Kaweewat Siwanartwong

Planning Halloween already? It maybe a little early, but the nights are drawing in, the air feels cooler, and before long, the season’s most mischievous celebration will be upon us. Thailand may not have the same obsession with ghosts and ghouls as other countries, but Bangkok knows how to throw a night worth remembering.  Soon enough, downtown Bangkok will shift into a carnival of costumes, flickering lights and characters that seem plucked from another world. Streets, bars, galleries and rooftops will offer everything from quirky pop-ups to immersive experiences, leaving little excuse not to get involved. It’s never too early to start plotting your own night of mischief, assembling your coven, or deciding which haunted corners of the city you’ll explore. Looking for something strange, eerie or delightfully absurd? Time Out Bangkok has your back. While we might not carry proton packs, we know where the best thrills are hiding. From haunted bars and rooftop rituals to costume competitions and spooky markets, our ever-growing guide will keep you informed and entertained. By the time the last lanterns flicker and the city’s ghosts retreat, you’ll know that Bangkok’s Halloween is not just a night on the calendar – it’s a festival of mischief, style and just enough fright to make it unforgettable.

Your usual gin and tonic can wait a night. Bangkok’s October 15-18 line-up brings LeVeL33 guest bartender Thomas Sobota to Bar.Yard at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, flower market art to  Pak Khlong Talat and London indie-pop favourites PREP to Melt Livehouse at Cloud 11. There’s a free Star Party at Bangkok Planetarium in Ekkamai too, if y our idea of a Saturday night involves Saturn rather than another round. Stay high up at Bar.Yard, where Sobota’s five-cocktail menu puts Código 1530 tequila, mezcal and Singapore microbrewery LeVeL33’s beers and hops to work. Down at Bangkok Art Walk in Pak Khlong Talat, squeeze past buckets of marigolds and jasmine garlands to browse art, grab street food and catch live music. After dark, the Thai Astronomical Society sets up telescopes at Bangkok Planetarium for a look at Saturn’s rings, its largest moon Titan and lunar craters, with constellation spotting as the clouds allow. Music nerds can head to Such A Small World at The Corner House, where Black Music History… Before the Market traces work songs and church traditions through to hip hop and K-pop, followed by an open discussion with No Ref Left Club. Green thumbs can meet local growers at Ros Chaad Thai Banana Party at Bangkok Kunsthalle, then refuel on banana snacks and traditional Thai sweets. For something grander, Youth Khon 2026 brings more than 80 young performers to Lumphini Hall, with masks, crowns and embroidered costumes telling the Ramakien story of Sida. Still undecided? Brows

Bangkok is a city of contrasts.  Glass towers stand tall next to temples, old mansions and shophouses that have stood for a century or more cosy up to modern cafes and stores. Look past the traffic (and the malls) and you'll find a lot of history still standing.  Much of Bangkok’s oldest buildings are predictably found in neighbourhoods like Silom, Bang Rak and Rattanakosin Island, where the old and the new sit side by side on the same street. Similarly, a lot of them are easy to miss. Some of the best buildings hide down a narrow lane or behind a market, while others sit right on a busy corner or in a green garden of their own, waiting for you to notice them. What's good is how many are still in use. Plenty have been saved from the wrecking ball and given a second life as cafés, bars, galleries, hotels and libraries, with their original bones left on show. A former printing house is now an art space, a sawmill has become a theatre and a machine shop pours coffee. The work behind each one keeps a bit of the city's past alive rather than clearing it away, something of a trend right now and we can’t deny we’re all for it. Below we've picked our favourites in and around the city. Here are 17 old buildings that have been revived and are worth a visit. When in doubt, turn to our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks, galleries and interviews, or work through our bucket list of the best things to do in Bangkok. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, s

Bangkok hides some of its best galleries down side streets and up quiet staircases, right in the thick of its busiest neighbourhoods. This October, follow rain-soaked streets through Alain Callebaut’s photographs at Old Town Gallery, step into Korakrit Arunanondchai’s Love After Death at Bangkok CityCity Gallery in Sathorn or watch painters race the clock at Art Battle Bangkok at The Fig Lobby in Khlong Toei. There’s plenty to linger over – and, in the galleries, perhaps another visitor’s tote bag to dodge. Memory runs through Nostalgia Surfer at KICHgallery, where airbrush paintings revisit old images, sounds, colours and places, and A Place Within a Place at L.O.F Gallery in Samyan, where familiar surroundings take on different meanings. At River City Bangkok, Munins explores emotion, memory and decision-making in STILL : ON, while Kitti Narod’s A Place We Share fills phone-shaped canvases with everyday life and ideas of equality at Tang Contemporary Art. Over at 6060 Arts Space, the lotus becomes a symbol of persistence through difficult circumstances.  Pop Mart marks 20 years of Molly, Kenny Wong's pouting art toy, at Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park. The semi-outdoor display pairs early sketches and original works with Thai craftspeople’s interpretations in Benjarong ceramics and lacquerwork. Check the visiting arrangements , then walk over to Banthat Thong for noodles. For a full crawl or a gallery stop between showers, pick a neighbourhood, pack an umbrella and

