At the end of the year, Chiang Mai turns into a living, breathing open-air playground with festivals, events, parties, expos and hangouts that mark the city’s highest season. And from December 6-14, Chiang Mai Design Week takes over the city, with over 300 events, workshops, galleries, pop-ups and concerts that feels equal parts creative conference and street festival.
Now 11 years strong, this year’s theme is all about ‘Local Plus’ – a powerup week where everyone – from designers, musicians and students to travellers, entrepreneurs, neighbourhood aunties – gets involved. It’s no doubt one of the best times to be in Chiang Mai, and to help you navigate the ocean of opportunities, here’s our lowdown on what to see and do this creative week.
So, what actually is Chiang Mai Design Week?
At its core, it’s a festival that spotlights local creative talent – from designers and architects to artisans, technologists, food innovators, sustainable-living champions and emerging makers. The official mission (and they've stuck to it brilliantly) is simple: share ideas, build community and show how design can solve real-world problems.
From December 6-14, you can expect to see:
- Design exhibitions and installations
- Hands-on workshops (ceramics, textiles, printmaking, woodworking – you name it, it's got it)
- Talks and panel discussions
- Live performances, music and full-blown concerts
- Experimental food and craft programmes
Where can I find all this great stuff?
As the underbelly of Chiang Mai rises to the surface, the city becomes the playground. Kicking things off is the grand opening event, held at the TCDC Chiang Mai on December 6 at around 5pm. Then, for the rest of the week, you’ll find events and activities across the city, from venues inside the old city, to public spaces like Thapae Gate and of course the TCDC Chiang Mai will also host the main expo – with pavilions, talks and workshops galore.
This Year’s Theme is Local Plus
The concept for this year, Local Plus, pushes a big idea, with a concept of ‘creativity grows strongest when communities work together’ at its core. In a world that’s moving fast – economically, socially, environmentally – the festival is framing design as a tool for connection and transformation. In layman’s terms, this means everything on show has some connection to the local community, whether that’s original Thai music, creative entrepreneurs that have made the city home and craftspeople from across the nation sharing and growing their skills.
To make it simple (or perhaps more complicated) the event organisers are using mathematical symbols to explain how collaboration can multiply impact:
Multiply (×) – Boosting creative energy. Chiang Mai links up with other creative cities across the North, giving local designers access to national and international platforms.
Divide (÷) – Sharing ideas. Innovation gets passed around, turning grassroots collaboration into something with real economic and social weight.
Minus (−) – Removing barriers. Cutting waste, reducing redundancy and making space for smarter, more sustainable progress.
Infinity (∞) – The belief that when design and community come together, the possibilities have no end.
Highlights of Chiang Mai Design Week
If you’re new to Design Week, here’s a simple way to dive in. Start at TCDC Chiang Mai for the grand opening and get up to speed on what it’s all about and what’s happening. With many things organised there, it’s your unofficial HQ – think info points, exhibitions, people to talk to and workshops to get involved with all week.
The two weekends (December 6-7 and 13-14) are usually busier than the week, and play host to the larger concerts and events. Here’s a few we recommend adding to your list:
- LABBfest – A huge music concert mixing music and visuals and bringing new formulas to the table that allow artists in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand to present their music to new audiences. Among the punters, you’ll find entrepreneurs in the music industry, promoters and record labels all looking for the next big thing. Dec 6-7 at Club Carving CNX. 3pm-midnight.
- Chiang Mai HO Zix – Probably the biggest original music festival the city has ever seen, showcasing Chiang Mai’s homegrown artists all in one place. With 40 acts over four days, there’s a lot to squeeze in. Dec 8-11 at UNISERV CMU. 4pm-11pm.
- Mike Sriviengping – An independent modern acoustic fingerstyle artist from Chiang Mai who’s also a well known songwriter and poet. He’s performing live alongside loop and modulation to create music unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Dec 6 at Lanna Folklife Museum. 7pm.
- Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival – This citywide celebration of brass, soul, improvisation and good music reaches far and wide. From street corners inside the old city moat to intimate club sessions and a grand finale on the Chiang Mai Cultural Center’s main stage, this festival is where Chiang Mai shows exactly why it’s one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing music hotspots. Check out our ultimate guide to Chiang Mai Street Jazz Festival 2025 before you go. Dec 1-7 at various venues.
