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Festivals & Events Calendar
Festivals, seasonal highlights and the annual events cycle.
Events
Yi Peng, Loy Krathong, Songkran and the rest of the year — what happens when, and how to be in the right place for it.
Chiang Mai has a strong annual rhythm, and knowing it changes how you plan almost everything — when to visit, when to book months ahead, and when you can walk into anywhere you like.
Our festivals and events calendar hub covers the two festivals that define the year: the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong lantern festivals in November, and Songkran in April, which Chiang Mai does more intensely than anywhere else in Thailand. It also sets out the seasonal cycle — cool, hot, green and smoke seasons — so you can pick your window with your eyes open.
Dated coverage of specific events lives in our News & Updates feed rather than here, so this section stays useful year after year. If you want event dates as they're confirmed, our Chiang Mai newsletter is the easiest way to get them.
In this section
Each of these is a hub page collecting our guides, background and recommendations on that topic.
Guides
Festival guides and the seasonal framing that tells you when to come.
How often
Best time to visit Chiang Mai: compare cool, hot and rainy seasons, month-by-month weather, burning season smoke, festivals, crowds, prices and packing tips.
29 min read
What to expect
Chiang Mai Flower Festival is one of the city’s most colourful annual events, combining a flower parade through central Chiang Mai with floral displays, garden exhibits, plant stalls and cultural activities centred on Nong Buak Haad Public Park. The 2027 festival is expected to return in February, but the official dates, parade route and programme have not yet been announced. This guide covers the latest date information, where the festival is held, what to expect from the parade, the best places to watch, and practical tips for planning your visit.
12 min read
What to expect
Plan for the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival with practical guidance on Yi Peng, festival dates, sky lantern releases, free vs ticketed events, locations, tickets, transport and visitor etiquette.
12 min read
What to expect
Plan Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai with clear advice on Yi Peng, dates, riverside celebrations, crowds, transport, safety and respectful participation.
12 min read
What to expect
Songkran Chiang Mai dates and schedule, plus the main water-fight zones around the moat, traditional celebrations, safety and what to expect.
6 min read
Newsletter
Occasional emails with useful Chiang Mai updates, new openings and guides worth knowing about.
The Chiang Mai Brief
Occasional emails with useful Chiang Mai updates, new openings and guides worth knowing about.