Say Song Wat and you might picture old shophouses, Chinese lettering above the shutters and sacks of dried chillies by the door. They’re all still here. Along its roughly 1.2km stretch beside the Chao Phraya, spice wholesalers now trade alongside Song Wat Coffee Roasters, Thai restaurant e-ga, independent shops and bars with river views. Come hungry, but keep your eyes off your phone between stops. Belgian artist ROA’s upside-down elephants cover a car-park wall, PLAY art house occupies a former shoe warehouse and smaller artworks turn up in alleys and shop windows. Made in Song Wat, a local collective that began with 10 businesses in 2022, has since grown to more than 60 members.  The road’s name refers to King Rama V drawing its route on a map. That history is part of the pleasure of walking here: Song Wat still works as a trading street, even as its old buildings find new occupants. Photograph: rongklannuea What's Song Wat known for? Street art helped draw visitors here before the café queues arrived. Now galleries sit among wholesalers, design pieces appear in unexpected shops and restored shophouses hold restaurants, bakeries and bars. You can spend an afternoon photographing the walls and grazing your way down the road, then stay for dinner and a drink. Photograph: rongklannuea Why do the locals love it? Song Wat rewards a slow look. Family-run businesses still sell chillies, star anise and coffee beans from open-fronted shops, while murals cover peeling walls and

This list is from 2024. Read our 2025 ranking or check out our latest ranking for 2026 here. In 2024, what exactly makes a neighbourhood cool? Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district. To create our annual ranking, we went straight to the experts – our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. Then we narrowed down the selection and ranked the list using the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global editors, who vetted each neighbourhood against criteria including food, drink, arts, culture, street life, community and one-of-a-kind local flavour. The result? A list that celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities – and all their quirks. Yes, you’ll find some of those international hallmarks of ‘cool’. But in every neighbourhood on this list there’s something you won’t find anywhere else. Ever been to a photography museum that moonlights as a jazz club? Or a brewery with a library of Russian literature? How about a festival dedicated to fluff? When communities fiercely support and rally around their local businesses, even the most eccentric ideas can become a reality.

For Bangkokians, October is the month of transitioning monsoon weather and warm temperatures all at once. The sun shows up by day, the rain takes over at night, so plan accordingly. Still, why let that stop us. The Weeknd takes over Rajamangala National Stadium for three nights, Jason Mraz plays BITEC Live and Avenged Sevenfold returns to Thunder Dome. Between gigs, browse the NIC Factory Vintage Flea Market in Charoenkrung, follow Bangkok Climate Action Week across the city or try Thai craft beer at Topgolf Megacity Bangna. At NIC Factory, mid-century furniture, homeware and odd collectables fill a former tobacco warehouse by the Chao Phraya. Go early for first pick. DIAGE Festival brings digital art, live coding, workshops and electronic music to Cloud 11 in Phra Khanong, including a live reworking of Cyndi Seui’s ‘Continental Affair’. There’s plenty beyond the big shows: Southeastern Gathering fills six days with bluegrass, Irish and old-time music, Book Expo Thailand takes over QSNCC and the Bangkok Bar Show gathers the city’s drinks crowd at Anantara Siam. One Beer: Hole in One pairs more than 50 Thai craft breweries with golf challenges, while the Derby Day Charity Luncheon raises funds for The Freedom Story. For more ideas, browse our guides to Bangkok's best bars, restaurants, parks, galleries and interviews, or dip into our bucket list of the best things to do in Bangkok. Planning further ahead? Keep an eye on our updated Bangkok concerts roundup for 2026. For more o

We keep this article updated regularly to make sure everything stays accurate and current, pop back anytime for the latest. So 2025 was pretty huge for live music in Bangkok, wasn't it? We had Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, TV Girl, The Smashing Pumpkins and Tyler, The Creator all gracing stages across the city. Not a bad lineup. The good news? 2026 is looking just as packed. Alright, Oasis might not be on the cards just yet, but there's still a serious roster of artists lined up to play Bangkok stadiums and arenas over the coming months. And rumour has it even more big names are yet to announce tours like BTS. Givēon, Central Cee, Taeyong, Kraftwerk... the list goes on. Whether you're into R&B, grime, K-pop or electronic legends, there's something coming your way. Here are the best major gigs heading to the capital this year.  

