The best things to do in Chiang Mai this weekend (February 26-March 1)

Graph, known for excellent coffee and clean, minimal interiors, is now expanding further into community markets. After last month's 'Eat Well Live Well' edition spotlighted intentional local food brands, the energy is back with a market focused on design, decor and collectibles. From vintage furniture, rare ceramics and carefully sourced interior pieces that feel personal rather than mass-produced, it’s a great time to refresh your display cabinet. Whether you’re refreshing your home or simply looking for inspiration, this market is worth carving out time for.

Feb 27-Mar 1. Free. Graph Roastery and Warehouse. 10am-6pm

Fringe – a coffee and wine bar just off Nakhon Phing Bridge – has built a following for its contemporary design and community driven events this past year. And while their usual arrangement of vintage threads and fine wines continues unabated, focus now turns to our pets. If you can’t help but take your companion with you wherever you go, then this one’s for you. The Pet and Party night brings together live DJ sets, coffee, wine and a welcoming outdoor atmosphere that’s all about the furry ones. It’s a simple concept, but knowing Fringe, executed exceedingly well. Although completely optional, those with dogs get a small gift and a five percent discount, offering space to socialise without any anti-animal drama.  

Feb 27. Free. Fringe. 5pm-late

CMNQ Communiq are back for their third edition of Jungle Lab and, if the first two are anything to go by, this one hits just as hard – now running all the way through the night ‘til 9am. Needless to say, it’s not for the faint-hearted. Pounding out the midnight tunes you’ll find Takky, DOTT, CicE and April on the decks, accompanied by Casper from Finland and LIEM from Greece, making it a solid mix of local and international talent curated for people who actually listen. Minimal, house, techno and electro collide across a night designed for people who feel music beyond the surface. Backed by a Funktion-One sound system and visuals from Human SPECTRUM, every sense is accounted for. Get there early, stay late and let the music take you somewhere.

Feb 27. B903.95 per person. Tickets here. Hotel Nuu Chiang Mai. 8pm-9am 

Can bad art save you? Tear Factory Boy seems to think so. Bad Art Saves My Life, now showing at Head High Second Floor, leans into disappointment, jealousy and creative-industry burnout though art that is full of humour and meme-friendly faces. Spread across three interconnected rooms, the show moves from ‘The Money Face’ – a sharp jab at NFT-era art-market greed – to a room full of memes, where internet hilarity is reproduced through physical art and paint culture. Then, drag yourself out of the depths of Reddit to the ‘Not Ready Readymade’ room, where you’ll find everyday objects transformed with poems, jokes and quotes. This exhibition is best described as a portrait of our times – anxious, hyper-capitalised, chronically online and coping the only way we know how: through humour. 

Feb 28-Apr 10. Free. Head High Second Floor. Opening night 6pm, Feb 28

Our Neverland friends at Retro Recess are back again for another playful foray for big kids of all ages. This time, it’s the recess classic hide-and-seek taking place at the city’s biggest inflatable playground, Bouncetopia. This adults-only game lets you hunt or be hunted across a maze of oversized slides and inflatable structures, making it the perfect way to decompress after a long week and let out that inner child. Sure, it is silly, it is chaotic, but honestly that’s the point. It’s described as a ‘fun and dynamic alternative to the usual Friday night’ by organisers. These events take courage to break the mold but remain one you’ll talk about long after. Spots are limited to 25 seekers, so book early via Instagram before someone else takes your hiding place.

Feb 27. B700 per person. Sign up via Instagram (@retro.recess). Bouncetopia. 9pm-11pm

Japanese cinema lovers, this one’s for you. The city’s biggest Japanese Film Festival returns to Chiang Mai for three days of big-screen brilliance – and yes, every screening is completely free. This year’s showings span cult animation, contemporary drama and powerful documentaries. Oldies can revisit the cyberpunk classic Ghost in the Shell (1995), dive into sharp satire with Angry Squad: The Civil Servant and Seven Swindlers, and catch new releases like How Dare You?, She Taught Me Serendipity and The Boy and the Dog. There’s also The 94-Year-Old Gay, a moving documentary spotlighting LGBTQ+ history, and Sunset Sunrise, blending drama with touches of comedy. All seven films screen with Thai and English subtitles, making this an easy yes for both students and cinephiles alike.

Feb 27-Mar 1. Free (reservation required here) CIC Building, Faculty of Mass Communication, Chiang Mai University. Various showtimes

Described as a 'gentle gathering under the moon,' this inner-spirit-finding event unfolds among the trees and rivers of Baan Samadhi. Community-led and creativity-driven, the gathering blends workshops, live music, homemade food and late night campfire conversations from Sunday to Monday – the two most spiritual days of the week, right? While there’s a lot of relaxation and time for inner moments, you’ll also find things like tarot readings, drum circles and nostalgic atmospheres that feel more like a childhood camping trip than anything else. And while it’s not everyone's cup of tea, if your ideal weekend involves stars overhead and meaningful connection rather than a crowded bar, this is exactly where you need to be. For more information, read our best festivals in Chiang Mai list for the lowdown.

Mar 1-2. Free. Baan Samadhi. 10am-late

This exhibition at Deja Gallery invites you to sit with a question most of us have asked ourselves at least once: what if a different choice had been made? Featuring works by Jood Jung, Ignat Martynov, Chae Sengkwon, Jessica Chen, Kotaro Yokomizo and Christine Cho, the exhibition explores how we carry our past and the quiet weight of decisions left behind. Each piece approaches that theme differently, making the experience feel personal rather than prescriptive.

Feb 13-May 22. Free. Deja Gallery. Open Mon, Wed-Sun 8.30am-5pm

MrCRU, one of Thailand's most well-regarded fine wine traders, brings its expertise to an exclusive evening at Le Crystal Restaurant. With floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Ping River and soaring high ceilings, the setting alone is worth the visit. The menu is a five-course French affair, with each dish thoughtfully paired with a complimentary wine. Think roast duck with truffle sauce and a grilled rack of lamb – each plate designed to let the wine do as much talking as the food. A proper evening out, done right.

Feb 28. B2,500 per person. Book here or call 084 177 6599. Le Crystal Restaurant. 6pm onwards

Seventeen years of community, creativity and conscious fashion? That deserves a runway. Free Bird Cafe marks its anniversary with a thrifted, feel-good fashion party that spotlights secondhand gems, upcycled flair and a boat-load of charity to go with it. We’re talking catwalk models in the most sparkly hand-me-downs, molam-reggae beats spun by DJ Sister Aung, upcycled jewellery to help you look the part and a fireshow by Saipa Fire Arts. There’ll also be short film screenings from f.m.v. productions, plus food, drinks and cocktails flowing all night. The best part? All proceeds go to supplying menstruation products for underprivileged communities along the Thai-Myanmar border. 

Feb 28. Free. Free Bird Cafe. 7pm-10pm

Old and New Dreams is an immersive sound installation by American musician and multimedia artist Dan Elbert, that uses overhead cameras to track movement, combining art with the real-time happenings, assigning and modulating melodies based on how you move through the space. Walk faster and your musical line swells. Stand closer together and harmonies bloom. Drift in solo and it’s an intimate quartet; arrive in numbers and the room expands into a full orchestral swell. Become part of the art, as they say, or simply enjoy the installation for what it is alongside live musical performances, food by Maadae Balance Kitchen and drinks from North Gate Spirit. 

Feb 28-Mar 22. Free. Haan Studio. Opening night 6pm, Feb 28