THE RELEASE
Krathongs go on the water from sunset onward — a candle, incense and flowers on a floating base, carrying the year's bad luck out with the tide. The beaches fill as the light goes.
// NOV 24, 2026 — FULL-MOON NIGHT · PATTAYA & JOMTIEN BEACHES
LOY
KRATHONG
Thailand's festival of lights lands on a full-moon Tuesday — thousands of candlelit krathongs drifting off the sand while the city glows behind them. The most beautiful night of the Pattaya year, and it opens the biggest week.
The date
TUE NOV 24
The moon
FULL · 100%
The water
TWO BEACHES
Same week
FIREWORKS 27–28
// HOW THE NIGHT WORKS
THE FESTIVAL, AFTER DARK
PATTAYA BEACH
The central stretch is the spectacle: thousands of flames on the bay with the city skyline burning behind them. Arrive early, stay past full dark.
JOMTIEN BEACH
The quieter release — more locals, more room on the sand, the same moon. If the ritual matters more than the crowd, float here.
THE NIGHT CONTINUES
The zones are minutes from the sand and run to 04:00 as always — Loy Krathong night is one of the year's busiest in the bars. What tonight looks like →
// NOV 24 → NOV 28
THE BIGGEST WEEK
TUE 24
LOY KRATHONG
Full-moon night. Krathongs off both beaches from sunset, the calmest-beautiful night Pattaya does all year.
WED–THU
THE BREATH BETWEEN
The city resets while the fireworks barges set up off Central Beach. The smart move: do your zone tour now, before the weekend crowds land.
FRI 27
FIREWORKS FESTIVAL, NIGHT ONE
The International Fireworks Festival opens over Central Beach — confirmed Nov 27–28, 2026. Beachfront fills from sunset.
SAT 28
NIGHT TWO — THE PEAK
The big night: displays over the bay, every rooftop booked, every zone at high-season volume. Horizon's weekend sunset tables book out 2–3 days ahead — plan accordingly.
AND ON
HIGH SEASON IGNITES
From this week the city runs at full power through February — the whole year is mapped here.
// SMALL RULES, BIG NIGHT
FLOAT RIGHT
№ 01
Buy on the beach
Vendors line both beaches with krathongs on the night — pick a biodegradable one (banana-trunk and bread bases) and skip the foam.
№ 02
It's a working Tuesday
2026 puts the festival midweek — beaches peak after office hours. The water is at its best 20:00 onward, under a fully risen moon.
№ 03
Book the week, not the day
With the Fireworks Festival landing the same week, rooms and rooftop tables go fast. Treat Nov 24–28 as one booking.
№ 04
Respect the ritual
It's a real festival, not a photo prop — locals are making wishes on that water. Float yours, make one, then go enjoy the city's biggest night.
// QUICK ANSWERS
ASKED & ANSWERED
When is Loy Krathong 2026 in Pattaya?
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 — the full-moon night of the twelfth Thai lunar month. The date moves with the moon each year.
Where do you float a krathong in Pattaya?
Off the sand: Pattaya Beach central stretch for the spectacle, Jomtien for the calmer release. Vendors sell krathongs on both beaches all evening.
Is it free?
Yes — the festival costs nothing beyond the krathong itself, sold by beach vendors on the night.
What else happens that week?
The International Fireworks Festival follows Friday–Saturday, November 27–28 at Central Beach (confirmed) — together they open high season.
Dates verified June 2026 (full-moon calendar + official tourism listings). Changes happen: [email protected]
Deeper reading: the Pattaya year, month by month · Countdown 2027 — Dec 29–31 · what tonight looks like