Vijit Chao Phraya 2026:Bangkok's River of Light

For one month a year, Bangkok turns its river into a stage. Temples glow in colour, bridges carry projections, drones draw in the sky and, on the big nights, fireworks go up over the Memorial Bridge at a quarter to nine. The whole thing is free, from either bank, every night.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand confirmed the 2026 dates on 22 October: Friday 13 November to Sunday 13 December 2026, 31 nights, under the theme “Light of Imagination”. It is the fifth edition, and the biggest stretch of river yet, from the Rama VIII Bridge in the old town down to the Rama III Bridge.

This guide covers what has been announced, what has not, the pattern of the last four editions, where to stand, and how to see it from the water or from a hotel room.

What Vijit Chao Phraya Is

“Vijit” (วิจิตร) means exquisite, or splendid, and that is the brief. Each year TAT lights a chain of landmarks along the Chao Phraya with light-and-sound shows, projection mapping, laser displays and, in recent editions, drone formations and fireworks, with Thai cultural performances at a few of the sites. The shows run on loops through the evening, roughly 6 PM to 10 PM, so you can wander between points or watch several from one spot on the river.

It began in November 2022 as a 16-night showcase for the APEC leaders’ meeting, with six sites. It has grown every year since: 31 nights in 2023, 14 points in 2024, and in 2025 a 45-night run across 15 points that drew more than 1.7 million visits and, by TAT’s estimate, over 5.5 billion baht in spending along the river. Boat operators were the biggest winners, which tells you how most people choose to see it.

The 2026 Edition: What Is Confirmed

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool set out the plan at a partners’ briefing on 22 October 2026. The confirmed points:

Dates

13 November to 13 December 2026, 31 nights

Theme

"Light of Imagination" (แสงแห่งจินตนาการ)

Sites

13 landmarks on both banks, between the Rama VIII Bridge and the Rama III Bridge

Named so far

Rama VIII Bridge, Wat Arun, Wichai Prasit Fort, the Memorial Bridge, Phra Pok Klao Bridge and Krung Thep Bridge

Shows

Light and sound, projection mapping, drone formations, fireworks and cultural performances

Entry

Free, as in every edition so far

Krung Thep Bridge is the news. It has never been a named site before, and it sits far downstream of the old town, near Asiatique and the Rama III piers. Its inclusion means the southern end of the river gets a show of its own for the first time, which matters if your hotel or your cruise is down that way.

Seven of the 13 sites have not been named. In 2025 the list also included the Royal Thai Navy headquarters, Wat Kalayanamit, the Lhong 1919 building, Holy Rosary Church, River City Bangkok, ICONSIAM and the Bangkok Dock crane, and most of those partners are likely to return.

The Landmarks, Bank by Bank

The 2026 list is still short of seven names, so here is what each point showed in 2025, upstream to downstream. Expect most of it back, with new designs for the new theme.

Landmark	Bank	What it showed in 2025
Rama VIII Bridge	Both	A light and laser show on the cables, in six five-minute rounds a night. The drone launch point in 2025.
Siriraj waterfront	Thonburi	Light installations at the mouth of Khlong Bangkok Noi and on the museum clock tower.
Royal Thai Navy HQ	Thonburi	A laser and sound show across the naval buildings, facing the Grand Palace.
Wat Arun	Thonburi	Projection on the central prang, the festival’s signature image. Drone shows on selected nights.
Wichai Prasit Fort	Thonburi	The old fort lit as the “guardian of the river”, next to Wat Arun.
Wat Kalayanamit	Thonburi	Light mapping on the great viharn, with multimedia shows at 7:50 PM and 8:20 PM on Friday to Sunday nights.
Memorial Bridge	Both	Projection along the span, and the fireworks launch point at 8:45 PM on show nights.
Phra Pok Klao Bridge	Both	Lit in gold next to the Memorial Bridge, with the Sky Park on top.
Lhong 1919	Thonburi	Projection and shadow play on the old warehouse building in the soi.
Holy Rosary Church	Bangkok	Projection mapping on the Gothic church near River City.
River City Bangkok	Bangkok	Light installations along the waterfront and the facade.
ICONSIAM	Thonburi	The mall’s own light symphony at 6:55, 7:55 and 8:55 PM, with the water show on the hour.
Bangkok Dock	Thonburi	Floating light spheres and a sculpture by the dock crane.

From the Water

The festival was designed with the boats in mind. The dinner cruises sail the exact stretch that is lit, and a 7 PM departure from ICONSIAM, Asiatique or River City puts you on the river for the 8:45 PM fireworks and in front of Wat Arun around the time its projection is at full strength. The open upper decks are the seats to ask for.

Two things to know. Several operators sell “festival” sailings at a premium on fireworks nights and on Loy Krathong (24 November), and the cheaper promotional tickets are often not valid on those dates. And the boats are busy: the most reviewed cruises sell out their weekend sailings a week or more ahead during the festival.

Sleeping on the River

A river-view room turns the festival into something you watch from bed. The Thonburi bank between ICONSIAM and Khlong San looks across to River City and the old town; the Bangkok bank around Sathorn and Bang Rak looks across to Wat Arun’s side of the river. Prices rise on the fireworks weekends, and the small boutique hotels at Tha Tien, facing Wat Arun, go first.

A Short History

Edition	Dates	Scale	Notes
2022, the first	12 to 27 Nov	16 nights, 6 sites	Staged for the APEC leaders’ week. Projection on Wichai Prasit Fort, shadow play at Wat Kalayanamit, lights on the Rama VIII Bridge.
2023	1 to 31 Dec	31 nights, 5 main sites plus partners	Fireworks at the Memorial Bridge at 8:45 PM on selected nights, drone shows at Asiatique, a countdown finale at Wat Arun.
2024	16 Nov to 15 Dec	30 nights, 14 points	Drone shows at Wat Arun at 7:50 PM, fireworks at the Memorial Bridge on ten nights, part of the Thailand Winter Festivals.
2025	9 Nov to 23 Dec	45 nights, 15 points	”Light of Siam, Mother of the Land”, in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. Drones replaced fireworks until December. 1.7 million visits.
2026	13 Nov to 13 Dec	31 nights, 13 points	”Light of Imagination”. Krung Thep Bridge joins the list.

Getting Around on Show Nights

The river boats stop early. The Chao Phraya Express Boat’s last departures from Sathorn are around 7 PM, so it gets you to a spot but not home. The Tourist Boat and the cross-river ferries run later, but on fireworks nights plan to leave by rail or road.

Rail does the job. MRT Sanam Chai is the station for the Memorial Bridge, Rajinee, Tha Tien and Wat Pho; MRT Itsaraphap serves Wat Kalayanamit and the Kudi Chin side. The BTS Gold Line reaches ICONSIAM and runs until midnight. Taxis and ride-hailing from the old town are slow after a fireworks show; walk ten minutes away from the river before you call one.

Two other dates share the river. The Royal Barge Procession sails from Wasukri Pier to Wat Arun on Friday 6 November, the week before the festival opens, with river closures from midday. Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November, the festival’s twelfth night, and brings the biggest crowds of the month to every pier.

Bring a light layer for the river breeze after 9 PM, a power bank, and patience at the piers. Late November is the start of the cool season, usually dry, around 26°C in the evening.