Our picks for the best things to do in Bangkok this weekend

Bangkok welcomes 2026 with a knowing wink as Muse Anime Festival sets up at JAM SPACE, a familiar meeting point for pop culture devotees. This is less trade fair, more shared obsession. Fourteen anime titles spread across 17 photo zones turn fandom into a walk-through experience, complete with oversized sets and scenes designed for lingering rather than rushing. Expect towering inflatables of Momo and Okarun from DAN DA DAN plus Rimuru, the eternally cheerful slime, looming large for cameras. Beyond the visuals, shelves fill with officially licensed pieces and harder-to-find imports, tempting even the disciplined collector. Food gets its own moment too, thanks to a themed cafe riffing on SPY x FAMILY and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.    January 10-March 29. Free. 4/F, MBK Centre, 11am-9pm

The second solo exhibition by Thai artist Krittin Kaewyongphang, better known as Condo Ceramics, feels like a quiet conversation rather than a statement. Curated by Jason Yang, the show leans on ceramics and illustration to talk about memory, self-acceptance and the value of taking one’s time. Titled Fire Me Slowly, the work reflects Krittin’s own path as an LGBTQ individual, shaped by gradual understanding rather than sudden revelation. Ceramic figures appear soft yet stubborn, joined by monster-like characters that refuse neat labels or fixed identities. They exist comfortably, without apology or explanation. Nothing here asks to be hurried. Growth unfolds at its own speed, gently and without pressure. The exhibition suggests that arriving is overrated anyway. Staying present, slightly unfinished and fully yourself, might be the point worth holding onto.   January 10-February 9. Free. GalileOasis Gallery, 9am-8pm

Sunday evening gets a generous dusting of sparkle, guided by the magnificent Amadiva, who hosts with warmth and a knowing wink. The night unfolds through a run of drag performances from Amora, SHORTGUN, Lady Judy, Nonny Majoriga and Sasha Lee, with the promise of surprises keeping everyone alert. Shows land at 9.30pm, 10.30pm and 11.30pm, leaving just enough time to refill a glass and gossip. Earlier hours lean social. From 5pm-8pm, selected handrolls and drinks arrive in generous pairs. Expect spicy salmon, maitake tempura, maguro zuke and indulgent wagyu variations, washed down with gin, beer, wine, vodka or umeshu. It is celebratory without being forced, glamorous without trying too hard. The sort of Sunday that reminds you Monday can wait.   Every Sunday, Free. Reserve via 088-665-9986. Kaiwa, 5pm onwards  

Hope has a strange way of finding you when you least expect it, usually while you’re still adjusting your fringe in a mirrored wall. This exhibition leans into that feeling, pairing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with digital worlds that nudge you towards a lighter mood. The guide is Blossom Bloo, a soft-glowing creature with its loyal Seed, both drifting through scenes that chart the rhythms of a life lived in four chapters. The route begins at The Flower Shop, where you design a tiny seed that reappears later as part of a vast installation. Summer stretches out in a field of towering blooms, autumn follows with a golden oak shedding leaves that respond to your steps, then winter quietens everything with pale light and drifting snow. Spring closes the journey with a sweep of colour that feels a bit like exhaling after holding your breath too long.   Until March 10 2026. B450-990 via here. 6/F, Iconsiam, 10.30am-9pm

Book lovers have got a fresh excuse to leave the house as The Wholesome Book Club opens a new chapter. They're teaming up with Read Me Again to turn solitary reading habits into shared moments, swapping silence for conversation and coffee. The setup is simple enough. Each month centres on a single title, giving everyone time to read, reflect and show up with opinions fully formed or happily confused. There's something quite nice about knowing you've all tackled the same story, ready to dissect it over a cuppa. January's pick is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a novel that still gets people talking about justice, empathy and growing up awkwardly aware of how the world actually works. It's the kind of book that probably sat on your school reading list years ago, but hits differently when you revisit it as an adult. January 17. B329 via here. The Commons Thonglor, 4pm and 3pm

Czech contemporary art gets a brief, welcome stretch in Bangkok with the return of Jan Bican. Known for treating streets, bodies and public space as his canvas, he brings new works that feel quietly confrontational without raising their voice. Light plays a central role, cutting through shadows and reflections, asking you to slow down and actually look. Bican’s pieces often sit between opposing ideas: exposure and privacy, intimacy and distance, softness and control. That tension gives the work its emotional charge. Seen far from its European context, the effect sharpens rather than softens. You notice how easily the themes travel, how little translation they need. It invites wandering, second glances and the occasional pause mid-step, which might be the point.   January 3-28. Free. Vanich House Bangkok, 10.30am-6pm

The title barely needs explaining. Pancakes, drinks and art share the same room and somehow it works. This travelling pop-up began in Los Angeles and has since become a favourite for those who like culture without stiff rules or quiet corners. For one night, The Warehouse Talat Noi hands its walls over to emerging artists, each surface layered with fresh work that invites wandering rather than polite viewing. While you move around, stacks of pancakes appear on repeat, fuelled by syrup and good intentions, with a bar close enough to keep spirits high. Live music threads through the evening, giving the space a loose, social rhythm. Everything on display is for sale, which matters. It’s less about spectacle and more about supporting artists while eating something comforting at the wrong hour, a little messy and entirely enjoyable.   January 17. B250 at the door. The Warehouse Talat Noi, 7pm-midnight

Baan Tepa’s annual gathering returns with the kind of ease that makes you want to clear an afternoon. It’s a meeting point for farmers, bakers, food producers, artisans and compost collectives who work closely with Baan Tepa across the country. The focus stays on connection, eating with a clearer sense of origin rather than shopping for the sake of it. Seasonal fruit and vegetables sit alongside handmade goods, while Chef Tam and the team cook special dishes that feel generous rather than showy. Visitors are encouraged to wander, chat with producers and taste as they go, picking up ingredients trusted by Michelin-listed kitchens for home use. Entry costs nothing, pets are welcome and the atmosphere remains unhurried. Come hungry, stay curious and leave with better food and a few good conversations.   January 17-18. Free. Baan Tepa, 10am-4pm

Bangkok starts 2026 with a familiar pleasure, bringing back the fourth edition of Bangkok Outdoor Cinema just as evenings turn comfortably cool. After consistently warm receptions, the series returns feeling confident rather than flashy. Over three consecutive weeks, three locations host open-air screenings alongside live music, panel conversations and food stalls representing different BMA districts. Film crews and creators also set up shop, turning each night into a loose meeting point rather than a fixed event. The first stop lands at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, with How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies on January 17, followed by My Boo Part 1 the next evening. Entry stays refreshingly free, which feels quietly radical.   January 17-18. Free. Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, 7pm

Book lovers get a fresh excuse to leave the house as The Wholesome Book Club opens a new chapter. Teaming up with Read Me Again, the club turns solitary reading habits into shared moments, swapping silence for conversation and coffee. Each month centres on a single title, giving everyone time to read, reflect and arrive with opinions fully formed or happily confused. January’s choice is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a novel that still prompts questions about justice, empathy and growing up awkwardly aware of the world.  January 17. B329 via here. The Commons Thonglor, 4pm and 3pm