Kaweewat Siwanartwong

The holidays are done and the post-festive slump has officially arrived. If you're one of those people planning another escape or just camping out on the sofa, we get it. But here's a thought: what if the cure for those January blues is actually just getting out there?  Bangkok's second weekend of the year is properly firing up, and there's plenty happening across the city to shake off that holiday hangover. Here's what's on. Thursday kicks off with Bangkok Chess Social, where you can swap small talk for strategy and find out if you're actually any good at thinking three moves ahead. Expect boards, beers and the kind of friendly rivalry that makes losing almost bearable. Salin brings rammana home, blending afro-jazz, funk and Thai folk with an ease that feels lived-in rather than rehearsed.  Opens things up at Suan Rot Fai with Swing Partout, an afternoon gathering that swaps nightclub intensity for open air, live jazz and easy dance steps on grass. No prior experience needed, just show up and see what happens. Then, Wolf Alice is in town for anyone craving loud guitars and a proper release, whilst Sunday winds down gently with Kaiwa Sunday Night Party, a mellow spot to ease into the week ahead. None of it requires major commitment. Just turn up and see where the weekend takes you. Now, get out there! Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our list of the top things to do this January. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best

There is a certain cruelty to early fame in Thailand. It sticks, fossilises and refuses to move on even when the person inside the image does. We know NOTEP or Note Panayanggool as an artist, an influencer, a brand, a woman who seems to operate somewhere between sound bath and electronic music. Yet the country first met her as something else entirely – Note The Star, runner-up on a televised talent show, ukulele in hand, smile fixed in place. That version of her lingered longer than she wanted. For years, she tried to outrun it, forming an indie band, leaning away from pop sweetness, pushing herself towards edges that felt less tidy. But reinvention is rarely a clean cut. There were fractures along the way, moments where ambition and expectation collided hard enough to rattle her sense of self. Eventually, the noise inside became louder than the one outside. She stepped back and began what she now describes as a spiritual journey, not in a hashtag sense but as a necessity. Photograph: Vivi Suthathip Today, Note Panayanggool feels like a complete picture. Or at least closer to one. She is a Thai artist, musician and environmental advocate whose work moves across disciplines, often blurring where one ends and another begins. Since starting out as a singer in 2010, she has expanded her practice into sound design, installations and collaborations that orbit environmental causes. Music is still the anchor but it is no longer the destination. Photograph: Vivi Suthathip From hyp

We're officially saying hello to 2026, the Year of the Horse. According to the Chinese zodiac, it's meant to be dynamic, energetic and full of fresh starts, a calendar page that  nudges you towards action rather than hesitation. Whether your 2025 resolutions made it past January is beside the point. Abandoned lists don't cancel out ambition, and new ones can be written anytime – preferably without self-judgement. If one of your goals this year is to get out more often, you're in luck. We've rounded up some of the best things happening across Bangkok this January, and there's plenty to tempt you off the sofa. The music scene is particularly busy this month. Till Lindemann brings his industrial theatrics to town, Tyga hits up a Bangkok venue, Salin performs and Wolf Alice are back doing what they do best. But it's not all about gigs, there's loads more going on. So whether you're after live music, cultural happenings or just fancy trying something new, read on for our pick of January's highlights. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.

It sounds almost too good to be true, but here we are. One of the world's biggest pop stars becomes a tourism ambassador and suddenly the entire internet is paying attention to Thai handicrafts. That's the Lisa effect for you. The BLACKPINK member has this uncanny ability to turn literally anything she touches into a global sensation. Remember when she posed with a Labubu doll? That once obscure collectible became an international must-have overnight. A casual Instagram story featuring a snack? Expect it to sell out within hours. Now the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has officially tapped Lisa (full name Lalisa Manobal) as their Amazing Thailand Ambassador for 2026. It's a pretty savvy move considering her influence extends far beyond the music charts. The TAT has now taken things further by spotlighting specific Thai food and fashion items that Lisa has already turned into viral moments. Rather than starting from scratch, they're capitalising on products she's naturally gravitated towards, the ones that have already sparked conversations and sent fans scrambling. It's an interesting approach to soft power. Let one of your most famous cultural exports casually showcase local products, then amplify what's already working. In the bizarre economy of modern fandom, where a celebrity's offhand choice can reshape entire markets, Thailand is playing it smart.  Here are eight picks that Lisa has put on the map.

