// NOV 24, 2026 — FULL-MOON NIGHT · PATTAYA & JOMTIEN BEACHES
Thailand's festival of lights falls on Tuesday 24 November in 2026. Pattaya had not published its 2026 city programme or release points by 1 August, so the 2025 inland-water rule is precedent, not a promise.
// HOW THE NIGHT WORKS
A candle, incense and flowers on a floating base, carrying the year's bad luck away with the water. Releases run from sunset onward — but Pattaya's 2025 city guidance directed krathongs to designated inland water rather than the sea, and set up a 9×12-metre pond at Lan Pho Public Park. No 2026 city programme had been published when this page was checked.
Pattaya's 2025 event used designated inland water, including a temporary pond at Lan Pho Public Park. Do not infer a 2026 beach release from the festival tradition; use only the release points Pattaya City publishes for 2026.
The quieter stretch — more locals, more room on the sand, the same moon. If the ritual matters more than the crowd, come here.
Licensed venues in designated entertainment areas may trade until 04:00, but individual venues can finish earlier and the festival date does not change that rule. What tonight looks like →
// NOV 24 → NOV 28
Full-moon night. The calmest-beautiful night Pattaya does all year — at whichever release points the city designates.
The city resets while the fireworks barges set up off Central Beach. The smart move: do your zone tour now, before the weekend crowds land.
A 1 July local report and TAGTHAi's listing put the International Fireworks Festival along Pattaya Beach on Nov 27–28. TAGTHAi says further 2026 programme details will be released later.
The big night: displays over the bay, every rooftop booked, every zone at high-season volume. Horizon's weekend sunset tables book out 2–3 days ahead — plan accordingly.
From this week the city runs at full power through February — the whole year is mapped here.
// SMALL RULES, BIG NIGHT
№ 01
Vendors sell krathongs near the release points on the night — pick a biodegradable one (banana-trunk and bread bases) and skip the foam.
№ 02
2026 puts the observance midweek. Pattaya City had not yet published a 2026 start time, traffic plan or release-point map when this page was checked.
№ 03
With the Fireworks Festival landing the same week, rooms and rooftop tables go fast. Treat Nov 24–28 as one booking.
№ 04
It's a real festival, not a photo prop — locals are making wishes on that water. Float yours, make one, then go enjoy the city's biggest night.
// QUICK ANSWERS
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 — the full-moon night of the twelfth Thai lunar month. The date moves with the moon each year.
That is a city decision and it moves. In 2025 Pattaya ran a No Krathong in the Sea campaign, directing releases to designated inland water and providing a 9 by 12 metre pond at Lan Pho Public Park. No 2026 city programme had been published when this page was checked, so confirm the official release points before you buy a krathong.
Not in the sources re-opened by 1 August 2026. The 2025 inland-release campaign is the latest local precedent found, not a 2026 announcement.
A 1 July 2026 local report and TAGTHAi list the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival along Pattaya Beach on Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28. TAGTHAi says further programme details will be released later; no source opened here connects the two events operationally.
Checked 1 August 2026 against the latest Pattaya-specific rule record, dated 2026 fireworks listings and the full-moon calendar. Changes happen: info@pattaya-afterdark.com
Deeper reading: the Pattaya year, month by month · Countdown 2027 — Dec 29–31 · what tonight looks like
// SOURCE CHECK
Every line below was read on the source named beside it, on the date shown. Where two sources disagree we say so rather than pick one quietly.
National festival planning in 2024 explicitly treated water accidents and fireworks as safety risks
“This includes preventing water-related accidents and those caused by fireworks, as well as reducing waste from krathongs by using eco-friendly materials.”
THAILAND.GO.TH — published 6 November 2024
The same government guidance called for lower-waste krathongs made from eco-friendly materials
“This includes preventing water-related accidents and those caused by fireworks, as well as reducing waste from krathongs by using eco-friendly materials.”
THAILAND.GO.TH — published 6 November 2024
The Ministry of Culture was collecting festival data for a proposed UNESCO intangible-heritage registration
“The Ministry of Culture is in the process of collecting data on the Loi Krathong Festival in Thailand to propose it for registration as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity with UNESCO.”
THAILAND.GO.TH — published 6 November 2024
For Pattaya's 2025 celebration, safety teams were planned for Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and Bali Hai Pier
“Rescue teams, police officers, and volunteers will be stationed at key points along Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach, and the Bali Hai Pier to provide assistance and maintain order throughout the night.”
Pattaya Mail — published 5 November 2025
Pattaya's 2025 city guidance directed krathong releases to designated inland water areas rather than the sea
“The city is also intensifying its environmental awareness campaign under the slogan “No Krathong in the Sea”, encouraging both locals and tourists to float their krathongs only in designated inland water areas and to use eco-friendly materials.”
Pattaya Mail — published 5 November 2025
The 2025 city event at Lan Pho Public Park used a 9-by-12-metre artificial pond for releases
“In an effort to protect the environment, Pattaya City promoted the campaign “Don’t Float Krathongs in the Sea”, setting up a 9×12-meter artificial pond within the event grounds for visitors to float their krathongs instead.”
Pattaya Mail — published 7 November 2025
Eight boats collected krathongs between 19:00 and 22:00 after the 2025 event
“To maintain cleanliness after the festivities, the Pattaya Natural Resources and Environment Office deployed eight boats to collect krathongs from the sea between 7 PM and 10 PM, covering three main areas to keep Pattaya’s waters clean and welcoming for visitors.”
Pattaya Mail — published 7 November 2025
Post-festival cleanup crews covered Jomtien, Pattaya, Naklua and Wong Amat beaches before sunrise
“Cleanup crews were deployed across Jomtien, Pattaya, Naklua, and Wong Amat beaches to restore the city’s coastline before sunrise and welcome tourists with pristine views.”
Pattaya Mail — published 7 November 2025
The July 2026 Naklua route guide connects central Pattaya with Naklua and uses Lan Pho Naklua Market as a route landmark.
“The Naklua Route connects central Pattaya with Naklua ... Lan Pho Naklua Market”
Pattaya Life Guide — published 1 July 2026
Pattaya's 2025 Loy Krathong guidance restricted fireworks and sky lanterns for the 5 November celebration.
“restricts the use of fireworks and sky lanterns on November 5”
Pattaya Mail — published 5 November 2025
The same city planning report says the 2025 festival used coordinated traffic management alongside land and marine safety measures.
“comprehensive land and marine safety measures, along with coordinated traffic management”
Pattaya Mail — published 5 November 2025
Sources disagree — where visitors should release a krathong in Pattaya
Pattaya Mail says Pattaya's 2025 city campaign directed releases to designated inland water areas only (5 November 2025). THAILAND.GO.TH says The 2024 national description presents waterside celebration and floating as the general tradition (6 November 2024).
Editorial lead: Pattaya Mail. The Pattaya-specific rule is later and local. Until Pattaya City publishes a 2026 plan, the page must not promise that visitors can release krathongs from the beach.
What we could not confirm: Pattaya City's official 2026 event site and release areas — No dated 2026 city programme was retrieved. Whether the 2025 inland-water-only rule will repeat in 2026 — The 2025 policy is the latest local precedent found, not a 2026 announcement. A 2026 traffic and road-closure plan — No official 2026 transport notice was available in this pass. A confirmed operational link between Loy Krathong and the later 2026 fireworks weekend — The opened sources did not connect the two programmes.
Checked 1 August 2026 against THAILAND.GO.TH, Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Life Guide. Something changed? Tell us and we re-check it.