Sukhothai Historical Park hosts Loy Krathong from 15 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 11:01 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFestival programme and heritage
- Thailand's 2026 celebration runs at the park from 15 to 24 November 2026.
- Wat Mahathat hosts the festival's light-and-sound presentation among the monuments.
- UNESCO inscribed the associated historic towns as a World Heritage property in 1991.
Sukhothai Historical Park hosts the Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival 2026 from 15 to 24 November 2026 in Sukhothai, Thailand. The programme places candlelight ceremonies, cultural performances and evening displays among the monuments of the ancient capital.
The event is also promoted in Thai as the Loy Krathong, Burning Candles and Playing with Fire Festival. The Thai Fine Arts Department identifies the venue as Sukhothai Historical Park and confirms the 15 to 24 November dates.
Loy Krathong festival runs from 15 to 24 November
The festival opens on 15 November and continues through 24 November 2026. A government event listing places the programme at the park and describes a light-and-sound presentation set against illuminated ancient monuments.
The same listing gives a 7pm show throughout the festival, with an additional 8.30pm presentation on 24 November. The festival programme also includes processions and a dramatic performance about the Sukhothai Kingdom. These details make the evening programme part of the visit to the archaeological site rather than a separate city-centre celebration.
The government event listing gives the dates, venue and scheduled show times. A second notice from the Fine Arts Department confirms the festival at the park.
Ancient capital provides the festival setting
UNESCO describes Sukhothai as the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Its monuments illustrate the beginnings of Thai architecture and the development of the Sukhothai style.
The World Heritage property includes the historic towns of Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet. UNESCO records a total property area of 11,852 hectares, with Sukhothai accounting for 7,000 hectares. The property was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991.
That heritage context shapes the festival experience in a precise way: the light-and-sound presentation uses Wat Mahathat and the surrounding ruins as its setting, while the wider programme uses ponds, monuments and historic routes within the protected landscape. UNESCO says the parks are managed under the direction of Thailand's Fine Arts Department, which coordinates the three historical parks as one World Heritage property.
The UNESCO heritage record places the site in lower northern Thailand and explains the relationship between its architecture, water management and historic urban landscape.
Visiting Sukhothai Historical Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The festival takes place from 15 to 24 November 2026 at Sukhothai Historical Park in Sukhothai, with the government listing the main presentation at 7pm and an additional 8.30pm show on 24 November.
- The evening programme is staged among the protected monuments, including a light-and-sound presentation at Wat Mahathat. The festival therefore combines a cultural programme with the archaeological setting itself.
- The venue is in Sukhothai, Thailand. UNESCO identifies the park as part of the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns World Heritage property.
- UNESCO states that there is no through traffic within the parks and that activities and use of the monuments are strictly controlled to protect the historic landscape.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Sukhothai Historical Park
When does the Loy Krathong festival take place at Sukhothai Historical Park?
The Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival runs from 15 to 24 November 2026 at the park.
What is Sukhothai Historical Park?
It is the archaeological site of Sukhothai, the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam, and part of a World Heritage property inscribed in 1991.
Where is Sukhothai Historical Park and how do you get there?
The park is in Sukhothai in lower northern Thailand. The official festival listing identifies Sukhothai as the location.