Even though Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, Bangkok's cultural scene shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, things are ramping up, with galleries and museums packing their schedules with exhibitions that deserve your attention before the year wraps up. If you're wondering what's actually worth your time, start here. We've rounded up the best museum exhibitions and art shows happening in Bangkok right now, from contemporary installations to historical retrospectives that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about Thai art. There's plenty to see across the city, whether you're into cutting-edge contemporary work at MOCA Bangkok, intimate gallery shows in Charoenkrung or major exhibitions at the National Gallery. The variety is impressive, and the quality? Even better. Can't make it to everything? Don't worry. We're updating this list with the latest openings and must-see shows, so you'll always know what's hot and what's not in Bangkok's art world.  Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.   Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our list of top things to do this December. Whether you're a regular gallery-goer or just art-curious, these are Bangkok’s best spots to live the art life.   From alleyway masterpieces to paint-splashed corners you might walk past without noticing, here are our top spots to see street art.

Bangkok nights are always lined with choices, but New Year’s Eve turns the dial up to 11. With a dizzying number of rooftop countdowns, pulsating club nights and luxurious riverside dinners, the sheer volume of options can be genuinely overwhelming. Tempted to just stay in with a playlist and a few drinks? We get it. But trust us: if you're ready to ring in 2026 with a bang, the capital has lined up a well-rounded roster of parties for you to peruse. Whether you're after a fancy champagne-fuelled affair with views over the city or a sweaty club night that goes until sunrise, there's genuinely something for everyone this year. The only catch? You'll want to sort yourself out pretty sharpish. New Year's Eve tickets in Bangkok have a habit of vanishing faster than anything, and trust us, FOMO on January 1 hits different. So before you end up refreshing sold-out event pages at 11pm on December 30, have a look through our picks for the best ways to spend December 31 in the Thai capital. From riverside countdowns to club takeovers, here's how to say farewell to 2025. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of where to find Christmas magic in Bangkok.

Hard to believe December has slipped in again, but here we are, watching Bangkok swap its usual gleam for something a little more golden. No snow here, obviously, but there's still plenty of sparkle once the fairy lights go up along Sukhumvit and those enormous Christmas trees start appearing in every mall atrium. Jangly carols drift through night markets, bars get that extra twinkle and the whole city shifts into celebration mode. With everything happening at once, the season can feel a bit overwhelming. Luckily, Time Out is here to guide you through everything you need to make your yuletide in Bangkok a truly merry occasion.  If you fancy a proper Christmas dinner without the stress of brining, basting or staring into your oven wondering if you've just ruined everything, Bangkok's got you sorted. The city's mastered the art of letting you celebrate without any of the usual chaos. Grand hotel dining rooms roll out gleaming roasts and generous spreads, cosy pubs do turkeys to perfection, neighbourhood spots serve up comforting plates and even curry houses create festive specials that feel wonderfully familiar. Consider this your starting point for finding the brightest, warmest corners of Christmas spirit across Bangkok, places where the season feels effortless, inviting and just indulgent enough to make December worth savouring.  Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our list of the top things to do this December. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans

There are many ways to unpick a person's listening habits. Some people journal, others overanalyse dreams, but most of us simply wait for that neon billboard masquerading as self-reflection: Spotify Wrapped. It arrives every December like a digital horoscope announcing that your personality is apparently built on Scandinavian synth pop and whatever you played once by accident in March. This year they're even telling you your listening age, my friend at 25 got told she has a 70-year-old’s taste in music. I don't get one from Spotify. I'm the stubborn Apple Music holdout who refuses to migrate, so I must accept my sonic identity will remain unquantified forever. And that is what eventually led me, in a knotty roundabout way, to Da Minot. If you've never pressed play on Indian folk before, especially the intricate lineage from the Khasi and Jaintia hills, prepare your ears for something ungoverned by genre categories. India-born artist Hammarsing Kharhmar's ensemble Da Minot does not simply borrow from heritage. It treats ancestral rhythm as oxygen, using instruments like the duitara, bom and various bamboo flutes to carve out a sound that feels older than language and newer than the internet's attention span.   Before this interview, while waiting for him to reply to my email, I returned to their songs again. I told myself I'd listen to one track, then fell straight into another, then another. They have that effect. A pull that is both meditative and defiant. T

