The best things to do in Bangkok this weekend (June 18-21)

If you've been looking for an excuse to disappear into European cinema for a few nights, this is probably the best free ticket in town. The EU Film Festival 2026 returns to Thailand from June 18-28 with 21 films from 19 countries screening across Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. 

This year’s theme, ‘See Beyond. Feel Beyond.’, leans towards stories that linger a little longer after the credits roll – intimate dramas, social tensions, political undercurrents and the kinds of films more interested in people than spectacle. ‘Each title is selected by its respective EU member state embassy, so the lineup feels less like a touring package and more like a fast-moving snapshot of contemporary Europe through different languages, cities and perspectives.

Bangkok screenings take place at the Siam Society, House Samyan and Lido Connect – which honestly feels like the right level of cinema-hopping for this kind of festival. Chiang Mai hosts screenings at Alliance Française, while Phuket’s programme lands at BCIS International School and Phuket Girls’ School.

The best part, it's completely free. Tickets are handed out one hour before each screening on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of two per person. Translation: arrive early if there’s something you really want to see.

Screenings take place at the Siam Society, House Samyan and Lido Connect (Bangkok), Alliance Française Chiang Mai, and BCIS International School plus Phuket Girls' School (Phuket), June 18-28. Free entry. Full programme at eeas.europa.eu.

Pride Month brings a compelling reason to make tracks for Yaowarat, where new contemporary gallery Adult Material opens its doors with Against the Grain on June 18. Tucked among the neighbourhood’s glowing alleyways, the inaugural exhibition assembles artists from Bangkok, Berlin, Singapore and New York whose work probes identity, masculinity and the stories societies tell about belonging. Across sculpture, photography, installation and design, inherited symbols take on fresh meaning while intimacy, desire and power come under scrutiny. Expect standout contributions from Shen Wei, Oat Montien, Dylan Chan, Gregor Jahner and Thyme Neelaphanakul, alongside plenty to spark conversation long after you leave.

June 18-August 15. Free entry. Adult Material. 1pm-6pm

Fresh from its 19th edition earlier this year, the cult-favourite market returns for round 20 with a new indoor home at Pat Arena, the stomping ground of Port Futsal Club in Khlong Toei. Air-conditioning, tighter walkways and a more compact setup slightly change the energy, though regulars still come for the same reason: over 250 vendors selling vintage fashion, vinyl, handmade goods, books and wonderfully unnecessary things you absolutely do not need but somehow buy anyway. 

Food stalls keep everyone fed, DJs soundtrack the day and stylish regulars roam the venue with equally stylish dogs trotting beside them.

June 19-21. B160 at the door. Pat Arena. 1pm-11pm

Good news for anyone still replaying the soundtrack to Given. Centimillimental, the solo project of Japanese musician and songwriter Atsushi, makes a swift return to Bangkok just months after his last visit. Best known for crafting the emotionally charged music behind fan-favourite anime such as Given and Bakuten!!, he builds songs that move effortlessly between delicate piano passages and soaring guitar-driven crescendos. Expect heart-on-sleeve lyricism, cinematic arrangements and the kind of singalongs that leave a room hanging on every note. For devoted fans, this reunion arrives surprisingly soon – and very much welcome.

June 19. B2,500-3,300 via here. Central World Live. 7.30pm

World Music Day arrives with a suitably lively soundtrack at Le Café des Stagiaires, where the Sathorn favourite marks the occasion with three days of live performances, DJ sets and late-night revelry. Inspired by France’s annual Fête de la Musique, the celebration packs the venue with sounds spanning multiple genres and plenty of reasons to linger after work. Adding an extra draw, Popeye Ink sets up a two-day flash tattoo pop-up for anyone keen to leave with more than a few memories. Best of all, entry is free, making this one of the easiest ways to spend a music-filled weekend.

June 19-21. Free entry. Le Café des Stagiaires. 4pm onwards

Chatuchak’s latest weekend distraction arrives several storeys above the usual market crowds. Taking over the tenth-floor rooftop car park of S-Oasis, TRYSTER’s Tay Level 10 gathers more than 80 vendors for a laid-back mix of vintage fashion, secondhand finds, handmade goods, homeware and niche collectibles. Bangkok’s skyline provides the backdrop while DJs, drinks and pop-up activities keep the atmosphere lively without trying too hard. Better yet, the covered setting means a sudden monsoon shower barely registers. Whether you're hunting for a one-off treasure or simply killing a few hours, this rooftop market makes a strong case for heading north of the city centre.

June 19-21. Free entry. 10th floor, S-Oasis. 3pm-10.30pm

Swap crowded gigs and chatty bars for a quieter kind of evening. Cozy Concert and Scribbles sees artist and producer Tamlin present a floor-seated performance of original songs accompanied by cello and piano, with guests encouraged to sketch, doodle or simply sit back and listen. New arrangements, inspired by the sweeping score of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, bring a warmer, more contemplative quality to her music as themes of identity, purpose and unspoken thoughts drift through the room. The night begins with handpan player MP, whose atmospheric compositions set a suitably reflective mood for the hours ahead.

June 19. B650-700 at the door. People of Ari (PoA White Box). 7pm-8.30pm

Few animated films carry the same emotional baggage as Toy Story, and House of Toy Story 5 banks on exactly that. Created as a celebration of Pixar’s beloved franchise, the limited-run experience shrinks visitors to toy-sized proportions with a giant recreation of Bonnie’s bedroom, complete with oversized furniture and playful photo opportunities. Keep an eye out for rare collectibles, including pieces from celebrity collections, while dedicated merchandise corners cater to anyone still attached to Woody, Buzz and the gang. Once the nostalgia kicks in, round off the day with a screening and relive the adventures that made these characters household names.

June 15-25. Free entry. Outdoor Square C, CentralWorld. 10am-10pm

Ireland’s greatest export might not be Guinness or green landscapes, but its writers. Marking Bloomsday, the annual celebration of James Joyce’s Ulysses, this two-day festival considers how a small island nation continues to produce literary giants whose work resonates far from its shores. Conversations led by academics, translators and publishing figures explore the ideas, histories and cultural traditions that shape Irish storytelling, from Joyce’s modernist experiments to the contemporary voices of Claire Keegan and Sally Rooney. Highlights include a discussion of Keegan’s acclaimed Small Things Like These and a conversation with Irish Ambassador H.E. Pat Bourne. Best of all, admission costs nothing.

June 20-21. Free entry. Jim Thompson Art Center. 11am onwards

Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok marks Pride with a full day dedicated to queer cinema, community and a few memorable singalongs. The sixth Pride Film Festival opens with Alice Wu’s charming Saving Face, followed by Grandma and Chookiat Sakveerakul’s enduring Thai classic Love of Siam, which still hits hard nearly twenty years after its release. As evening arrives, The Rocky Horror Picture Show takes over, bringing its gloriously eccentric spirit to the screen. Afterwards, the celebration heads skyward to Bar.Yard, where award-winning Taipei cocktail bar To Infinity and Beyond joins the party before live bands, karaoke and DJ sets keep things going well past bedtime.

June 20. Free entry. Register here. Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. 1pm onwards