According to psychology (the hangout edition), that amber-coloured glass with its soft, smooth foam has the power to soothe exhaustion after a hard week, revive you from that post-project slump and give your body a refreshing boost of energy. And in Bangkok, where the working day rarely finishes on time, beer drinking is now a long way from a casual afterthought. These days it comes with good music, sharp interiors and a proper crowd. You step off a hot, busy street, the door swings shut, the air-con hits and someone behind the bar is already pouring your first of the night. So whether you know your DDH IPA from your vanilla porter or simply want a cold pint, decent music and somewhere comfortable to spend the evening, these are 20 of the best beer bars in Bangkok. Also worth bookmarking: our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks and galleries, plus the best things to do in Bangkok.Map out the rest of this month with our guide to what’s on, and keep an eye on our picks of Bangkok’s best things to do. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, straight to your inbox.

News of club closures and sober youngsters might have you thinking that nightlife is dead. We’re here to tell you – with proof! – that you couldn’t be further from the truth.  The way we go out might be different, but people are by no means staying in. Cities are adapting to our changing nightlife habits: as summers get hotter, street parties and rooftop raves are bigger than ever. Rather than heading to one or two big-name venues, locals are flocking to new nightlife districts for an evening of bar-hopping and curbside drinking. And, trust us, the nightclub isn’t going anywhere – in fact, communities and local governments have successfully rallied to save historic nightlife venues (in Berlin’s case, they’ve even managed to grant techno UNESCO-listed status). So, we’re here to celebrate going out in the city. From Bangkok to Berlin, Medellin to Mexico City, Time Out’s Best Cities for Nightlife with Intrepid Travel is the ultimate guide to today’s after-hours capitals. To curate the ranking, we went straight to the people who know their city best – the locals – and asked them to tell us all about the nightlife scene in their hometown right now. We asked them about everything from clubbing to cocktail bars, how affordable it is to go out at night, the overall quality of nightlife in their city, how easy it is to find community, and how safe, exciting, welcoming and diverse their city is. After crunching all that data, a panel of nightlife experts – Time Out’s city editors, cult

You might never have met Ray MacDonald, but if you grew up in Thailand in the 1990s he was part of your week all the same, on the telly after school, up on the big screen with your mates, or talking you through a train ride halfway across the map. Ray, one of the most recognisable faces of a generation of Thai youth, died on August 19. His career runs close to three decades and takes in film, television and the travel programmes that sent a lot of us reaching for an atlas. Plenty of people first know him from the show Teen Talk; others picture him in O-Negative, Dear Galileo or Phobia 2. And for a whole crowd of viewers he plays a travelling companion they never actually meet, someone whose journeys make the wider world seem that bit closer from the sofa. So his story runs richer than the word 'actor' lets on. Over the years he turns up as a shy young man, a hitman, a monk, a graphic designer and a traveller, each part catching a particular moment in his life and the times around it. Here are 14 of his screen roles, from his first day on set to the work that still brings him to mind.   Fun Bar Karaoke Photograph: Fun Bar Karaoke, 2540Ray Macdonal Ray's first screen appearance comes in Pen-ek Ratanaruang's debut feature, and it wins him Best Actor at the Suphannahong National Film Awards straight out of the gate. He plays Noi, a shy convenience-store worker who turns hitman the moment he falls asleep. The character is odd, cheeky and quietly lonely, and you can already hear

This year hands us more choice than we know what to do with, the parties rolling on til the end of December. A little strategy pays off. The schedule stretches from gentle seaside sets in the cooler months to giant year-end send-offs, so plan ahead.  Do you want a slow day by the water or a midnight thrash in a warehouse? Can you handle a tent, or does the shower queue alone put you off? Loyal to one sound or happy to gamble on whatever lands next, one of these has your name on it. Sandy chill-outs, rooftop hip-hop, jazz under the trees, all-night electronic marathons that run til dawn – Thailand serves the whole spread, often across a single week. From Bangkok venues to island beaches and jungle clearings, the map fills up quick. Yet to book? No stress, because we keep this rundown current with day parties still holding tickets. Get moving before you miss the big names. 808 Festival, DIAGE Festival, Wonderfruit and Tomorrowland Thailand all touch down on Thai soil in the months ahead. Give our guide a scroll, refreshed constantly as new line-ups drop, and pick out whatever grabs you. Still undecided? You can always turn to our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of the best things to do in Bangkok. Map out the rest of the month with our guide to what’s on, and keep an eye on our picks of Bangkok’s best things to do.  Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, straight to your inbox. 