There are corners of photography you tiptoe into, and others you breach with a steady breath and a sharpened sense of responsibility. The naked form sits stubbornly in the latter. For decades the unclothed body, especially the female one, populated magazines like wallpaper. Familiar, unchallenging, endlessly posed. Today, many of those images read as dated relics, tinged with voyeurism and a faint whiff of something that doesn't sit quite right anymore. The female nude once felt like a default, a visual shorthand for seduction. Now it often feels like a reminder of an era when the camera wasn't always kind. The male nude, by contrast, has always been trickier. Less culturally sanctioned, less expected, shadowed by stigma yet charged with a different kind of electricity. Contemporary photography has swung the doors wide open, and the male body has entered the room with a force that feels both overdue and disarmingly intimate. Photograph: Ohm Phanphiroj This is where Ohm Phanphiroj steps in. Or perhaps more accurately, where he has stood all along, in that uncomfortable sweet spot where desire, danger and vulnerability meet. An international, award-winning photographer, filmmaker, educator, former fashion director and self-declared chronic observer, Ohm has carved a body of work that traces sexuality, identity, exploitation and the unvarnished male form across continents. His images are not polite. They're tender in one moment and confrontational in the next, as if caught bet

There's a peculiar silence that follows when you tell someone 'I don't drink'. It lands awkwardly, like you've just admitted to something vaguely embarrassing. But that silence has been shrinking lately. Gen Z are leading a quiet revolution, choosing clear heads over hangovers and questioning why socialising has to revolve around a bottle. After lockdown rewired our habits, old rituals started looking a bit naff. Drinking less isn't just about health anymore – it's cultural. Which raises an obvious question: if you're not drinking, where the hell do you go in a city that's built on the mythology of nights out? That's how I ended up deep inside Sammakorn Village, a residential labyrinth in Bangkok that's home to more than 6,500 households and, rather improbably, one of the most unusual bars in Asia. STØCKHØLME Sober Bar is Thailand's first alcohol-free bar and the first in Asia. It opens from 2pm-10pm, welcoming everyone from the sober-curious to families who rock up with dogs and teenagers in tow. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taste of The Place (@jiranarong2) I'd expected earnest kombucha, wellness lectures and maybe a queue of yoga mats. Instead I walked into something warm and surprisingly mischievous, where cocktail shakers were working overtime and two people, Korranath 'Oak' Thamamnuaysuk and Weeree 'Wee' Yomjinda, greeted me like friends determined to prove that sobriety has never meant boring. What followed was two hours of tasting,

Music still does that thing where it brings people together and tears them apart simultaneously. Some reckon punk's dead, just a relic from when rebellion meant eyeliner and leather jackets. But rock and roll – that stubborn bastard – won't lie down. It morphs, it sweats, it relocates. And in Thailand, surprisingly, it's still kicking. That’s where The Young Wolf comes in. A band so saturated in colour you'd think the 1970s never ended. Their gigs are proper fever dreams – shimmering jackets, hair that crackles with static, the sort of sound that makes your chest hurt in a good way. Their cover of a certain Led Zeppelin track racked up over four million views, and suddenly Bangkok had something new to shout about. I wanted to know who they actually were underneath the sequins and sweat. So I sent over some questions – the type that start simple and end up unpicking what makes a band tick. The sort that remind you rock and roll isn't just noise. It's how you survive. Photograph: The Young Wolf The howl begins 'We met through the small gig circuit in Bangkok,' they tell me. Five strangers who kept running into each other across sticky floors and dim bars. 'We jammed together in a rehearsal room. It was chaos until one night it wasn't. The gear clicked, the room caught fire, and The Young Wolf was born.'   The five-piece – Jonathan on vocals, Jimmie Petzh and Nonney on guitars, Song Song on bass, Little on drums. A lineup that would become something more than the sum of its pa

