The best things to do in Chiang Mai this weekend (May 21-24)

Lobbyist Bar – Chiang Mai's desert oasis bar with walls in warm beige, orange and purple hues – is hosting a painting night this Friday and the setup is hard to argue with. Entry includes a canvas, one signature cocktail of your choice and a live DJ spinning throughout the evening. The setting does a lot of the heavy lifting before you've even picked up a brush, making you feel like you're painting under a cool desert night sky somewhere far from Nimman. Only 20 seats available so book ahead and come with a rough idea of what you want to paint – or don't, and let the night take you as it happens.

May 22. B899 per person. To book call 053 400 567. Lobbyist Bar. From 8pm onwards

There’s two events in one at MAYA this Friday. First, a high-energy cover dance competition where 20 dance crews take to the stage all in the name of pride (and some prize money, of course). Following that, the stage turns into a forum, with informative talks covering how the constitution relates to human rights and how businesses can contribute to equality in the workplace. An unexpected combination that fits the Pride brief perfectly –  fun and educational in equal measure.

May 22. Free entry. MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center. From 3pm onwards

Sticky rice, spicy som tum and rave beats? Honestly, it was only a matter of time until Chiang Mai’s party scene headed this way. 828 Alleyway’s Som Tum Rave takes the flavours and flair of Isan culture and throws them straight onto the dancefloor for a night that’s one part dinner party, one part rave. Thai DJs spin the ‘spiciest’ of tunes while signature cocktails flow all night. Off the dancefloor, tables loaded with bold Northeastern flavours serve something fresh. The bar wants people to go all out with the theme too – so that means dressing in your best Isan garb or sporting a few playful accessories that fit the scene. For B499, you can tuck into three of six special Isan dishes and enjoy a complimentary cocktail. Come hungry, ready to dance and maybe keep a drink handy nearby – things are expected to get spicy.

May 23. B499 entry, includes food and a drink. 828 Alleyway. 7pm onwards

The main event of the weekend, this is also one of the most significant moments in Chiang Mai Pride's history. This year's theme – Chiang Mai: Inclusive City – is fitting for a movement that has always been about more than one marginalised community and extends well beyond one day or one parade. Parade aside, the MOU signing brings all 25 of the city's district representatives together with the business sector to publicly commit to making Chiang Mai equal and fair for everyone – and it's being signed outdoors at Tha Phae Gate, not inside a hotel. And for the parade itself , head to  Putthasathan Chiang Mai at 6pm and make your way with the colourful crowd to Tha Phae Gate where activist speeches, cabaret shows and performances round out the night. Read our full guide to Chiang Mai Pride 2026 here.

May 24. Free entry. MOU signing and main stage at Tha Phae Gate with the parade starting at Putthasathan Chiang Mai. MOU at 3pm, parade at 6pm

All your favourites are here, again. Bodyslam, Ink Waruntorn, Nont Tanont, Pixxie, Fellow Fellow, Slot Machine, Kong Huayrai and SL Music – to name a few – are all playing at Chiang Mai PAO Park, and it’s entirely free. The lineup alone makes it hard to believe that there’s no paid tickets (thank you Chiang Mai Municipality) and the festival-style setup makes it even better, with food stalls and souvenir booths lining the fields throughout the evening. The only thing you have to do is register your spot in advance – the steps are straightforward and the link is here. 

May 24. Free entry. Register here. Chiang Mai PAO Public Park. From 3.30pm-midnight

A bar full of magic is testing your Thai knowledge this Saturday and the entry fee is almost insultingly good – B67 per person with a drink included. The difficulty level is beginner friendly so even if your Thai doesn’t extend much further than sawadee ka and khob khun kha, this is still your night. Trivia is always more fun in groups so bring your own team, name yourselves something good and arrive on time – once the game starts they won't be holding the door for latecomers.

May 23. B67 per person. Look Inside CNX. From 9pm

Sapphic Riot is going all in for Pride with a full festival and every event is worth showing up for. It kicks off on May 20 with a screening of ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ – a psychological horror film exploring identity and suppression – followed by poster and sign making for the parade. May 23 keeps the doors open with special live performances and DJs turning the energy up considerably. On May 24 they'll be walking at the parade – dress code is brown pink or black pink. The after party returns to the club after the parade wraps up and on May 30 the festival closes with a mirror painting workshop.

May 20-30. Free entry. Sapphic Riot. For event timings click here

The biggest small-wheel scooter gathering in the north is taking over Central Chiang Mai Airport this weekend and even if you've never given a scooter a second thought, the energy of the event makes it worth a visit. Over 500 rare and hard-to-find scooters on display alongside shops selling custom parts and accessories, DJs and live bands providing the soundtrack and a Dyno Test Racing competition – a first of its kind in Thailand – where scooters go head to head to prove which machine has the most power. A genuine community event for enthusiasts but welcoming enough for the curious.

May 23-24. B100 entry for both days. Central Chiangmai Airport. From 12pm-9pm

Carpenter Avenue is taking you on a journey from Inle Lake in Myanmar to Chiang Mai through food, storytelling and cultural dance this Thursday. The Intha are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and this evening is built around their culinary traditions – Burmese flavours, dishes rooted in long-held traditions and a Burmese harp playing throughout to set the tone. It's a slower, more thoughtful kind of evening than most on this week’s list, designed to let you experience a new culture properly rather than in passing. 

May 22. B1,290 per person. Book by contacting 093 124 5876. Carpenter Avenue. From 5pm onwards

Chiang Mai never really stops opening cafés, bars or creative spaces – but every now and then somewhere arrives that feels less like a venue and more like a scene waiting to happen. Opening from 4pm this Friday, Do Place launches as a new space for the city’s creatively curious, blending music, art, food, micro-screenings and community under one roof. To kick things off, Tempo.wav will be broadcasting live from the venue with a pop-up radio stream, while Rovescio Del Giardino and DJ Butter & Cheese soundtrack the evening with eclectic selections and left-field sounds. Behind the bar, expect sato-inspired cocktails alongside Burmese dessert milkshakes – a regional speciality that deserves far more attention than it gets.

May 22. Free. Do Place, find it inside The Goodcery. 4pm onwards.

Bboy Jammy James brings his expertise from the UK and is offering a free breaking class for complete beginners at Chotana Mall this Saturday. Breaking is a dance form built around dynamic body movements – yes, it's the one with the floor spins, but don't worry, this class sticks to the basics. No experience necessary, no pressure and no judgment. A fun, low-commitment way to try something completely new, get some unexpected exercise in and learn about one of the most athletic dance styles around from someone who actually knows what they're doing. Register ahead to secure your spot here.

May 23. Free entry. Scan to register here. Chotana Mall. From 5pm-6pm

Hotel bars are not uncommon, but what is uncommon is when they have something extra worth visiting for. The Marriott’s Wang Bar is one of these spots, where the bar is less about the drinks (although they’re still very good) and more about the experience. Inside, you’ll find three zones that are all about the fun, packed with massive-size golf simulators, private karaoke rooms and e-gaming setups that are a blast – all starting at just B750 per hour. At the bar, golf-inspired drinks make up the menu, served in a plush yet authentic Lanna-heritage style setting. A great start to the long holidays, or a nice filler after the splashing is over next weekend. 

Now open. Free entry, B750 per hour of activity. Wang Bar, Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel. Open Wed-Sun, 2pm-midnight.

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