Thailand Lantern Festival Venues 2026: CAD or Yee Peng Lanna

CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival (CAD) and Yee Peng Lanna International (Lanna) are the two largest ticketed celebrations open to international visitors during the Lantern Festival.

Every November, thousands of travelers gather in Chiang Mai to experience the magical Yi Peng Lantern Festival, one of Thailand's most iconic cultural celebrations. During the festival, locals light candles, release sky lanterns, and make wishes for good fortune, peace, and new beginnings.

While both events culminate in the unforgettable mass lantern release, the overall experience is quite different. From the atmosphere and cultural activities to transportation, ticket categories, and crowd size, this guide compares the two venues side by side to help you choose the one that best matches your travel style.

CAD or Lanna at a Glance

	CAD Khomloy	Yee Peng Lanna International
Location	CAD Cultural Center Lanna, about 40 km from Chiang Mai Old City	Tudongkhasathan Lanna, near Mae Jo University, about 20 km from the Old City
Date & Time	Nov 24-25, 2026, approx. 1:00 PM-8:45 PM	Nov 24-25, 2026, approx. 2:00 PM-9:00 PM
Crowd Size	25,000+ visitors per night	3,000-4,000 visitors per night
Highlights	Market stalls, craft workshops, Muay Thai, Lanna dance performances, live music, buffet dinner, lantern release, and fireworks	Cultural exhibitions, buffet dinner, monk chanting, meditation, candle-lighting ceremony, lantern release, and small fireworks display
Ticket Categories	6 categories (Standard, VIP, Premium, Gold, Platinum, Elite), approx. US$160-500	2 categories (Standard, Premium) with optional round-trip shuttle service, approx. US$170-380
Transportation	Round-trip shuttle included, about 1 hour each way	Optional shuttle service, about 30 minutes each way
Best For	Travelers seeking spectacular photos, stage performances, and fireworks	Travelers seeking a traditional, peaceful, and culturally immersive Yi Peng experience

CAD or Lanna: What's the Difference?

Although both CAD Khomloy and Yee Peng Lanna International revolve around the unforgettable experience of releasing sky lanterns, the overall atmosphere is quite different.

CAD feels like a grand celebration. As dusk falls, more than 20,000 visitors gather in the main arena while traditional Lanna dance performances, folk music, and Muay Thai demonstrations build excitement for the evening. When the countdown begins, tens of thousands of lanterns rise into the night sky almost simultaneously, creating what feels like a sky filled with glowing stars. Moments later, dazzling fireworks burst among the lanterns, making the entire celebration even more spectacular. It's lively, energetic, and full of unforgettable photo opportunities.

Lanna, on the other hand, places greater emphasis on the ceremony itself. Before nightfall, you can collect a cultural souvenir, explore exhibitions created by local students, admire handcrafted textiles, and learn about Lanna traditions. As the ceremony begins, the chanting of Buddhist monks, the soft glow of candles you light yourself, and the guided blessing ceremony create a peaceful and reflective atmosphere. When everyone releases their lanterns together, thousands of lights slowly drift into the night sky. While the scale is smaller than CAD, the experience feels more intimate and heartfelt, allowing you to connect with the deeper meaning of the Yi Peng tradition rather than simply watching a performance.

CAD or Lanna, Which Venue Is Right for You?

There's no right or wrong choice. It simply depends on the kind of experience you're looking for.

If your priority is photographing thousands of lanterns, enjoying spectacular stage performances, and experiencing an energetic festival atmosphere, CAD Khomloy is the better choice.

If you prefer a quieter evening focused on local traditions, Buddhist rituals, and cultural immersion, Yee Peng Lanna International will likely be more rewarding.

Please note that drones are not permitted at either event.

Best for Families with Children

Recommended: Yee Peng Lanna International

With only a fraction of CAD's attendance, Lanna offers a more relaxed environment that's easier to navigate with children. The ceremony is quieter, the lighting and sound effects are less intense, and there is generally more space to move around comfortably.

One unique experience at Lanna is its community clean-up activity. On the morning after the festival, local residents gather to collect fallen lanterns around the venue. If your schedule allows, families are welcome to join the clean-up. It's a meaningful opportunity for children to learn about environmental responsibility while experiencing local community traditions.

Best for Couples

Both venues are excellent choices.

Whether you prefer the lively atmosphere of CAD or the peaceful setting of Lanna comes down to your personal travel style.

If you're planning a proposal or celebrating a special occasion, a private setup away from the main crowd can also be arranged upon request, with optional professional photography to capture the moment.

Best for Seniors

Recommended: Yee Peng Lanna International

Lanna is generally the more comfortable option for older travelers. The ceremony is quieter, the pace is more relaxed, and the overall experience requires less walking and waiting.

Because the event attracts far fewer visitors than CAD, the queues for shuttle buses after the festival are typically shorter, making the journey back to the city more comfortable.

Which Venue Is Easier to Get To?

Both venues offer shuttle transportation, and overall convenience is fairly similar. The main differences lie in the meeting points, travel time, and where the shuttle drops you off after the event.

Getting to the Venue

CAD Khomloy: Round-trip shuttle transportation is included with every ticket. The meeting point depends on your ticket category: Standard, VIP, Premium, and Gold ticket holders depart from Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMEC). Platinum and Elite ticket holders depart from MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center. The journey to the venue takes approximately 50 to 60 minutes from either location.

Lanna: Lanna offers tickets with or without round-trip transportation. If you choose the shuttle option, buses depart from Central Festival Chiang Mai, with a journey of approximately 30 minutes to the venue.

