The best things to do in Bangkok this weekend (August 6-9)

Long before ‘City Pop’ became shorthand for a nostalgic sound, Hiroshi Nagai was painting the bright skies, quiet coastlines and palm-lined streets that helped define its visual identity. This August, the celebrated Japanese artist brings Summer Dreaming to River City Bangkok for his first solo exhibition in Thailand. More than 30 original works span the early 1980s to the present, revealing textures, colours and hand-painted details often lost in reproduction. Four new paintings created especially for Thailand also offer Nagai’s sun-soaked take on Bangkok.

August 4-September 4. Free entry. Galleria 1, River City Bangkok. 10am-8pm

Looking for an easy post-work wander?  Tay Level 10 returns to the rooftop of S-Oasis in Chatuchak, bringing more than 80 stalls to an open-air car park with sweeping city views and, this time, a roof in case the weather turns. The market has become a regular meeting point for the Mo Chit and Chatuchak crowd: browse vintage clothes, film cameras, handmade goods, plants and homeware, then settle in with street food and a cold drink. It’s a short walk from Mo Chit BTS and Chatuchak Park MRT, and a free shuttle makes the final stretch even easier.

August 6-8. Free entry. S-Oasis. Midday-8pm

George Kongmark’s SUPERNOVA brings together more than 60 installations, videos, performances, paintings and collaborative works in the artist’s largest solo show to date. The body becomes a lens for exploring memory, identity, desire and self-acceptance, with each gallery approaching those ideas from a different angle. The title refers to a star’s life cycle, using dramatic change as a metaphor for personal transformation rather than pure spectacle. August’s accompanying programme includes artist talks, workshops, guided tours and life-drawing sessions, giving visitors more ways to engage with the work.

August 6-29. Free entry. 6060 Arts Space (White and Black Buildings)

Some moments still make more sense on film. The measured click of a shutter, the wait for a roll to return from the lab and the slightly unpredictable colours all explain why analogue photography refuses to disappear. Song Wat Film Day: Craft & Indie Market takes over the century-old Gate Alley, where weathered shophouses, family-run wholesalers and boats passing on the Chao Phraya provide a fitting backdrop. Browse film cameras, vinyl, handmade goods and accessories, then stop for a craft drink or glass of wine. 

August 4-12. Free entry. 100-Year-Old Gate Alley, Song Wat. 10am-8pm

Few filmmakers capture longing quite like Wong Kar-wai, but this open-air programme goes beyond his greatest hits. Alongside Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love and Fallen Angels, the line-up includes Peter Chan’s beloved Hong Kong romance Comrades: Almost a Love Story, plus Pulp Fiction and Pretty Woman. The Tarantino classic earns its place: the director’s admiration for Chungking Express helped introduce the film to American audiences. Screenings begin as daylight fades, Chinatown’s neon signs flicker on and drinks flow before the opening credits. Settle in with friends or claim a seat solo – it’s hard to imagine a better excuse for an evening outdoors.

August 7-9. B450 via here. Shanghai Mansion Bangkok. Check Skyline Film for booking details.

Fans counting down to Olivia Rodrigo’s next chapter can stop at Piccolo Vicolo, where all three branches are hosting an album-inspired pop-up until August 9. The Sam Yot café gets the full treatment with exclusive photo spots, while every location serves themed drinks named after tracks from you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. Expect the soundtrack throughout the day, handwritten fan messages across the walls and plenty of purple details. Order a featured drink, scan the in-store QR code and save the album on Spotify or Apple Music to receive one of five limited-edition button badges, while stocks last.

Until August 9. Free entry. All three Piccolo Vicolo branches. 9am-5pm

Bangkok’s growing secondhand scene has another reason to gather as Use Loop Repeat 2026 returns to Open House at Central Embassy. Organised with Loopers, this year’s edition, ‘Designed by Her: Discover Stories Made to Matter’, celebrates women-led creativity through practical ideas rather than lofty statements. Opening day brings talks with Pancake Khemanit, Samich Petdee and Aim Phumipat, alongside workshops turning bottle caps, food waste and discarded packaging into everyday objects. More than 30 sustainable brands also set up shop. The three-week programme makes an easy stop whether you’re hunting for thoughtful design, browsing secondhand finds or escaping the afternoon heat.