Mention Song Wat and most people picture weathered shophouses with Chinese-style storefronts. What they don't realise is that tucked between these century-old buildings, something rather brilliant has been happening. The younger generation has been slipping bits of modernity into every corner, and it's now become one of Bangkok's most interesting districts to explore. Song Wat isn't just about the food, though there's plenty of that. The art scene here is properly thriving. Shopkeepers and artists have been working together, turning the whole district into a sprawling outdoor gallery. The recent buzz has given confidence to people who actually care about preserving history and culture in old commercial areas. Support it to grow with the times and what you get back is architecture that future generations can still see with their own eyes, not just in history books. Photograph: rongklannuea What's Song Wat known for? Song Wat has basically become Bangkok's hipster area without really trying. Art is everywhere throughout the district. Street art on walls, designer bits in unexpected shops, galleries that range from big impressive spaces to tiny rooms down alleyways or tucked behind coffee counters. If you love art, Song Wat is brilliant. You just need to know where to look. Right now there are loads of new places opening. Restaurants, cafes, galleries, bars worth staying in until late. If you fancy a change of scene and want to walk around taking street photos, stopping for sn

Sunday evening gets a generous dusting of sparkle, guided by the magnificent Amadiva, who hosts with warmth and a knowing wink. The night unfolds through a run of drag performances from Amora, SHORTGUN, Lady Judy, Nonny Majoriga and Sasha Lee, with the promise of surprises keeping everyone alert. Shows land at 9.30pm, 10.30pm and 11.30pm, leaving just enough time to refill a glass and gossip. Earlier hours lean social. From 5pm-8pm, selected handrolls and drinks arrive in generous pairs. Expect spicy salmon, maitake tempura, maguro zuke and indulgent wagyu variations, washed down with gin, beer, wine, vodka or umeshu. It is celebratory without being forced, glamorous without trying too hard. The sort of Sunday that reminds you Monday can wait.   Every Sunday, Free. Reserve via 088-665-9986. Kaiwa, 5pm onwards  

Bar Temp hosts a night that is carefully considered, with TODD sharing the booth alongside resident DOTT. Known as one of the creative minds behind Trommel Music, TODD carries a reputation built on curiosity and consistency. Years of playing across the city’s key clubs have sharpened his instincts, especially when reading rooms that prefer subtle shifts over grand gestures. His selections sit between house, techno, garage and minimal, never settling long enough to feel predictable. Lines blur gently, tracks converse and the floor responds without being told what to do. With DOTT guiding the mood from the inside, the pairing feels natural, almost inevitable. Expect a steady night where attention drifts, returns and lingers, the sort of session that rewards staying longer than planned and leaving quietly satisfied.   January 10. B400 before midnight and B600 after midnight. Bar Temp., 9pm onwards

The second solo exhibition by Thai artist Krittin Kaewyongphang, better known as Condo Ceramics, feels like a quiet conversation rather than a statement. Curated by Jason Yang, the show leans on ceramics and illustration to talk about memory, self-acceptance and the value of taking one’s time. Titled Fire Me Slowly, the work reflects Krittin’s own path as an LGBTQ individual, shaped by gradual understanding rather than sudden revelation. Ceramic figures appear soft yet stubborn, joined by monster-like characters that refuse neat labels or fixed identities. They exist comfortably, without apology or explanation. Nothing here asks to be hurried. Growth unfolds at its own speed, gently and without pressure. The exhibition suggests that arriving is overrated anyway. Staying present, slightly unfinished and fully yourself, might be the point worth holding onto.   January 10-February 9. Free. GalileOasis Gallery, 9am-8pm

The plan here is refreshingly modest. Step away from the street, find a patch of grass and let the afternoon slow its own pace. The idea is simple enough: Bangkok locals turn up to soften the mood, breathe a little easier and spend time with live music under open skies. Yusu Jazz Band sets the tone, light and generous, good for moving your feet or staying put with a drink as the sun starts to slip. At 4pm, a free beginner swing class welcomes anyone curious, no partner or experience required, just a willingness to try. After that, the lawn becomes a shared living room where people chat, stretch and linger. Everything is free, including the expectation to perform. Comfortable shoes are encouraged, urgency is not. The schedule flows easily, leaving space for the best part, unplanned moments with familiar faces and new ones.   January 10. Free. Rot Fai Park, 4pm onwards

