Sukhothai Historical Park hosts Loy Krathong from 15 November
Published on 11/07/2026 at 16:48 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFestival programme and heritage setting
- The public relations department lists the festival at the park from 15 November 2026.
- Wat Mahathat hosts the light and sound show, while the wider programme combines ceremonies, parades and fireworks.
- UNESCO inscribed the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns in 1991.
- The Fine Arts Department manages the World Heritage property in Thailand.
Sukhothai Historical Park hosts the Loy Krathong and Candle Festival from 15 to 24 November 2026 in Sukhothai, Thailand. The programme places candlelight ceremonies, cultural performances and a light and sound show among the ancient monuments of the former Siamese capital.
Loy Krathong festival runs from 15 to 24 November
The Thai government lists the festival at Sukhothai Historical Park from 15 to 24 November 2026. Its programme includes a light and sound show at 7pm, with an additional performance at 8.30pm on 24 November, according to the government event listing.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand also places the Sukhothai Loi Krathong, Candlelight and Fireworks Festival at the park from 15 to 24 November. Its calendar describes candlelight ceremonies and fireworks within the historic setting, linking the annual water festival directly to the archaeological landscape. The full moon falls on 24 November, the authority reports in its national festival calendar.
The setting matters because the event is not simply a town celebration held nearby. The park itself provides the backdrop for illuminated monuments, while the performances use the history of the Sukhothai Kingdom as their subject.
Ancient capital frames the 2026 festival programme
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, including religious buildings, sculpture and water-management works.
The Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns became a World Heritage property in 1991. The property includes Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet, with a combined area of 11,852 hectares. The Sukhothai component covers 7,000 hectares, according to UNESCOs World Heritage record.
The Fine Arts Department manages the three historical parks as one World Heritage property. That custodial role gives the 2026 programme a clear connection with the monuments: public celebrations take place inside a protected archaeological landscape rather than at an unrelated festival venue.
What the evening programme adds to the ruins
The festival combines traditional ceremonies with staged cultural interpretation. Government information identifies war elephant processions and a dramatic performance about the prosperity of the Sukhothai Kingdom, set against illuminated ancient monuments and water.
The 24 November programme has a particular place in the schedule because it carries the additional 8.30pm light and sound performance. The festival therefore offers two different visitor experiences within the same site: daytime exploration of the historic town and a night programme that uses light, performance and ceremony to frame the ruins.
Visiting Sukhothai Historical Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The festival takes place at Sukhothai Historical Park from 15 to 24 November 2026, with the additional light and sound performance on 24 November at 8.30pm.
- The named venue is the historical park in Sukhothai, and the programme combines illuminated monuments, cultural performances, ceremonies and fireworks.
- The site is in the lower northern region of Thailand. UNESCO identifies the Fine Arts Department as the managing authority for the World Heritage property.
- Thailand has Thai as its official language and uses the baht as its national currency. 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 and Candle Festival take place at Sukhothai Historical Park?
The festival runs from 15 to 24 November 2026. The light and sound show is listed at 7pm, with an additional performance at 8.30pm on 24 November.
What is Sukhothai Historical Park?
It is the archaeological site of the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam. Its monuments form part of the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns, inscribed by UNESCO in 1991.
Where is Sukhothai Historical Park and how do you get there?
The park is in the lower northern region of Thailand, in Sukhothai. The Fine Arts Department manages it as part of the World Heritage property.
