Lanna Light Festival 2025 “Lanna, Worship & Lights”

By Citylife | Fri 3 Oct 2025

The VisitLanna Association for MICE and Tourism, in collaboration with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chiang Mai Office (TAT), Chulalongkorn University Social Lab, the Rak Chiang Mai Urban Community Network, and Chiang Mai provincial authorities, is organising the Yi Peng Lanna Light Festival 2025 – “Lanna, Worship & Lights” event under the project “Chiang Mai Two Moons 2025.”

The festival is a continuation of the Yi Peng tradition with the aim of reflecting Lanna’s faith and cultural beauty. It also aims to position the traditions as a form of Soft Power in order to elevate Chiang Mai into a creative cultural city. The goal is to develop high-potential local traditions into an international-level festival, guided by a five-year roadmap (2022–2026).

The Yi Peng Festival won the Asia Festival Award 2025 under the category “Asia World Heritage City and Festival,” as well as having grabbed two Asia Pinnacle Awards: “Best Event Programme” and “Best PR & Marketing.” Furthermore, Chiang Mai has been selected to host the IFEA Asia Pinnacle Awards & Asia Festival City Conference 2026.

The press conference for the Yi Peng Lanna Light Festival 2025 and networking event will take place on 1st October 2025, from 4pm-7pm at RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort Chiang Mai. Highlights include an opening ceremony, press briefing, and panel discussions with representatives from government, the private sector, and academia—including the Governor of Chiang Mai, Director of TCEB Northern Office, Director of TAT Chiang Mai Office, President of the Lanna Vissit Trade Association, representatives from Chulalongkorn University, and Rak Chiang Mai Urban Community Network. They will share visions for elevating Yi Peng into a Soft Power and discuss continuing the momentum with the festival, driving the region’s creative economy. The event also features business matching, tourism package showcases, festival workshops, and special Yi Peng menus from leading hotels and restaurants, ending with a networking dinner in a “Yi Peng Market” atmosphere.

Yi Peng is one of the most important festivals in Lanna culture. It falls on the full moon of the 12th lunar month (coinciding with Thailand’s Loy Krathong). People worship sacred relics, pay homage to the moon, float krathongs, and light phang prathip (small clay lanterns) to ward off misfortune and pray for blessings.

Chiang Mai has long been renowned as the “City of Lights” thanks to its plethora of glowing lanterns, is vibrant Yi Peng parades, and the thousands of lights. Lit by citizens within and surrounding the old city moat. The festival will be held from 3rd-6th November 2025.

Highlights of Yi Peng Chiang Mai Festival 2025

Yi Peng Market & Networking
1st October 2025 – RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort Chiang Mai
Business Matching with 60 pairs, table talks, and product showcases.

Yi Peng Journey Package & Yi Peng Passport
Throughout October and November 2025
Special promotions offered from hotels, restaurants, spas, and crafts businesses, with a prize-winning tourism map being distributed for free across the city.

Yi Peng Cultural Night Walk
3rd-5th November 2025, from 6pm onwards
Walking tour through Chiang Mai’s old town with the theme “Lanna, Worship & Lights.”

6th November 2025, from 6pm onwards – Grand Yi Peng parade by Chiang Mai Municipality
“Tam Phang Prathip Song Fa Haksa Mueang”
(Lantern Lighting for City Blessings) – 14th Edition

3rd November 2025 – Three Kings Monument & Chiang Mai’s four City Gates
Lighting of tens of thousands of clay lanterns around the moat, plus the opening ceremony and a procession of over 500 dancers starting from Tha Pae Gate and dancing along Ratchadamnoen Road to Phra Pokklao Road, ending at the Three Kings Monument.