Phae Lee: Before Chapter 1 sends you walking through a Thai horror story rather than watching from a seat. A mother, father and their seven-year-old son disappear, then turn up dead two weeks later. During the 60-minute immersive theatre production, you rooms and follow clues while the spirits tell their side. Before entering, each audience member chooses a talisman that determines whose story they hear first, so friends may uncover different versions of the case. English subtitles are available throughout. The producers plan nine horror tales in the Pao Lee universe, unfolding each October through 2035.October 30-November 1. B990 including one mocktail; B1,490 including one cocktail or mocktail and a burger set or vongle pasta, via Zipevent. Black Cabin Bar, Thong Lo Soi 16. 7.30-8.30pm. Recommended for ages 15+; includes strobes, theatrical fog and jump scares.

Fangs, dark outfits and a little vampire drama are the brief for The Lovers’ Plan’s Sapphic Vampire Lair Halloween Party. Head to The Red Door on Sukhumvit Soi 24 for bloody drinks and three DJs, then find a partner for the Coffin for Two or gather your coven on the dance floor. DJ Ami opens with house and alternative music from 8.30pm-9.30pm, followed by nostalgic EDM from DJ Shane. DJ Yui Truluv takes over at 10.30pm with reggaeton, afrobeats and pop until late. The party welcomes sapphics and their friends. October 24. B450 online or B600 at the door, including one drink. Book via the registration form. The Red Door, Sukhumvit Soi 24. From 8pm.

Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong takes Halloween across two floors from October 22-31. At Moxy Bar & Restaurant on 9/F, the Moxy Truck serves zombie chicken wings, blackout calamari, bloodbath nachos and zombie brain panna cotta, with cocktails including blood & ash, spice & xcream and T-virus mix at B350++ each. Upstairs, Sato San Rooftop Bar on 32/F turns to Japanese folklore with oni chicken wings, kappa cucumber roll, nekomata gyoza and yokai takoyaki. Its cocktails take their names from supernatural characters, including Oni the Demon, Kitsune the Fox Spirit, Yurei the Restless Spirit and Jorogumo the Spider Woman. Both floors have food from B190++.October 22-31. Food from B190++; Moxy Bar & Restaurant’s Halloween cocktails B350++ each. Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong. Moxy Truck on 9/F, 5pm-11pm; Sato San on 32/F, 6pm-1.30am. Check seating and reservation terms with the venues.

Wicked Sessions by White Claw turns Sphere Hall at EmSphere into the Wicked Woods for a forest-themed Halloween party. Amanda Sze heads a line-up featuring Ellia B2B Fleurpluma, Norita, Paulie Sirisant, Jahjaboyz and Certified V10. Between sets, get your tarot read, visit the styling booths or challenge friends to mini games. Immersive photo spots give you somewhere to document the outfit you spent all week assembling. October 31. ​​Advertised tiers: B1,199 Early Ghost, B1,499 regular and B1,899 at the door; check the current release via Nightify. Sphere Hall, 5/F, EmSphere. From 8pm until late. Table packages available.

Your ex may be the real horror story, but OMG! Haunted Hearts at W Lounge offers a chance to meet someone new. Five-minute dates sit alongside icebreaker games and prizes, with organisers planning more than 60 singles for the men-and-women session on October 31 and more than 40 for the gay men’s session on November 1. Both advertise at least 10 selected speed dates, with Thai and English welcome. B1,499 includes one drink, snacks and access to the matching system; arrive in Halloween costume for an extra drink. Apply first – selected applicants receive a private ticket link by October 26. October 31-November 1. B1,499 per person. Apply via Eventpop for October 31 or  November 1. W Lounge, W Bangkok. 6pm-9pm.

Skinny jeans, studded belts and a side-swept fringe: Emoween 4.0 brings the scene-kid uniform back for a rooftop party at Cul de Sac, complete with a swimming pool, big screen and karaoke to start the night. DJs play emo, pop-punk, nu-metal and post-hardcore, with a Limp Bizkit battle offering concert tickets as prizes. Bring your crew in full subculture regalia: the best-dressed gang wins a special prize. The event is 20+. The narrower 20-27 age limit applies to the B350 student ticket, which requires a valid student ID; everyone needs proof of age at the door. Underage entry refusals are not refunded.October 31. B350 student tickets for eligible guests; advertised standard tiers B480, B580 and B680, with B880 at the door if available, via Megatix.Cul de Sac, Sukhumvit Soi 49/11. From 8pm.

Barcelona DJ and producer Baldo heads to Clutch at The Warehouse in Talat Noi for Halloween, bringing deep house, acid and leftfield electronics. He’s behind Subwax Distribution and imprints including Physical Education, Curated By Time and BLD Tape Recordings, with releases on Running Back, Permanent Vacation and E-Beamz. That record obsession should make for a set with a few less predictable turns. CIRIYA and JAYJA join the bill.October 31. Ticket tiers B400-800 via Ticketmelon, subject to availability. Clutch, The Warehouse, Talat Noi. 6pm-3am.