Jungle Jam BKK opens 2026 with a proper marker moment, celebrating 30 years of Playaz and reminding Bangkok why drum and bass still matters. It brings DJ Hype back to centre stage, three decades after shaping a sound that refuses to age quietly. He is joined by DJ Hazard and DJ Tyke, both known for sets that feel physical, playful and slightly unhinged in the best way. MC Inja hosts alongside MC Ell Gee, steering the night with wit rather than shouting. This feels less like a booking list and more like a lineage lesson. Jungle Jam has a habit of honouring milestones, and this one lands with confidence.    January 10. B500-600 via here and B700 at the door. Jungle Jam BKK, 10pm onwards 

Cards are laid not to tell you who you are, but to reflect what you already carry, gently turned outward and examined from a safer distance. The process works from the outside in, using imagery and symbolism as prompts for deeper soul work rather than neat answers. Questions surface slowly. Patterns appear where you were not looking. The year ahead begins to feel less intimidating, more legible. Healing arrives without ceremony, clarity without pressure. It suits anyone feeling slightly stuck, mildly curious or simply tired of rushing towards resolutions. You leave with insight that lingers rather than instructions to follow.    January 10-11. B2,200. Reserve via Line OA: @libraandpisces. Slowcombo, 1pm-6.30pm

Raumtester lands at HORN with a backstory that reads like a long night well spent. Raised on enthusiastic EDM in a small Russian town, he grew into a key figure within collectives that reshaped the country’s electronic scene, from Resonance Moscow to System108, Mutabor and Popoff Kitchen. Since 2015 he has also built his own party series, learning how rooms behave when music is treated as conversation rather than command. Now based in Berlin, new räume surround him, each one waiting to be tested. The night is supported by MAY TAE, Beatforest Festival founder and a DJ who treats sound as autobiography. Alongside her, 5.5MM stitches acid grooves, diva house, dark disco and hypnotic techno with queer wit and otherworldly confidence. Expect curiosity, generosity and a floor that listens back.   January 9. B500 via here. HORN, 10pm onwards

Hailing from the Northwest of England, Mr Mowgli has already spent more than a decade coaxing people away from the bar and back towards the floor. It shows in the way he plays. Nothing feels rushed, nothing screams for attention. Disco warmth slides alongside Balearic ease, house selections arrive with a light touch rather than a hard sell. At Le Cafe des Stagiaires Bangkok, the night feels guided rather than driven. Tracks unfold patiently, giving space for conversations to finish and feet to catch up.    January 9. Free. Le Cafe des Stagiaires Bangkok

Dry January tends to arrive with good intentions and a mild sense of regret. After weeks of late nights and louder mornings, the body asks for a softer plan. Bangkok Bestival 2026 answers that request without preaching. Running across Benjakitti, Lumphini, Benjasiri and Pathum Wan Anurak parks, the fourth edition spreads itself gently across the city’s green pockets. The idea centres on the first happiness of the year, small and deliberate. People stretch under trees, follow slow yoga sessions or lie still while sound therapy hums nearby. Others wander through nature walks, join hands-on workshops or browse local goods between shaded paths. Music drifts across lawns, casual rather than commanding. It feels like a collective exhale, shared with strangers who also decided the year should begin kindly.   January 9-11. Free. Benjakitti, Lumphini, Benjasiri and Pathum Wan Anurak parks

Bar Temp. hands over the room to a mix of international and local guests, the sort of night where introductions happen mid-track and nobody asks what time it finishes. The crowd arrives curious, stays chatty and slowly rearranges the furniture with their bodies. Etchar, Jakes Hid and Elaheh share the decks, each bringing their own logic without fighting for attention. Selections stretch, overlap and occasionally surprise, keeping the floor alert but relaxed. One moment leans percussive, the next turns melodic, then slips sideways again. Drinks sweat on the bar, conversations drift and regroup. It feels informal in the best way, like being invited to a friend’s flat where the sound system happens to be very good. You leave knowing everyone’s name, or at least their face.   January 9. B400 before midnight and B500 after midnight. Bar Temp., 9pm onwards

