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We all know Chiang Mai has been a magnet for digital nomads for many years, and while the volume ebbs and flows with the times, the community is generally on the up.
However, we also know that getting nomads and locals to meet in constructive and community building ways can be difficult. Nobody is to blame, it’s just the nature of working remotely, impermanent stays and language barriers.
Now, a new month-long project spearheaded through the Alt_ Chiang Mai community wants to explore what happens when the people who temporarily call the city home become a little more involved in it.
Cosmo Local CNX 2026
Cosmo Local is taking over parts of the city this September, with a month-long series of placements and residencies targeting both nomads and their local equivalents.
The project aims to bring together these two crowds and find ways to improve the city together through food, technology and business – centering its eyes on Sanpakoi and Wat Ket areas; both designated as a new Nomad Friendly District model with backing from the local municipalities.
In simple terms, rather than simply making Chiang Mai a better place to visit or work remotely, the idea is to find ways for international residents and local communities to learn from one another, collaborate and contribute to the neighbourhoods they share.
And while Cosmo Local is already well under way, things ramp up during its Main Week from September 23-28, where everyone is invited to join.
So, what exactly is Cosmo Local CNX?
Think of it as part festival, part hackathon, part urban experiment.
The project is described as a month-long ‘Pop-up Village’, with organisations from Chiang Mai and overseas exploring how locals and the city's international and nomadic communities can live, learn and create together in a more meaningful way.
There are four main strands to the programme. AI for Chiang Mai looks at how artificial intelligence could tackle real problems facing the city and local businesses, while Food That Nourishes Us dives into Chiang Mai's food culture, sustainable agriculture and local knowledge through farmers, chefs and people working across the food system.
Solopreneur is aimed at independent entrepreneurs and creators looking to build sustainable businesses and networks, while the slightly more academic Nomad Future's Lab brings together researchers, government agencies and communities to develop a blueprint for what a Nomad Friendly District could actually look like.
When is Cosmo Local CNX and how can I get involved?
While Cosmo Local CNX runs throughout September, the main action takes place during Main Week, September 23-28, with six days of talks, workshops, food, excursions, networking and community events.
Things kick off on September 23 with registration and orientation followed by a welcome party from 6pm. September 24 brings the Nomads’ Future Lab Exhibition, keynotes and workshops, before a VIP dinner in the evening.
On September 25, there’s more workshops followed by the Cosmo Local Potluck from 6pm, bringing local and international communities together over food.
The weekend gets busier. September 26 features the Solopreneur Show & Tell from 2-5pm, while the AI for Chiang Mai Hackathon kicks off at 5pm and runs into the following day.
September 27 is given over to excursions and wellness, before Main Week wraps up on September 28 with an unconference from 10am-4pm and a Handover Party from 6-9pm.
How much are passes to Cosmo Local Main Week?
There are three passes available, depending on how deeply you want to dive in.
The Purple Pass (US$350) covers all standard Main Week events, including keynotes, workshops, unconferences and evening community activities. It also includes lunch on September 24, 25 and 26, plus 24-hour access to the Alt_PingRiver coworking hub and use of its cold plunge and sauna during Main Week.
For those looking to go all in, the Gold Pass (US$500) includes everything in the Purple Pass, plus priority keynote seating, one guided excursion, an invitation to the Speaker & Mentor Breakfast and two curated one-on-one introductions. US$50 from each Gold Pass also goes towards a local impact project of the pass holder’s choice.
You can get tickets on their website here.
And importantly, Chiang Mai locals haven't been forgotten.
The Local Pass (US$165) is available to Thai residents with valid Thai ID and local verification. It includes standard Main Week events and workshops, plus the same coworking, cold plunge and sauna access as the Purple Pass, although lunch isn't included.
Why is Cosmo Local in Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai hardly needs help attracting remote workers. The more interesting question Cosmo Local CNX is asking is what happens after they arrive.
As the organisers put it, the ambition is to move beyond Chiang Mai simply being a nomad destination to becoming a true ‘nomad friendly district’ complete with government backing and interconnection between local talent and newcomers.
Around 300 participants from across the world are expected to get involved this year, with representatives from Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines among those expected during Main Week.
Cosmo Local CNX Main Week. September 23-28. Various locations around Sanpakoi and Wat Ket, Chiang Mai.