Kangkao Halloween takes over DUAL in Silom with two rooms of darker sounds and plenty of reasons to stay out late. The announced Main Room line-up features .G, MOODYBOOM, MO and OHO, while the Creature Room hosts SEELIE, D.RANCHAN, P4 and KRIT SU. Costumes are encouraged, whether you arrive as a monster, ghost or something harder to explain. Normal behaviour is optional for the night.October 31. Ticket tiers B400-800 via Ticketmelon, subject to release availability. DUAL, Trinity Complex, Silom. 7pm-4am. Ages 20+; check the latest room allocations before the party.

Elvis, Madonna or Michael Jackson? Ghosts of Greatness at Bar.Yard invites you to dress as your favourite music icon and head to Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok’s 40th floor. Daddy Gold, Sornthep and Natty take turns behind the decks, with magic shows and a photo booth between dance-floor sessions. Entry is free, while two-hour free-flow packages cost extra: B990 for house wines, B1,490 for wine and spirits or B2,490 with G.H. Mumm Champagne. À la carte food and drinks are available throughout the night. Dig out the signature outfit and reserve ahead. October 31. Free entry; drinks packages B990-2,490 via Megatix. Bar.Yard, 40/F, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. 8pm-2am. Advance reservations required: 02 056 9999.

Le Café des Stagiaires’ Chic and Shock Halloween Party gives you two ways to approach the costume: dress to impress or dress to terrify. A happy middle ground is welcome too. The Sathorn Soi 12 bar has tarot readings, bloody drinks and a DJ lined up, making this an easy place to give your outfit an outing before the main Saturday rush.October 30. Free entry. Le Café des Stagiaires, Sathorn Soi 12. From 4pm.

House of Films: Halloween Edition brings five films to The Pavilion at The Corner House Bangkok over three nights. Start with the quiet grief of A Ghost Story and zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead on October 30, then make Halloween itself a double bill of The Lighthouse and Alien. Folk horror The Witch closes the programme on November 1. With 35 seats listed per screening, book ahead for the film you want – and book both if you’re staying for the double bill.October 30-November 1. B250 per screening, including a drink and snacks, via the booking form. The Pavilion, The Corner House Bangkok. Check individual screening times in the  venue announcement.

Give Halloween film night a Gothic twist at KROMO Cinema, which returns to KROMO Bangkok’s 29th-floor rooftop, with The Addams Family. The 1991 comedy stars Anjelica Huston, Raúl Juliá and Christina Ricci, with Gomez and Mortician doting on Wednesday and Pugsley through deadpan jokes and wonderfully odd family antics. Bangkok’s skyline supplies the backdrop. The B499 net Classic ticket includes popcorn and one selected beer, with packages for couples and dinner available too. October 31. From B499 net per person via Megatix. KROMO Bangkok, 29/F. Screenings at 7pm and 9.15pm

Is life a bit much right now? take note. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has a fix in the middle of Bangkok. The Night by Amazing Thailand Season 2: Music in Memory runs under the theme Harmony of Healing, with music, art, light and calming activities on the lawns outside the Entertainment Building in Lumphini Park. The best bit? It costs nothing to get in on all 12 nights. Lumphini is already where Bangkokians go to switch off, and this time TAT wants a space where anyone can slow down for a few hours. The tagline sums it up: ‘music to heal the body, melodies to heal the heart’. More than 46 acts play across the run, and each evening has its own theme. Expect jazz, full orchestras, ’80s and ’90s hits, luk thung, luk krung, pop, reggae and contemporary sounds. Moderndog, ZAZA, The Palace, Kai-Jo Brothers and Mocca Garden are on the bill, and Princess Ubolratana is scheduled to sing on October 21. Photograph: Amazing ThailandBangkok Away from the main stage, art installations and interactive lighting brighten the paths after dark. Try sound and scent therapy or a handpan sound healing session, or kick off your shoes on the grass for grounding therapy. Yoga classes and talks on emotional wellbeing run on a rotating schedule, while DIY workshops give your hands a job and your head a rest. Free massages are on offer too, but numbers are limited. Food and drink stalls keep you going as you wander. Aim to arrive around 5pm, when the joggers finish their laps of the lake a

