The best things to do in Bangkok this weekend (July 30-August 2)

SUBCONSCIOUS returns with another late-night session for anyone who likes their dance music stripped back, hypnotic and loud. The crew, led by resident DJ Funkpheno, keeps the focus on deep techno, underground house, minimal grooves and flashes of UK electro, favouring long builds over instant drops. Expect driving percussion, brooding melodies and plenty of low-end that lingers long after the lights dim. The dancefloor attracts a crowd that comes to stay for the full journey rather than chase a headline act, making this a solid pick if you prefer proper club culture over quick-hit festival anthems.

July 30. Free entry. Culture Café. 8pm-3am

Swap your usual gym kit for neon leggings, oversized sweatbands and a vintage tracksuit, because 1981 Soul&Sold turns weeknight exercise into an affectionate nod to the aerobics boom. Held in the shopping centre's indoor activity space, these free after-work sessions pair easy-to-follow routines with a soundtrack packed with ABBA, Michael Jackson and other pop favourites from the decade. Rain never gets a say, making this a handy option if you fancy moving a little after work without committing to the treadmill.

July 30. Free entry. Yaanalog Space, 1981 Soul&Sold. 6.30pm-7.30pm

As the afternoon heat eases, Ong Ang Walking Street settles into its busiest hours. Strings of lights reflect on the canal, buskers fill the air with familiar tunes and the smell of grilled seafood and old-school Thai snacks drifts between the market stalls. Follow the towpath past colourful murals, browse vintage toys, handmade crafts and quirky collectibles, then stop at family-run eateries that have served Bangkok favourites for generations. If you're after a different view, hop in a kayak and paddle through the restored waterway before returning to the crowds gathering along the canal for another easy-going evening in the old city.

Now-July 31. Free entry. Ong Ang Canal. 4pm-10pm

Three decades after Detective Conan first arrives on television, the long-running mystery series gets its first Southeast Asian anniversary exhibition. The show traces the anime's history from early sketches and storyboards to voice recording, music and final animation, offering a closer look at the work behind one of Japan's biggest franchises. Highlights include life-sized recreations of memorable scenes, a storyboard wall spanning 30 years and a screening room showing an exclusive anniversary film. Pick up an assigned collectible ticket on arrival, then finish with a browse through exclusive merchandise made specially for the exhibition.

July 23-November 8. B250-900 via here. FreeAttraction Hall, ICONSIAM. 10am-9pm

After a seven-year break, Siam Carnival Funfair returns with 17 nights of rides, fairground games and all the snacks that usually disappear before you make it past the entrance. Follow the glow of the Ferris wheel and you'll find roller coasters, Viking ships and other attractions shipped over from Germany and Italy, alongside gentler options for anyone who prefers a slower pace. Between rides, grab candy floss, funnel cakes or street food from the rows of stalls, test your luck at the game booths or visit the animal feeding area, where rabbits and piglets keep younger visitors happily occupied while everyone else queues for another turn.

July 31-August 16. B15 for entry plus B60 per ride. Grand Rama 9 Plaza. 5pm-10pm

KANGKAO's latest edition, Lost in Transit, runs from 1pm until 4am with a full day of music, workshops and slow-moving moments spread across the venue. The programme starts with a beginner-friendly yoga session led by Skye before shifting to a hands-on screen-printing workshop where you can customise baby tees, oversized T-shirts, tank tops or slip mats with exclusive designs. As evening arrives, DJs take over with selections that carry the night well past midnight. Drop by for an hour or settle in for the whole day. Either way, this one rewards anyone happy to take things at their own pace.

August 1. B400-1,200 via here. DUAL, Trinity Complex. 1pm-4am

If you ever wonder what you might look like as an old-school video game character, RETROTECH SERIES: Player You has an answer. Presented by Slowcombo at bit.studio gallery, the interactive installation scans visitors and creates a pixelated avatar based on what they're wearing that day. From there, your digital double appears across a series of game-inspired worlds projected around the gallery, encouraging you to wander from screen to screen alongside other visitors. Drawing on the early days of home consoles while using current technology, the work explores identity through play without taking itself too seriously.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. B200-450 via here. bit.studio gallery. 2pm-8pm

Filipino artist BLIC returns with HARD SHIFTS, a new exhibition centred on his signature ‘Humand’ figures, using the familiar motif to consider how people adapt when life refuses to follow a tidy plan. Across paintings and mixed-media works, the artist explores resilience, uncertainty and quiet acceptance without dressing struggle up as triumph. Stress balls appear throughout the exhibition as recurring objects, offering moments of pause rather than easy solutions. Expect expressive colours, oversized hands and characters that keep moving despite the setbacks around them, reflecting everyday experiences that rarely come with neat endings.