Born in Isan and shaped by stories passed mouth to mouth, the sound carries memory, humour and grit. The khaen sighs, voices stretch and the groove settles somewhere between ritual and release. You dance because it feels natural, you sing because everyone else does. Molam to the World brings that spirit to Bangkok Island with a sense of curiosity rather than spectacle. Traditional forms brush against contemporary rhythms and global accents without losing their accent. The Thai phin chats with an Indian sitar, African djembe drums add warmth and everything stays grounded in local flavour. Borders blur gently. What remains is identity, shared and slightly reimagined, for one long, generous evening.   January 9. B200 via here and B300 at the door. Bangkok Island, 6pm-midnight

Le Cafe des Stagiaires Bangkok has turned an ordinary night into a social experiment. Boards sit between bodies, pieces nudged while feet shift to the music. It is playful rather than precious, the sort of setting where concentration slips easily into conversation. Alex Zaldua is behind the decks, shaping a soundtrack that nudges the room forward without demanding attention. Tracks stretch and loosen, giving players time to stare down a rook or abandon the board altogether. Someone wins, someone loses, nobody keeps score for long. The appeal lies in the overlap, where strategy meets rhythm and strangers become temporary teammates. You leave slightly lighter, mildly smug and already planning a rematch.   January 8. Free. Le Cafe des Stagiaires Bangkok, 7pm onwards

After 12 years of welcoming music lovers from every corner of the globe, Bangkok's beloved underground venue Studio Lam is closing its doors for good at the end of February. The news has hit the city's indie and underground scenes hard, but the venue isn't going quietly. Photograph: Studio Lam Rather than a simple farewell, Studio Lam is throwing what can only be described as a festival. The send off runs for 49 consecutive nights starting now and ending in late February, with a different lineup of underground DJs and artists taking to the stage each evening. They're calling it ‘Last Dance’, and it's an invitation for everyone who's ever loved this place to come and jump around together one final time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Studio Lam (@studiolambangkok) The venue has been a second home to Bangkok's alternative music community since 2014, hosting everything from experimental electronica to traditional molam fusion. It's the sort of spot where friendships formed over late night sets and debut performances turned into lifelong memories. For many in the city's underground scene, it's been the gathering place. The Studio Lam team said, “Born in 2014 with a simple intention to create a home for music that lives outside the mainstream, Studio Lam grew into something far bigger than we ever imagined. A small bar, a listening room, a stage that somehow became a meeting point for ideas, experiments, friendships, late nights, first shows and l

New year, new wardrobe, new apartment vibes. You know the drill. If you're planning a fresh start for 2026, two of Bangkok's best flea markets kick off January with exactly what you need to sort yourself out.   Both events are absolute goldmines for vintage finds, quirky home bits and those one-off pieces that'll have your mates asking where you got them.  Photograph:Tay Flea Market First up is Tay FleaMarket Season 23, the vintage market that's been going strong for – yes, you guessed it – 23 incarnations. This time round it's themed ‘Horse of Sculpture’ to welcome in the Year of the Horse, and there'll be giant sculpture art installations dotted around the event. Running from January 8-11 at Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, the market kicks off at 4pm each day. Over 200 selected shops will flog rare vintage gear, from clothing to collectibles, from a 300-metre stretch of prime shopping territory. The best bit? It's completely pet friendly, so you can bring your furry mate along for the browse. Photograph:Tay Flea Market 'Trysters can update their early year life, update fashion to cure missing out,' organisers say of this season's offering. Translation: if you've been behind on trends, this is your chance to catch up properly. The market wraps up at 11pm, giving you plenty of evening hours to hunt down those hidden gems under the glow of the market lights. Tay FleaMarket Season 23, Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, January 8-11, 4pm-11pm. Photograph: Mad