Property launches usually mean a sales rep, a glossy brochure and a polite nod at the kitchen island. Lesmo Plus skips all that. Over the Chulalongkorn Day weekend (October 23-25), it opens the space between the houses at Alom Ari for Sip & Sound, three evenings of wine, music and art. Photograph: MIA Made In AriBangkok ‘This time, we aren’t asking anyone to imagine,’ says Bell Wongchindawest from the developer. Photograph: MIA Made In AriBangkok Communal tables sit against terracotta walls, while more than 10 vendors pour from a list of over 100 labels. Expect natural wines alongside bottles from France, Italy, Chile, Germany, Russia and Thailand, plus Thai crafted beer and local spirits. Neighbourhood restaurants bring small bites, and DJs rotate nightly with house, organic house and nu-disco.  Art installations appear across the site. Expect wine masterclasses and workshops to explore in each house.. All pets are welcome. Photograph: MIA Made In AriBangkok Online tickets cover all 3 days and include 3 tokens (B300) and a Lucaris wine glass worth B450. Early bird costs B700 (first 100, until October 18), regular B800 and a five-person team pack B3,500 (15 tokens, one wine glass each). Walk-ins pay B200 on the day for a single token, with glasses B300 extra. Sip & Sound takes place October 23-25, 3pm-10pm, at Alom Ari, 58 Soi Suparaj 1, Samsen Nai. Grab tickets via Zipevent. Parking is limited, so take the BTS to Ari.

On a weekday, Lumphini Park belongs to office workers doing lunchtime laps and retirees practising tai chi by the lake. Lately, though, Bangkok’s first public park draws a much younger crowd. They join the evening aerobics sessions by the main entrance, crouch down to greet the resident cats and film the water monitors sunbathing on the canal banks. Part of the appeal is simple geography. Lumphini sits a few minutes’ walk from Sala Daeng BTS and Silom and Lumphini MRT, and its 2.5km loop suits anyone chasing a daily step count in the name of living longer. Tourists come for the lizards, now the unofficial mascot of a green space that turned 100 last year. Photograph: Thipsuda RuengsiribhaksakunaBangkok Sunday mornings add a new set of regulars. From 10am to midday, a group going by the very punny name of Lumphini Sundae laces up for a weekly session. Anyone is welcome, so expect first-timers clutching a friend’s elbow, thirtysomethings dusting off the quad skates they had at school and a handful of serious riders training for competitions. Everyone meets near Gate 1, next to the drinks stall, before setting off together. Rather go it alone? Official rules allow bikes and other wheeled kit between 10am and 3pm, so you can carry on at your own pace once the Sundae lot head home. Bring water, since it’s properly hot by 11am, and pack knee pads if you last skated at a roller disco in the early 2000s. Prefer to stay on foot? Grab a bench and stare at nothing for 30 minutes inste

If your bedside table already wobbles under a pile of Thai BL (boys’ love) paperbacks, you’re well ahead of us. For everyone else, the Thai Queer Book Fair (TQBF) is the place to start. The one-day event takes over TK Park, the public library inside centralwOrld, on Saturday October 24. Its message is straightforward. Queer writing is for anyone who enjoys a good read, whatever their gender. Expect long tables laden with romance novels, erotic short stories, poetry and fantasy, plus non-fiction on human rights and a generous spread of zines, prints and handmade publications. Independent publishers, small presses and printmakers run the stalls, so you’ll spot plenty of titles that rarely reach the big chain bookshops. Bring a tote bag. You’ll need one. Browsing is only half of it. Panel talks, book clubs and writing workshops fill the afternoon, and queer artists take the stage. You can also chat face to face with the authors and illustrators behind the work, which is usually how we end up going home with three more books than planned. The timing makes sense. Same-sex marriage became legal in Thailand in January 2025, and local BL and GL (girls’ love) series, many of them adapted from web novels, now draw fans across Asia. This fair shifts attention to the people who dream up those stories, and Thai writers get top billing. From BTS Chit Lom, follow the skywalk straight to the mall and take the lift to the eighth floor. Arrive early for first pick of the limited runs. The Thai

Doing the Bangkok Art Biennale properly means plenty of Grab rides, sweaty walks between sites and a phone full of half-read wall texts. City to River, a one-off outing on Sunday November 1, hands the planning to the team behind the show. It starts at 2pm at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), opposite MBK, where curators walk a small group up the spiralling ramps to a handful of highlights. Some of the artists come along, so you can ask them what they had in mind. Next comes Wat Pho at 4.30pm, home to the 46-metre reclining Buddha with mother-of-pearl soles. New work sits among its tiled chedis and cloisters of gilded statues, which is half the appeal. Cover your shoulders and knees. Photograph: Siri Sala Private Thai VillaBangkok From there, you hop aboard a private boat on the Chao Phraya around sunset. The skipper turns off at Khlong Bangkok Noi, where wooden houses on stilts have steps running down to the water, and pulls up at Siri Sala Private Thai Villa for drinks and dinner with everyone you’ve met along the way. The route nods to this year’s theme, Angels & Mara. Bangkok’s Thai name begins with Krung Thep, or City of Angels, while Mara is the demon who tried to distract Siddhartha from enlightenment. The fifth edition runs from October 29 until February 28, 2027, with 72 Thai and international names across temples, museums and public spaces. Apinan Poshyananda leads as chief executive and artistic director, alongside a curatorial team of Adulaya Hoontrakul,