August 3-23. Free entry. Open House at Central Embassy. 10am-9pm

Always missing the action while you’re reading the subtitles? This wordless festival lets movement and gesture do all the talking. The line-up gathers seven troupes from Thailand, Japan and South Korea, each with its own style and sense of humour. Leading the pack is Kojimaya Mansuke, a Japanese veteran who has performed here since the first edition. He is joined by Yamamoto Koyo and Sivouplait, a Japanese mime duo known for playful physical storytelling. Ta Nuttapol represents Thailand’s vibrant mime scene, while Guri Guri Girls add a musical twist with an accordion-driven performance. Satoco blends mime and puppetry, drawing on her training in Canada. Rounding out the programme is South Korea’s Ryu Sung-Gook, whose precise movements and storytelling create emotionally resonant performances.

August 8-9. B1,100-B1,800. Tickets available here. Muang Thai Life Assurance Auditorium. 1.30pm and 6pm

DAS HAUS BKK is hosting its first Classic Car Market transforming its Bangna space into a weekend gathering for car lovers, collectors and anyone drawn to timeless classics. The event will feature a curated selection of rare and classic cars for sale, alongside a car meet where enthusiasts can gather, chat, and admire each other’s rides. If a new car isn’t in the budget, shop at the curated lifestyle market, enjoy food and drinks, pick up some vintage finds and listen to vinyl DJs for a relaxed weekend hangout.

August 8-9. DAS HAUS BKK, Bangna. 9am-6pm

Running clubs, Pilates regulars, coffee drinkers and music fans share the same track when BEATS & RUN & PARTY: THE FESTIVAL takes over Chulalongkorn University Stadium. Organised by Sawasdee Cup, the one-day gathering swaps competition for community: join a group run, stretch through one of Bangkok’s biggest outdoor Pilates sessions or cool off in an ice bath before settling in with coffee and DJ sets. Families are covered too, thanks to Kids Run and Kids Rave, while more than 20 games and wellness activities keep things moving. Stay active or find a patch of shade and watch it all unfold – the festival leaves plenty of room to go at your own pace.

August 8. B190-390 via here. Chulalongkorn University Stadium. 3pm-10pm

August brings a packed live-performance programme to Lumphini Hall, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Orchestra fills the calendar with symphony concerts, dance nights and stage shows. One highlight comes on August 8, when young guitarist Pornpawit ‘Peak Guitar’ Sriwarom takes centre stage for Peak Guitar X BMO, performing with the full orchestra under conductor Sorapot Worasaeng. Violinist Chonsorn Chantrapaoraya joins the line-up, with vocals from Pond Patthanan Ajon-ong, Fish Kritthath Phisutthiwong and Kongprab Panithan Juangkhrut. Set inside the park, the venue makes an easy early-evening stop after a walk around Lumphini, with the music starting as the city cools down.

August 8. Free entry. Lumphini Hall. From 5pm

This one-night spectacle brings together contemporary ballet, a live orchestra and a stage loaded with atmospheric lighting and visual effects with iconic scores from Harry Potter, Interstellar and more, all reimagined for the stage. One evening only, the evening splits across two acts: the first, 'Birth Struggle Path' explores growth, hardship and self-discovery, to music from Pirates of the Caribbean, Dune, Tron, Interstellar and The Last Samura. The second follows on with 'Destruction Rebirth Freedom' – turning the vibe to concepts around collapse, renewal and the chase for freedom through scores from Oppenheimer, Kung Fu Panda, Avatar, Gladiator and Harry Potter – all interpreted through modern dance on stage. Even more noteworthy is the cast with former soloists from the Mariinsky Theatre, dancers from the Novosibirsk Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and artists from the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus.

August 9. B1,988-B5,988. Grab your tickets here. SiamPic Hall. 2pm-4pm and 6.30pm-8.30pm

National Book Lovers Day gets a sociable twist at Books and Boo, an evening that swaps silent reading for drinks, conversation and a little literary matchmaking. Browse blind-date books wrapped to keep their titles secret, many drawn from short-story collections and romantasy favourites with a decidedly grown-up edge. Bring your partner, gather some friends or turn up solo, then settle in with a drink and compare recommendations with fellow readers. A photo corner adds to the fun, while the bar offers 10 percent off drinks and 20 percent off bottles of wine. Even if you leave without a new romance, you’ll probably go home with a good book.

August 9. Free entry. 6TH.FL. 6pm-9pm

A weekend by the river rarely needs much persuasion, especially with art, music and a reason to slow down. Spend the afternoon browsing original prints, ceramics and handmade pieces, then grab a drink and find a seat by the water as long-tail boats pass and the late-afternoon light settles across the river. After dark, DJs take over a stage aboard a moored boat, shifting the gathering from relaxed market to open-air dance floor without anyone having to move far.

August 9. Free entry. Bangkok Island Pier. 4pm-midnight

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