• Kata Rocks: marks the evening on the cliffs above Kata Beach, and its guide gives the date as 25 November, so confirm with the resort.

Check each venue before you go, since programmes, prices and dates can change. See our Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai guide for getting to the island.

Krathong prices, rules and eco tips

A simple krathong from a stall costs about 40 to 100 baht, and stalls appear near beaches, lakes and piers from late afternoon, according to Phuket 101. Choose banana trunk, banana leaf, flowers or bread dough, and avoid foam. Resort guides also suggest bamboo pins instead of metal and one krathong per group.

Sky lanterns are banned around Phuket airport under Thailand's Air Navigation Act because of the danger to aircraft. The Phuket celebration is on the water, not in the sky, so leave lanterns to the north's Yi Peng festival. For rubbish and plastic on the island, see our recycling guide.

Other events around Loy Krathong week

Phuket's first Family Festival takes place on Saturday 21 November at Tangerine Phuket in Phuket Town, from 10:00 to 16:00, three days before Loy Krathong. See our Family Festival and Loy Krathong report for details. The Phuket Hotels Association's PHOODIE food festival runs from 20 to 29 November with fifty restaurants and bars taking part, so the Loy Krathong evening can be combined with a festival dinner. Read the PHOODIE report for how it works.

Timing and getting around

The busiest time at the water is roughly 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, there is no ticket for the public beach and lake gatherings, and there is no organised start time, according to Phuket 101. Roads around Patong and Phuket Town slow down in the evening, so read our Phuket traffic guide and plan a ride home in advance.

Late November is the start of the high season, so book rooms early. Our hotel prices by month guide explains how rates move, and the next big night out is New Year's Eve in Phuket.