Lumphini Hall is having a busy year. After years of sitting quiet, the old hall in the middle of Lumphini Park now runs a regular line-up of Thai arts, including a free evening of khon and classical dance back in July. The next date for your diary is October 18. More than 80 young volunteers from the Mathurasin and Siam Rak Silp troupes perform Youth Khon 2026 at Lumphini Hall, the old hall in the middle of the grounds. Ballroom dancers packed its floor in the 1950s and ’60s, and after years of sitting quiet, it now hosts Thai music and dance again. Photograph: MathulaslipKhon Show The chosen episode, Akhra Nari Sida, translates roughly as ‘Sida, the Supreme Lady’. Most Ramakien retellings follow Hanuman’s mischief or Phra Ram’s battles, but this one stays with Sida after the war in Lanka, when accusations about her faithfulness force her to prove her dignity and honesty. In the classic version of the epic, that test sends her walking through fire. The heroine also takes centre stage in this year’s royal khon production from the SUPPORT Foundation, so consider this a handy primer. Never seen khon live? The staging does most of the explaining. Expect gold-threaded costumes, hand-carved masks, slow and precise hand movements and a steady clang of gongs and drums. Doors open at 4.30pm and it’s free. MRT Silom Exit 1 puts you at the southwest corner, a short stroll away. Youth Khon 2569 is at Lumphini Sathan, Lumphini Park, on Sun Oct 18, 4.30pm-7pm. Entry is free. The nearest

Anyone who still hums ‘Glue Song’ on their morning commute can start counting down, because beabadoobee returns to Bangkok next year. The Filipino-British singer-songwriter, real name Beatrice Laus, heads to UOB Live at Emsphere on April 2 2027 as part of The Powerlines Tour. It marks her third Thai show since the Beatopia tour first brought her here in 2022. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Live Nation Tero (@livenationth)   Photograph: Pylonbeabadoobee This time she arrives with a new record. Pylon, her fourth album, is out now and follows This Is How Tomorrow Moves, which gave her a first UK number one in 2024. The title refers to the electricity pylons she watches pass along the roads between gigs. For her, they're reminders of the family and friends she leaves behind whenever she tours.   Photograph: beabadoobeeThe Powerlines Tour Most of the 14 tracks begin as diary entries, written on the road and during breaks at home, about homesickness and the uncertainty of time away from the people she loves. ‘A lot of the songs on this record are things I wish I could have said to someone,’ she says. The guest list is strong too. Paramore’s Hayley Williams sings on ‘Nothing to Prove’, Turnstile’s Brendan Yates joins her on ‘Powerlines’ and the 1975’s Matty Healy and George Daniel produce ‘Write Me A Letter’. Expect older favourites like ‘the perfect pair’ and ‘Coffee’ alongside cuts from Pylon, including lead single and opening track ‘S

Make music even if nobody buys it. That’s the idea behind Black Music History… before the market, a talk on the third floor of The Corner House, the century-old orange building where Charoen Krung Road meets Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem. People sang long before record labels and streaming apps, and they’ll keep singing after them. Your guide is Julian Cary, academic director at 1500 Sound Academy Thailand and a former lecturer at Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Music. Students call him Ajarn Julian. A working producer, he’s also easy company and quick with a joke. His story of Black music, born of struggle, runs from work songs, songs of comfort and calling songs in churches all the way to hip hop and K-pop. And why did we ever split it up by category in the first place? Because music and art come from people living side by side. Photograph: Julian CaryBangkok Afterwards, No ref left club opens the floor, asking which stories, scents and sounds the room craves right now. Expect a proper back-and-forth rather than a polite Q&A. Such A Small World usually runs as a co-playing café, with board games, a 16-seat cinema and a listening station stocked with more than 6,500 records, so turn up early and flick through a few sleeves. The bar sells drinks and snacks for breaking the ice, a photobooth handles the souvenirs and the crowd mixes mates, crate-diggers and solo Bangkokians after some company. Come alone if you like. You probably won’t leave that way. The talk runs on Sat Oct

