The best things to do in Bangkok this weekend (July 16-19)

Few bands spend the last decade tearing up the jazz rulebook quite like BADBADNOTGOOD. The Canadian group returns to Bangkok for its first standalone headline show in years, bringing the adventurous spirit that turns hip-hop, soul, electronica and improvisation into something unmistakably its own. Many local fans still remember the band’s standout set at Maho Rasop Festival, but this return arrives on a much larger scale. Expect knotty grooves, razor-sharp musicianship and plenty of surprises from a band that rarely plays the same way twice. Jazz purists may grumble. Everyone else is likely to have a very good night.

July 16. B2,800-3,300 via here. Samyan Mitrtown Hall. 7pm

Cloud 11 launches a new series exploring the roots of Thai creativity, beginning with northern Thailand. Toob North brings Chiang Mai cooks, coffee roasters, ceramicists and community groups to Bangkok for a celebration of the region's food, craft and creative traditions. Expect fragrant khao soi, freshly brewed coffee, handmade pottery and conversations with the people behind them. 

Exhibitions, workshops and talks across the fifth floor explore three themes –  Living Land, Human Hand and Inner North – linking local landscapes, traditional skills and everyday life. 

July 16 to August 3. Free entry. Cloud 11. 10.30am-8.30pm

Mitski makes her long-awaited Bangkok debut with Nothing’s About to Happen to Me, a tour built around a reclusive young woman finding freedom inside her own strange, private world. Across seven studio albums, the singer-songwriter has sharpened a voice that is intimate, theatrical and capable of stopping a room cold. ‘My Love Mine All Mine’ became a global hit and went four-times platinum, while her work beyond her own records includes Florence and the Machine’s latest album and ‘This Is a Life’ with David Byrne and Son Lux, later nominated for an Academy Award. She is also working on a musical adaptation of The Queen’s Gambit. Expect emotional weight, striking staging and a set that lingers long after the lights come up.

July 16. B2,600-3,400 via here. UOB LIVE. 8pm onwards

Hua Takhe Old Market spends the month in bloom as Rakdok Floral Weeks 2026 returns under the theme ‘Flower to Spread Smiles’. The festival winds through weathered shophouses, wooden walkways and quiet corners of the canalside neighbourhood. What began as a flower-arranging showcase in 2020 has grown into a community-wide exhibition designed to be wandered through rather than viewed from a distance. Twenty floral works by artists, local residents and competition winners tell their own stories while casting fresh light on one of Bangkok’s most characterful old markets.

July 4-August 2. Free entry. Hua Takhe Old Market. 10am-6pm

As daylight fades, Samyan Mitrtown marks the fifth edition of its Lantern Art Festival with a new collection of glowing installations across the plaza. This year’s theme, ‘The Luminous Bloom’, draws on flowers in bloom, using light, colour and large-scale lantern works to transform one of Bangkok’s busiest public spaces after dark. By placing art in the path of commuters, students and evening strollers rather than behind gallery doors, the free festival turns an everyday walk through Samyan into an easy art stop and photo opportunity.

July 17-31. Free entry. Samyan Mitrtown. 10am-10pm

The Warehouse BKK returns with two evenings of shopping, eating and independent creativity in Talad Noi. Inside, stalls are located with vintage clothing, handmade goods, records, homeware and pieces from small local brands, while street food and drinks keep the courtyard lively until midnight. It is an easy excuse to wander one of Bangkok’s oldest neighbourhoods, browse slowly and meet the people behind the stalls.

July 17-18. Free entry. The Warehouse BKK. 6pm-midnight

Ramkhamhaeng has a new community hangout in 1981 Soul & Sold, a venue built around ‘Newstalgia’ – 1980s references recast through contemporary shops and social spaces. At the entrance, YAANALOG, a designer lift inspired by the Space Shuttle Columbia’s first flight in 1981, is already the building’s talking point. Eight zones bring together fashion labels, vinyl, collectibles, cafés and design stores, while the 1981 Gourmet Eats food hall packs in more than 150 vendors, from long-running Bangkok favourites to international kitchens. Come for a browse and you may still be there at dinner.

