Vijit Chao Phraya is free for 31 nights, but the fireworks and drones are not nightly. Which evenings should you pick?

Vijit Chao Phraya, Bangkok's riverside festival of light, returns from Friday 13 November to Sunday 13 December 2026, and every one of its 31 nights is free. The catch is that the big moments are not nightly. Fireworks, the drone display over Wat Arun and the cultural show at Wat Kalayanamit each run on their own set of dates, so the evening you pick decides what you actually see.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) published an updated programme on 13 November. This year's theme is The Light of Imagination, with lighting, projection, drones and fireworks on both banks between the Rama VIII Bridge and the Rama III Bridge. TAT lists 19 riverfront locations plus a floating light installation, extending south to Rama III Bridge.

Which nights have the special shows?

The later Fridays (20 and 27 November, 4 and 11 December) have Wat Arun drones at 7.50pm and fireworks at both Rama VIII and Rama III bridges at 8.45pm. The listed weekends have Memorial Bridge fireworks at 8.45pm. Wednesdays have Wat Arun drones but no fireworks listed in this programme.

The opening weekend is different. On 13 and 15 November, TAT lists Rama VIII fireworks at 7.30pm, Wat Arun drones at 7.50pm, Memorial Bridge fireworks at 8.45pm and Rama III fireworks at 9.20pm. On 14 November, it lists Memorial Bridge fireworks but not the drones or the other two fireworks displays.

What runs every night?

Regular shows run at half-hour intervals from 7pm to 9.30pm at Rama VIII Bridge, the Royal Thai Naval Institute and its connecting bridge, Wat Kalayanamit, Memorial Bridge, the building beside Lhong 1919, The Langham Custom House, the First Presbyterian Church and Krung Thep Bridge. ICONSIAM has rounds from 6.30pm to 9pm. Krung Thep Bridge remains a light-show venue; the southern fireworks are listed at Rama III Bridge.

• Dates: 13 November to 13 December 2026, from 6pm to 10pm daily
• Entry: free for residents and visitors throughout
• Area: both banks of the Chao Phraya between the Rama VIII and Rama III bridges
• Regular show rounds: 7pm to 9.30pm at several venues, 6.30pm to 9pm at ICONSIAM

Is a dinner cruise the better seat?

Not necessarily. Because the shows are spread over several kilometres of river, no single riverbank spot catches everything. A boat moves you past several show points in an evening, but it will not be under the Memorial Bridge and the Rama VIII Bridge at the same time. If a particular show matters most to you, such as the drones over Wat Arun at 7.50pm, it can make more sense to pick a free viewing point near that landmark and arrive early, then walk or take a boat to the next one.

Choose by the display you most want to see. The later Fridays combine drones with fireworks at the northern and southern bridges, but those fireworks happen simultaneously. Sunday 15 November has staggered fireworks plus drones. For Memorial Bridge fireworks on later weekends, use the dates in the table. Allow travel time between venues rather than assuming a boat or riverbank viewpoint will catch every show.