Remember reciting a poem at school assembly, knees knocking while the whole year group stared back? Now add a mic, judges and a room full of strangers. That's the challenge facing the kids at Thailand's National Youth Poetry Slam, which closes Bangkok Climate Action Week on Sunday October 11. Organised by Empathy For Youth Academy and Retro Recess, the competition brings young poets from across the country to Lumpini Recreation Center Hall. Teacher Illya Sumanto hosts the junior category (aged eight to 12), while Sabrina Dcates looks after the seniors (13 to 17). Entrants can go solo, work in pairs or form groups of up to four, and speak in Thai, English or a mix of both. Every line must be their own. Photograph: Bangkok Climate Action WeekBangkok This year's theme, 'We Destine: The World We Want to Live In', borrows from the citywide 'We Define Our Destiny' campaign and asks contestants what future they're building. Expect verses about flooded sois and plastic bags, neighbourhood life and hope, plus a few sharp questions for the grown-ups listening. Notep provides the music. Everyone who takes part gets a certificate, and the best win prizes. Arrive early and take a lap of Lumpini Park first, when joggers still circle the lake and monitor lizards sprawl along the banks. Then grab a seat, silence your phone and give every performer a proper cheer. Thailand's National Youth Poetry Slam is at Lumpini Recreation Center Hall on Sun Oct 11, 11am-2pm. It's open to the public. Reg

If Song Wat were a museum, its shophouses, family businesses and Chinese shrines would be the permanent collection, open every day of the year. Walk the road on a weekday morning and you'll dodge trolleys stacked with sacks of dried chillies, peanuts and coffee beans, while shopkeepers whose families have traded here for generations sit out front with a glass of iced tea. RECOMEMMED: Your ultimate guide to Song Wat Road Photograph: Song Wat WeekBangkok Song Wat Week is the temporary exhibition. The festival confirms its return on November 19-22, bringing a fresh round of activities, creative projects and brand collaborations to the same stretch of road, a short walk from Ratchawong pier. Old stories from the neighbourhood meet the ideas of a younger crowd, so the faded charm of the street sits alongside something new and playful. Expect to see familiar corners differently, whether that's the back room of a spice wholesaler or a shrine you've walked past a dozen times without stopping. Photograph: Song Wat WeekBangkok Last year's standout was Made in Song Wat: The Longtable, a shared dinner that told the story of the area through its food. Leading chefs teamed up with 21 restaurants and cafés on the street to create more than 24 dishes, each built around local ingredients and the people who cook with them every day. This year's line-up is still under wraps, but we'd block out the dates now and turn up hungry. Song Wat Week runs November 19-22 along Song Wat Road, Bangkok.

Most Bangkokians expect a wet September, but plenty say this year is worse. After more than 330mm of rain from Thursday to Sunday, all 50 districts carry disaster status and floodwater reaches around 52,000 households. Out east, residents wade knee-deep across a supermarket car park, towing belongings in plastic tubs. Some convenience stores run short after a weekend rush, and hundreds of city schools stay shut today. For anyone who needs to leave home, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) runs temporary shelters in temples and classrooms, now housing almost 4,900 people. At one in Kheha Romklao, families rest on camp beds with their dogs in the corridors. The downpours should ease this week, though canal levels remain high. Stay safe and check on your neighbours. Photograph: ThairathBangkok   Here the full list by district: Khlong Sam Wa District Rattanaprachark Hospital Wat Bua Kaeo School Bang Chan School Wat Khu Bon School Pracharat Uppatham Wittaya School Su Raho Khlong Nueng School Klang Khlong Song School Ban Nong Rahaeng School Wat Paen Thong School Wat Phraya Suren School Su Raho Sam Wa School Wat Phraya Suren Khan Na Yao District Chinda Bamrung School Khan Na Yao School (Tharin Charoen Songkroh) Chatuchak District Chandrakasem Rajabhat University Ban Lat Phrao School Sena Nikhom School Wat Thewasunthon Prachanivet School Mathayom Prachanivet School Wat Thewasunthon School Wat Samian Nari School Don Mueang District Phahon Yothin School Wat Don Muean

Clear a shelf, cancel your weekend plans and find the roomiest bag you own. Big Bad Wolf, Thailand’s largest sale of English and international books, returns to Platinum Pop (the venue formerly known as The Market Bangkok) from October 2-13. To mark its tenth anniversary, the organisers bring more than 1 million titles, all at hefty discounts. Book hoarders already know the drill. Doors open at 10am and close at midnight, and even a full day of browsing rarely covers every zone. Regulars turn up with wheeled suitcases or a stack of sturdy totes. Anyone hoping to dodge long queues at the tills should aim for a weekday evening rather than a Saturday afternoon. Wear comfortable shoes too, because you spend hours on your feet. Photograph: International Book SaleBangkok The event started in Malaysia in 2009 and now tours cities around the world, which explains the range on the tables. Children’s picture books sit next to photobooks, cookbooks and design tomes, alongside translated fiction in several languages and unsold stock from independent publishers abroad. Prices come in well under what you’d pay at a mall bookshop, so it’s easy to load up on things you’d never normally pick up. Our favourite corner, though, is the merchandise section. Expect Game of Thrones board games, special-edition box sets and audiobook CDs, and word has it this year’s haul includes wizard’s chess sets from the Harry Potter series. Collectors, you know what to do. Big Bad Wolf Bangkok runs Oct 2-13, 1