- Big Ink Tattoo Workshop – Learn to tattoo with a machine, create your own cute color piece and get hands-on in just one day. It covers everything from needle work, machine handling, line work techniques and hands-on practice using synthetic skin. Dec 6 at Lanna Folklife Museum. 4pm.
- Mango Art Festival – Artists from diverse backgrounds – from local Northern talents to those from other regions – are collectively transforming a secret, 30-rai expanse into a vibrant creative and design space with hundreds of unique artworks and craft pieces, primarily bringing color to century-old traditional wooden rice barns. Dec 6-10 at De Siam Antiques. Midday-6pm.
- La-On-Mon – A creative project that reimagines the joy and imagination of childhood through the lens of emerging artists. There’s exhibitions, pop-up shops and an engaging art playground where you can participate, unwind and get creative by coloring illustrations and plaster dolls. Dec 6-14 at SV Furniture. 10am-10pm.
- Taiwan Beats – An immersive showcase of Taiwan’s independent music culture that gathers highlights from the island’s thriving pop and indie scenes – record labels, visual designers and creative collectives that shape how Taiwan listens today will all be there. Dec 4-14 at Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center. 10am-10pm.
- NEHHDC – A fascinating participation of sixteen artisans and entrepreneurs from the North-Eastern Region of India supported by the Government of India. In essence, it brings together representatives from diverse handloom and handicraft traditions, including traditional weaving, bamboo and cane crafts, handmade jewelry, lifestyle craft products, Eri silk, natural dye items and other indigenous art forms. Dec 6-14 at Chiang Mai Historical Centre. 10am-10pm.
- Tjucenglav Forum – A music performance that blends traditional Paiwan (Taiwan) chants with contemporary compositions that share stories of land, identity and indigenous community. The aim is to celebrate how local voices and ancestral wisdom can inspire global connections and future possibilities. Dec 8 at Lanna Folklife Museum. 8pm.
- Ekachan The Wisdom of Ethnic Thai Cuisine Workshop – Unfolding on the wooden veranda of Ekachan, you can cook, share and taste as a way of understanding indigenous Thai cuisines. It starts with ‘listening to rice’ followed by talks, storytelling and hands-on rice exploration. Dec 6-14 at Ekachan Restaurant. 11am onwards.
- Sanpakoi Christmas Street – The sub-district of Sanpakoi holds great significance in terms of history, culture and architecture, serving as a connecting route between the Old City and the new commercial area. This even celebrates the Christmas season and promotes the local Christian and non-Christian community through activities and markets. Dec 12-14 at Anusarn Building. 6pm-11pm.
- RTBC Russian Soul Pavilion – One of the many internationally-sponsored pavilions. This one’s organised by the Russian-Thai Business Council, in collaboration with leading Russian designers, heritage brands and educational institutions. It’s got everything from fashion brands, heritage collabs, artisan crafts and workshops. Dec 6-14 at Three Kings Monument. 10am-10pm.
- Rawee textile Art – A grand textile installation that reflects on memory, nature and transformation. Using natural dyes from local materials in Chiang Mai, such as teak leaves, Indian almond leaves, coconut husks, flame-of-the-forest flowers, native indigo and market waste. These local artists are inspired by the idea of ‘nirat’ or poetic farewell, reflecting loss, meaning, materials and people from Chiang Mai’s collective memory. Dec 6-14 at SV Furniture. 10am-10pm.
While just a snapshot, the full schedule can also be found on the Design Week’s official website, so you can pick and choose based on your interest. Bookmark your favourites or just give yourself a day or two and discover things by accident, we think it’s more fun that way.
When is Chiang Mai Design Week again?
The official Design Week kicks off this Saturday, December 6 and runs through to Sunday December 14, although there’s a fair number of events, exhibitions and performances kicking off from December 4 and running to end of the month. Bookmark your calendars, it’s going to be one hell of a busy week.
For more info, visit the official website at chiangmaidesignweek.com.