Loy Krathong 2026 (24 Nov): moonrise times, will the sky be clear, how to photograph the Moon
Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026 (the full-moon night of the 12th Thai lunar month). The Moon is exactly full at about 22:02 Thailand time, so it will look full and bright all evening. Whether the sky is clear cannot be forecast reliably yet; this page gives what can be calculated for certain, and how to check the clouds closer to the day.
Moonrise and direction in 7 cities
On a full-moon night the Moon rises in the east around the time the Sun sets in the west. This year it rises about 20–26 minutes before sunset in many cities, so you start to see it as the sky dims, low in the east-northeast (bearing roughly 60–73°). Look from open ground with no buildings or trees in the way.
| City | Sunset | Moonrise | Height at 19:00 | Height at 21:00 | Moonset (morning of 25 Nov) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | 17:48 | 17:24 | 20° | 46° | 06:51 |
| Chiang Mai | 17:46 | 17:20 | 20° | 46° | 07:08 |
| Lampang | 17:44 | 17:19 | 21° | 47° | 07:05 |
| Khon Kaen | 17:34 | 17:09 | 23° | 49° | 06:47 |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 17:28 | 17:03 | 24° | 51° | 06:36 |
| Phuket | 18:05 | 17:44 | 16° | 42° | 06:47 |
| Hat Yai | 17:58 | 17:38 | 17° | 43° | 06:36 |
Is it a “supermoon”?
On Loy Krathong night the Moon is about 361,086 km away, closer than its average (about 384,000 km), but not the closest of the year. The closest Full Moon is on 24 December 2026 (about 356,932 km), which Thailand’s NARIT lists as this year’s super full moon. So if you see Loy Krathong called a “supermoon”, note that the Moon is only slightly larger than usual, and hard to tell apart by eye.
Will the sky be clear?
- Not knowable yet: reliable cloud forecasts reach about 7–16 days ahead and improve as the day approaches. From around 8 November a 16-day forecast covers the 24th.
- Where to check: open “📅 Calendar” in the app for 24 Nov, or the “Tonight’s sky” page on the day (cloud, rain and haze at your chosen place), together with the Thai Meteorological Department’s official forecast.
- Last year as an example: on Loy Krathong night 5 Nov 2025 the TMD reported scattered thunderstorms over the upper part of the country and heavy rain in places in the south. Conditions differ every year, so check close to the day.
Photographing the Moon
- Best time: about 17:30–18:30, just after moonrise while it is low; put a landscape or your krathong in the foreground. The Moon looks big near the horizon because of an optical illusion, not because it is larger.
- Phone: tap on the Moon so the camera meters for it, then lower the brightness, otherwise it turns into a white blob. Steady the phone on something or use a tripod.
- Camera: try ISO 100, f/8–f/11, about 1/125–1/250 s (a full Moon is very bright). To include night lights, shoot separately and blend.
- Finding the direction: use the app’s “🧠Compass” or “AR sky” to point east-northeast before moonrise.
Quick answers
What date is Loy Krathong 2026? Tuesday 24 November 2026. When is the Moon full? About 22:02 Thailand time (±15 minutes). Which krathong? Choose easily-biodegradable materials such as banana leaf or bread, and avoid foam.