A few days after the new year countdown and the extra-long holiday that followed it, you may have started to notice that waking up early in Bangkok has changed slightly. The hot and humid weather has a slight coolness creeping in. For those who leave home early in the morning, you may have already felt an unusually cool breeze. Good news for those who love cool weather. As of January 7, the Thai Meteorological Department forecasts that this week, temperatures in Bangkok and surrounding areas will likely drop by approximately 1-3C, with minimum temperatures possibly reaching around 18C. This is a rare period when city dwellers get to pull out their warm clothes for use. The main cause is a rather strong cool air mass from China covering upper Thailand, resulting in cool to cold weather in many areas, especially in the North, Northeast and upper Central regions. Bangkok, its vicinity, and the East will experience cool weather in the morning with slightly strong winds. Moving down to the South, the atmosphere will be slightly different, with some areas in the lower South still experiencing heavy rain due to the influence of the strong northeast monsoon. Anyone planning to travel to the sea, especially the Gulf of Thailand side, should check the weather conditions carefully before departure, as wind and waves are quite strong, and small boats should refrain from going out to sea during certain periods. Another piece of good news is that the dust situation in upper Thailand is cur

So remember last year when whispers started flying around about Tomorrowland possibly coming to Thailand? Turns out those rumours were bang on the money. The world's biggest EDM festival has just confirmed it's actually happening. Tomorrowland Thailand is officially set for December 11-13, marking the first time the legendary Belgian festival has properly landed in Asia. And when we say properly, we mean it. This isn't some scaled down version either. Photograph: Tomorrowland Photograph: Tomorrowland The festival has chosen Wisdom Valley in Pattaya, Chonburi as its new home. The sprawling 960,000 square metre site will host several massive stages, including the iconic CORE and Freedom stages making their Asian debut. There'll also be brand new stages and experiences created specifically for Thailand. Organisers are expecting over 50,000 people each day across the three day event. Photograph: Tomorrowland Getting Tomorrowland to Thailand wasn't just a case of picking a nice spot and hoping for the best. The festival has partnered with the Thai Government and Tourism Authority of Thailand to make this happen. Thailand beat out several other Asian countries to host the festival, which says quite a bit about where the country sits on the global entertainment map right now.  Said the Tourism Authority of Thailand,   “Hosting Tomorrowland in Thailand marks an important milestone in our ambition to position the country as a leader in global tourism and creative experiences. We

Well, the name kind of says it all doesn't it? Pancakes, booze and art. If you've ever wanted to combine your love of breakfast-for-dinner drunk food and discovering emerging artists, this is basically your dream night out rolled into one slightly chaotic package. Pancakes and Booze Art Show comes back to Bangkok on January 17 at The Warehouse Talat Noi, and if you missed it last time, this is your chance to see what the fuss is about. This travelling pop-up originated in Los Angeles and has become something for anyone who likes their culture served with a side of syrup and a decent drink in hand. Photograph: pancakesandbooze Here's how it works. Emerging artists get to showcase their work across The Warehouse Talat Noi, covering the walls from floor to ceiling with their pieces. While you're wandering around checking out the art, there are unlimited pancakes on offer to keep you going, plus a lineup of live music acts playing throughout the night. You can actually buy the art too, which is kind of the point for the artists involved. Photograph: pancakesandbooze What makes this different is the vibe. It's deliberately unpretentious and welcoming, giving up-and-coming artists a chance to sell their work in a genuinely relaxed environment. The artists get a proper platform to sell their stuff without the usual gallery stuffiness, and you get to discover new talent while stuffing your face with pancakes. Everyone wins. The crowd tends to be a good mix as well. You'll find se

After receiving an excellent response every time it's been organized, Bangkok kicks off 2026 by serving it up again with the fourth edition of Bangkok Outdoor Cinema, perfectly timed for the pleasant weather. This isn't just some random pop up either. It's a collaboration between the Thai Film Directors Association, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Thai Film Archive and happening mag, with backing from THACCA Thailand Creative Culture Agency, Department of Cultural Promotion and the Ministry of Culture. So you know it's the real deal. Photograph: BMA Bangkok Outdoor Cinema runs from January 17 through to February 1, happening every Saturday and Sunday. Activities kick off at 5pm, films start screening at 7pm and concerts follow after with loads of artists performing. You get the full package with outdoor cinema screenings, live concerts, panel discussions, tasty food from BMA districts, booths from film crews and creators, plus loads of other fun activities. It's happening across three consecutive weeks at three different locations, and the best bit? Completely free admission.   Here's where and when you can catch it: Bangkok Art and Culture Centre - January 17: screens How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies - January 18: shows My Boo (Part 1)   Sala Chalermthai - January 24: presents Salween 2 - January 25: features Mae Nak Phra Khanong (1978) (Priya Rungrueang Version with live narration by Dokkhimtai Siwaporn)   Asawin Contemporary Art and Culture Space (Asawin Cin