Returning to the City

Both venues experience heavy traffic after the lantern release as thousands of visitors leave at the same time. Since CAD attracts a much larger crowd, the wait for shuttle buses is usually longer than at Lanna. If you'd rather avoid waiting in line, Odynovo can arrange a private transfer for a more comfortable return journey. While traffic congestion is unavoidable, you'll be able to leave as soon as you're ready.

CAD: Shuttle buses return to either MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center or Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.

Lanna: Shuttle buses return to Central Festival Chiang Mai, the same location as the departure point.

Which Ticket Category Should You Choose?

If you're comparing the entry-level tickets, price isn't really the deciding factor. With round-trip transportation included, both venues cost around US$150-170 for their standard tickets.

Instead, the biggest differences come down to the overall experience, including seating location, transportation, and the atmosphere each ticket category offers.

CAD Khomloy

CAD offers six ticket categories ranging from approximately US$160 to US$500.

For most travelers, we recommend the VIP ticket because it offers the best balance of price, seating location, and transportation comfort. If you're traveling on a tighter budget and don't mind taking a traditional open-air songthaew, the Standard ticket still includes the full festival experience. Premium, Gold, Platinum, and Elite tickets are better suited to travelers who want a more comfortable experience or better views of the performances and lantern release.

Category	Transportation	Features	Best For
Standard	Open-air songthaew	Back rows, farthest from the stage, facing away from the main performance area	Budget-conscious travelers
VIP	Air-conditioned vehicle	Central seating area with direct views of the fireworks and lantern release	Travelers seeking the best value for money
Premium	Air-conditioned vehicle	Grandstand seating with a wider view and enhanced sound and lighting experience	Travelers who want a closer view of the traditional Lanna performances
Gold	Air-conditioned vehicle	Grandstand seating with a broader overall view and more immersive sound and lighting	Travelers who prefer elevated grandstand seating
Platinum	Air-conditioned vehicle	Panoramic views of the entire main venue, with excellent visibility of both the stage and lantern release	Travelers who want a complete view of the stage, lanterns, and fireworks
Elite	Air-conditioned vehicle	The best panoramic views, priority check-in, exclusive waiting area, and upgraded dining experience	Higher-budget travelers seeking the most comfortable and hassle-free experience

Yee Peng Lanna International

Lanna currently offers two ticket categories, Standard and Premium, both available with or without round-trip shuttle service. Ticket prices range from approximately US$170 to US$380, depending on the seating category and transportation option.

The main difference between the two seating categories is their location. Premium seats are closer to the ceremonial platform, giving you a better view of the monks' chanting, candle-lighting, and blessing ceremony. If you're interested in experiencing the spiritual side of the festival, Premium is worth considering.

Whether to book the shuttle service mainly depends on your expectations for comfort and convenience.

The shuttle uses a traditional open-air songthaew, which is well ventilated while moving but can feel warm if traffic is heavy. In late November, daytime temperatures in Chiang Mai typically range from 28°C to 32°C (82°F-90°F).

If you don't mind riding a songthaew and would rather avoid arranging your own transportation, the shuttle option is a convenient and cost-effective choice. If you prefer a more comfortable journey or would like greater flexibility after the event, arranging your own transportation or booking a private transfer is the better option. Odynovo can also arrange a private vehicle upon request.

Book Your Tickets

If you've decided which venue is right for you, you can visit our ticket pages to compare seating categories, prices, and what's included before securing your preferred tickets.

Please note: Elite tickets for the 2026 CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival are already sold out.

Buy CAD Tickets or Buy Lanna Tickets here.

Tip: We recommend booking at least 6 months in advance. Because Yi Peng is one of Thailand's most popular festivals and both venues have limited capacity, tickets often become difficult to find closer to the event, and prices may increase as availability decreases.

Where Should I Stay?

If the lantern festival is the main purpose of your trip to Chiang Mai, consider staying near your shuttle departure point to make getting to the event easier. Hotels in these areas often sell out several months in advance, so we recommend booking at least six months, and ideally up to a year, ahead if you're traveling during the Yi Peng Festival.

If you also plan to explore Chiang Mai's temples, markets, and cafés, staying near Tha Phae Gate in the Old City is usually the most convenient choice. It's within easy reach of many of the city's top attractions and offers plenty of restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Most Odynovo itineraries also feature hotels in this area.

Can I Attend Both CAD and Lanna?

Technically, yes. For example, you could attend Lanna on November 24 and CAD on November 25. However, for most travelers, we don't recommend attending both during the same trip unless you're particularly interested in comparing the two experiences.

Although each venue has its own character, both follow a similar flow and culminate in a mass sky lantern release. Watching two lantern releases on consecutive evenings may feel repetitive for many visitors. It's also worth remembering that both venues are located outside Chiang Mai's city center. Between the round-trip transfers, traffic congestion after the event, and returning to your hotel close to midnight, attending both venues can be surprisingly tiring and may affect the rest of your trip.

Whether you choose CAD Khomloy or Yee Peng Lanna International, you'll witness one of Thailand's most unforgettable cultural celebrations.

As thousands of lanterns slowly rise into the night sky, the moment is about far more than creating beautiful photographs. For many Thai people, releasing a sky lantern is a symbolic act of letting go of worries, misfortune, and hardships from the past year while sending wishes for peace, happiness, and good fortune into the future.

That shared sense of hope and celebration is what continues to make the Yi Peng Lantern Festival such a meaningful experience for visitors from around the world.