Daily. Free entry. Ramkhamhaeng 15. 11am-10pm

Printmaking takes centre stage at the Maxnifier VI International Print Exhibition, bringing together artists from every continent for a wide-ranging survey of the medium. Woodcut, etching and lithography sit alongside contemporary techniques, showing how ink, paper and printing plates continue to shape personal stories and printing plates continue to carry personal stories and cultural identities. Each piece is presented as an original work rather than a reproduction, putting the precision, labour  and experimentation of the process firmly in view. It is also a rare chance to see artists from very different backgrounds push the same medium in strikingly different directions.

Until August 15. Free entry. MMAD MunMun Srinakarin. 10.30am-7pm

Bangkok’s independent music scene gains another gathering point with JUST KIDS, a new event series created by a young collective of promoters who want gigs to be more than a quick stop between drinks. The idea is simple: bring artists and audiences closer together, with music acting as the common language. The first edition centres on Zambug, whose debut headline live show arrives after several years of steady buzz across the city’s hip-hop circles. Expect a set that stretches well beyond rap’s usual boundaries. Opening duties fall to .g from Suburb Sound, while the night ends with an audio-visual afterparty from 1000100000 of Dogwhine, blending experimental sound, light and atmosphere long after the main performance wraps up.

July 18. B350-450 via here. Entertainment Project. 7pm

Always wanted to make a zine but never known where to start? This hands-on workshop walks beginners through creating a self-published booklet with drawing, writing, collage and simple paper-folding techniques. Prompts help get ideas moving, and the tables come stocked with paper, pens, magazines, scissors and other materials. No experience is needed; just turn up ready to make something entirely your own.

July 18-19. B450. Reserve via Line OA @parking.lot.press. Slowcombo. Round 1: 11.30am-2pm, round 2: 3pm-5.30pm

Pole-curious but never quite made it to a class? This beginner-friendly session welcomes complete newcomers and keeps the mood relaxed. The first hour covers simple spins, basic technique and getting comfortable around the pole before the studio opens for free practice. This edition goes full disco, with sequins, glitter and retro tracks encouraged. Come alone or bring friends – the atmosphere is supportive, with plenty of cheering between songs and spins.

July 18. Free entry. Gearbox. 9pm-1am

Sam Mae Krua Dance celebrates its first anniversary with a night of adventurous electronic music and a line-up spanning the collective’s broad tastes. Ackerlady, Bugsy Bae, Eizu, lomoroom, MJMA, NOON, Saint Teresa and SUII take turns behind the decks, each approaching club music from a different angle. Expect carefully picked sets,  plenty of left turns and none of the usual polished formulas – a strong excuse to spend the night with Bangkok’s independent dance community.

July 18. B400 via here and B500 at the door. HORN. 10pm onwards

Few cultural exports carry as much childhood baggage as Disney. Whether it is a favourite animated film, a stack of old DVDs or memories of singing along to soundtrack CDs in the back seat, most people have some connection to the House of Mouse. This July, that nostalgia heads outdoors as Disney Run Thailand 2026 takes over Rama VIII Bridge. Starting before sunrise, the event offers 10K and 5K routes along the riverfront, with runners encouraged to wear character-themed shirts, mouse ears and plenty of enthusiasm. It lands somewhere between a serious race and a community fun run, though the cut-off times should keep everyone moving.

July 19. Register via here. Rama VIII Bridge.

Artist DAYY makes ordinary packaging the subject of a clever exhibition about how easily appearances shape perception. Using the centuries-old trompe-l'œil technique, the paintings recreate cardboard boxes, tape, labels and shipping seals with startling precision, forcing a second look at objects most of us barely register. The works ask how value and identity change when the outer layer shifts but the contents remain the same. It is a thoughtful show that finds unexpectedly big questions in the most familiar everyday materials.

July 11-August 2. Free entry. KYLA Gallery & Wine Bar. 3pm-midnight