Thailand's high season runs from November to February. Its major events in 2026–2027 are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in late November, New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year on February 6, 2027, and the Chiang Mai Flower Festival in early February. Travelers arriving on or after September 15, 2026, should also note a change to the entry rules: nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, are now allowed to stay visa-free for up to 30 days, instead of the previous 60.
This guide follows the season date by date, with practical advice for each event. It then covers the two formalities to prepare before departure: the new visa exemption rules and the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).
When is high season in Thailand?
High season in Thailand corresponds to the cool, dry season from November to February, with visitor numbers peaking in December and January. This period combines the most comfortable weather of the year with the country's busiest festival calendar. Accommodation in the most popular destinations fills up well in advance as a result.
Conditions differ between regions. The north, around Chiang Mai, and the southern islands follow their own weather patterns, so check the regional forecast for each stage of your itinerary. If your trip covers several regions, plan your route around the events you most want to attend. Those dates are the least flexible part of the itinerary.
When are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in 2026?
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng take place in late November 2026, on the full moon of the 12th lunar month. The exact dates change every year because they follow the Thai lunar calendar. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) publishes the official program closer to the event. Check it before you finalize your travel dates.
What is the difference between Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?
Loy Krathong is a national festival celebrated across Thailand. Participants float krathongs, small decorated rafts carrying candles and offerings, on rivers, canals and lakes. Yi Peng is a northern tradition rooted in Lanna culture and centered on Chiang Mai. Its signature ritual is releasing lanterns into the night sky. In Chiang Mai, both festivals take place on the same nights, so visitors experience the two traditions together.
Loy Krathong is not a public holiday. Government offices, banks and shops remain open during the day, and the celebrations take place in the evening.
Where can you celebrate Loy Krathong?
Three destinations stand out:
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Sukhothai, whose history is closely tied to the origins of the festival.
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Chiang Mai, where Loy Krathong coincides with Yi Peng and thousands of people release their krathong into the water along the Ping River.
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Bangkok, where the banks of the Chao Phraya River are the focal point of the celebrations.
A few practical points apply wherever you go:
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Arrive early at the waterfront. The best riverside spots fill up hours before nightfall.
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Book accommodation well in advance, particularly in Chiang Mai, where the combination of both festivals draws large crowds.
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Release lanterns only at authorized events. Lantern release is restricted in urban areas, so the large-scale releases seen in photographs take place at organized events outside the city.
Where can you spend New Year's Eve in Thailand?
Bangkok hosts the largest New Year's Eve celebrations in Thailand, with countdown events across the city and along the river. The TAT confirms the main official venues in the weeks before December 31, and the program is worth checking once it is published.
New Year's Eve falls at the very peak of high season. Book accommodation close to where you plan to celebrate, and organize your return journey before the evening begins. Transportation across the city is in heavy demand after midnight.
How is Chinese New Year celebrated in Bangkok?
Chinese New Year falls on February 6, 2027, and Bangkok's main celebrations take place in Yaowarat, the city's Chinatown. The district is known for its street food, its decorations and the celebrations that fill its main streets throughout the festivities. The detailed 2027 program has not yet been published.
One practical point matters for 2027. Chinese New Year falls on the weekend when the Chiang Mai Flower Festival is expected to take place. If you plan to attend both, or to travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai that weekend, book transportation and accommodation early.
What is the Chiang Mai Flower Festival?
The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is an annual celebration held over the first weekend of February, when the region's flowers reach full bloom at the end of the cool season. The 2027 edition is expected to run from February 5 to 7, subject to official confirmation. It takes place at Nong Buak Haad Park, on the southwest corner of the Old City moat, and its highlight is the Saturday morning parade from Nawarat Bridge to the park via Thapae Gate.
Dates can shift. In 2026, Thailand's general election pushed the festival to the following weekend, and the city usually confirms the official dates in early December. Until then, choose flights and accommodation with flexible cancellation terms.
Traveling to Thailand this season?
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How often does the Full Moon Party take place?
The Full Moon Party takes place once a month on Koh Phangan, timed to the lunar calendar. The exact dates for November 2026 to February 2027 should be confirmed closer to your trip, as they can be adjusted around public holidays and local events. During high season, book accommodation on the island well ahead of the event and plan your ferry crossings in advance.
How long can you stay in Thailand without a visa in 2026?
Nationals of eligible countries can stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism. According to the TAT, the new framework replaces Thailand's 60-day visa exemption measure, which ended on September 15, 2026, following Ministry of Interior announcements published in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026. Depending on nationality, travelers previously covered by the 60-day exemption now fall under the 30-day visa exemption, the 15-day visa exemption, Visa on Arrival or other relevant entry arrangements. The official list of eligible countries is published by the TAT and the Royal Gazette.
Three points deserve particular attention during high season:
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Land-border entries are limited. For entry through land-border immigration checkpoints, travelers using the 30-day visa exemption may generally enter Thailand under this exemption no more than twice per calendar year. This matters if your itinerary includes overland trips to Cambodia, Laos or Malaysia and back.
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Earlier arrivals keep their permitted stay. Those already admitted to Thailand under the previous scheme retain the period of stay granted by immigration authorities upon entry.
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The exemption covers tourism. A longer or different type of stay requires an appropriate visa obtained before travel.
A season-long trip covering Loy Krathong in November and the Flower Festival in February therefore goes well beyond a single 30-day stay. Plan the length of each stay, and each border crossing, before you book.
Do you need a Thailand Digital Arrival Card for each entry?
Yes. The TDAC has been mandatory for all foreign nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea since May 1, 2025, replacing the paper TM6 card. Travelers are required to complete the form no more than 72 hours (3 days) before their arrival in Thailand.
Each TDAC covers a single entry. A new TDAC must be submitted every time you enter Thailand. This is directly relevant to multi-country itineraries in Southeast Asia. If you visit Cambodia, Malaysia or Laos during your stay, you need to submit a new TDAC before returning to Thailand. Because the 72-hour window only opens shortly before each arrival, set a reminder for every re-entry date on your itinerary.
How can Service eVisa help you prepare your trip to Thailand?
Thailand's high season rewards travelers who plan ahead. Events like Loy Krathong and the Chiang Mai Flower Festival fix your dates, and the 30-day visa exemption and single-entry TDAC shape how you move between them. At Service eVisa, we help you handle the entry formalities with confidence. Your TDAC details are checked before submission, our platform is available in several languages, and our support team is on hand if a question comes up. That leaves you free to focus on the festivals, the waterfront celebrations and the route that connects them.
Sources
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Tourism Authority of Thailand, TAT Newsroom, "Thailand introduces new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September" (September 1, 2026): https://www.tatnews.org/2026/09/thailand-introduces-new-30-day-and-15-day-visa-exemption-rules-from-15-september/
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Tourism Authority of Thailand, Events and Festivals: https://www.tourismthailand.org/Events-and-Festivals
Your TDAC must reflect your actual arrival. It is valid for a single entry on the arrival date you declared, so update it or submit a new form before entering Thailand if your flight changes.
A typo in your passport number cannot be fixed with the update function, which excludes full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth. Submit a new TDAC with the correct details before your arrival.
Immigration will use only your most recent TDAC. The Thailand Immigration Bureau considers the latest submission as the valid one, so duplicates cause no problem as long as the last form is correct.
Yes, a travel agency can submit your TDAC on your behalf, provided you have authorized it and supplied accurate information. The Thailand Immigration Bureau also allows tour leaders to submit for group travelers.