Sutat temple (Wat Suthat) is throwing a free cultural party, opening its doors after dark for eight nights packed with Thai traditional performances, a glowing light garden and a rare night museum. From September 20-27, if you happen to be in Bangkok, this is your golden ticket to experience Thai art and heritage without spending a single satang.
And yes, there will be Khon, the prestigious masked dance-drama you might recognise from its monkey-headed warriors. It’s grand and it only comes once a year.
The lineup
Sep 20 Khon Ramakien
Sep 21 Chanting at Viharn Rai, cultural shows, live by Anan Asai Phrainaphana
Sep 22 Cultural shows / live by Ryal Kajbandit
Sep 23 Chinese opera / lion dance
Sep 24 Children’s khon / traditional comic skits
Sep 25 Khon Ramakien / northern performance
Sep 26 Khon Sod (spoken-script khon) / cultural shows
Sep 27 Likay by Chaiya Mitrchai / cultural shows
Performances run nightly from 6pm to 8.30pm
By day, Wat Suthat is a place of solemn grandeur – a 19th-century royal temple that ranks among the city’s most important landmarks. But by night, it transforms into a breathtaking open-air stage for Khon, Thailand’s most regal performing art.
This isn’t just any performance. Rooted in the Thai Ramayana epic and recognized by UNESCO, Khon is a jaw-dropping spectacle of intricate costumes, masked dancers and mythic battles. Watching it unfold beneath the eaves of this historic temple, rather than in a ticketed auditorium, is an unforgettable Bangkok moment.
The festival offers a rare opportunity to explore the temple’s museum after hours, revealing treasures usually kept in the shadows: ancient Buddha effigies, delicate manuscripts and relics from the early Chakri dynasty. Held in honour of the 100th birthday of King Ananda Mahidol, the event promises both royal splendour and a vibrant atmosphere. It’s the perfect introduction for first-timers and a stunning new perspective for those who thought they knew it all.