August 1-September 5. Free entry. Joyman Gallery. 11am-6pm

After attracting a few hundred people for its first outing, Do F**ing Nothing returns with the same wonderfully simple premise: spend 30 minutes doing absolutely nothing. No scrolling, chatting, reading or playlists, just a quiet patch of park and whatever crosses your mind. Set among the usual Sunday routines of joggers, cyclists, aerobics groups and the occasional monitor lizard wandering past, the gathering offers an unusual contrast to the everyday activity around it. Once the half hour ends, you're free to leave or stay for small group conversations, sharing as much or as little of the experience as you like.

August 1. Free entry. Main Amphitheatre, Benjakitti Park. 5pm-6pm

A former film studio, theatre and acting school that sat empty for more than 40 years now becomes the setting for Octave Maze Live, a new performance series running from August to October. Hosted inside Asvin's maze-like interiors, the programme brings together musicians, DJs, sound artists and multidisciplinary creators from Thailand and abroad, with each performance responding differently to the building and its history. Expect experimental sound, live improvisation and audiences moving through the space rather than simply watching from a seat. Whether you're curious about contemporary music or performance art, this is a chance to experience one of Bangkok's most unusual cultural venues after dark.

August 1-October 10. B400 via Line Official Account: @ASVIN. Asvin. Check the line up here.

Spend a Sunday afternoon with needle and thread instead of another aimless scroll. Held alongside Chopper Pipatphong Sripeng's exhibition home, this embroidery workshop invites participants to stitch a brooch inspired by their own idea of home, whether that's a place, a memory or a person. Over four hours, the artist shares the thinking behind the exhibition while guiding everyone through the process, making the session suitable even if you've never picked up an embroidery needle before. 

August 2. B400. Reserve at GalieOasis. 1pm-5pm

Seoul-born party collective Lazberry makes its Bangkok debut with a club night built around care, respect and good music rather than big-name hype. Created to offer a safer space for FLINTA communities, the event welcomes anyone willing to share the dancefloor with the same spirit. There’s selectors like Xing Xing, Uni, Elaheh and Sarayu soundtracking the night with sets while Bart Temp's intimate room keeps the focus firmly on the people in front of the speakers. Come for the music, stay for the sense of community and enjoy a club night where everyone gets the chance to dance comfortably on their own terms.

August 2. B300 at the door. Bar Temp. 9pm-2am

Japanese craftsmanship has long balanced painstaking technique with a playful streak, and The Superlative Artistry of Japan shows how little that has changed over the past 150 years. After touring internationally since 2017, the exhibition finally arrives in Thailand, bringing together Meiji-era masterpieces and contemporary design in one thoughtful survey. Rather than separating tradition from pop culture, the exhibition shows how the same careful approach continues to shape Japanese creativity across generations.

July 25-August 23. Free entry. First floor, TCDC Bangkok. 10.30am-7pm

Gracie Abrams fans have a new Bangkok pilgrimage. To mark the release of her third album, Daughter From Hell, BONCI has given its café a temporary makeover with artwork inspired by the singer and a menu borrowing names from the record. Order a charcoal-topped Hit the Wall coffee, caffeine-free Look at My Life, fizzy ume plum drink Good Reason or Daughter From Hell dark beer cake. Limited-edition cup sleeves inspired by the album’s tracks are also up for grabs while stocks last. Even if you only stop by for an afternoon coffee, expect fans comparing favourites and taking photos between sips.

Now-July 31. Free entry. BONCI. 10am-6pm

PUN returns to the stage with The Space Between Dream and Dawn – Comeback Show, his first live performance since completing his ordination. Picking up where MUSEUM OF SOMNIA – An Embodied Music Experience left off, the concert revisits the songs and stories that shaped the project while opening a new chapter. PUN oversees every detail, from the setlist and narrative to the staging, lending the evening a distinctly personal touch. Tickets are reserved for visitors who attended the MUSEUM OF SOMNIA exhibition with either a One-time Pass or Four-times Pass, making this a rare reunion with the fans who have followed the journey from the start.

July 25-August 8. B299-1,299 via here. centralwOrld LIVE. 11am-10pm