If you're a Bangkokian into independent cinema, chances are you already know Doc Club & Pub. The tiny screening space was a gem for documentary lovers, showing everything from fresh releases to classic films while building a tight-knit community of filmmakers, critics and film fans who stick around after the credits roll.   Sadly, Doc Club & Pub had to stop screenings in 2025. The culprit? Entertainment venue laws that lump small cinemas in with massive multiplexes, making it nearly impossible for micro cinemas to meet the same regulations. The venue tried everything to sort out permits and find workarounds, but the current legal framework just doesn't work for intimate independent spaces like this. Photograph: Doc Club & Pub. But here's the good news for anyone who's been missing those evenings of thought-provoking docs followed by proper debates over cold beers and nachos. Doc Club & Pub recently announced through its Facebook page that it will return in 2026, and this time it will be supersized. The team reckons they'll be ready to open doors again in about nine months.   The venue is packing up from its old home in the Woofpack building and heading south to Cloud 11, a sprawling entertainment complex in the Sukhumvit area. The new Doc Club & Pub will still have its screening room, obviously, but the space promises quality food and drink alongside live music, making it a more rounded experience than before. Photograph: Doc Club & Pub. Details are still a bit sketchy at

Bangkok is getting a pedestrian bridge across the Chao Phraya River and it could become one of the city's most exciting new landmarks.  The project connects two historic neighbourhoods and gives locals and tourists a fresh way to experience the river without hopping on a boat or dealing with traffic. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is pushing ahead with plans to build the bridge between Phra Pokklao Bridge and Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat Bridge. It'll link Tha Wat Thong Thammachat Pier on one side with Tha Sawat Pier in the Song Wat Road area on the other. For those who don't know, Song Wat is one of Bangkok's oldest trading and cultural districts, so this location isn't random. Right now the project is in the detailed design phase and officials are preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment report. The goal is to wrap up all the planning by the end of this year so construction can kick off soon after. Photograph: BMA What makes this bridge interesting is that it's not just about getting from point A to point B. The design treats it as a public space where people can actually hang out, take in river views and experience the Chao Phraya from a completely new angle.  The bridge will make life easier for residents, students and business owners who currently have to take longer routes or rely on short boat trips to cross between Phra Nakhon and Thonburi sides. It's all part of a bigger push to give riverside areas back to the people and create a more walkable city

Anyone going to Beatforest, take note. The festival just threw out a curveball. The festival has moved its entire date forward by a day to avoid election alcohol restrictions that would seriously kill the vibe. The event was supposed to happen on January 31 2026 but now takes place on January 30 instead. It's all because of Thailand's election timing, with early voting kicking off on February 1. Thai law bans alcohol sales for 24 hours before election day, which means a bone-dry finale to what's meant to be a proper weekend party. So yes, it's now a Friday instead of a Saturday. Not ideal if you've already booked a hotel for the original date, but the organisers reckon it beats having a completely dry festival. What makes Beatforest worth the hassle anyway? Music is obviously the main thing, but there's more going on than just standing in front of a stage. Between sets you can plant trees, cycle around the grounds or wander through installations where lights weave through the natural surroundings rather than drowning them out. The stage itself works with the environment instead of fighting it, designed so the lighting plays off branches rather than blasting over them. Anyway, the festival team apologises for changing the plan and offers two options. You can get a full refund or roll your ticket over to the 2027 edition. Refund requests need to be in by today, December 30, so don't hang around if you want your money back. It's annoying about the date shuffle, but at least they

Just a few more days and we'll be stepping into the new year. For those celebrating in Thailand this year, here's an invitation to watch movies across the new year that's actually worth taking up. Film I Trust and Documentary Club put on the 'Countenance of Time' festival, and it's shaping up to be a pretty special way to see in 2026. The idea is to slow down time, let your heart go with film and text, and swap the usual countdown frenzy for something more meaningful. Over three days you can catch 10 seriously good films at libraries, independent bookstores and art spaces around the country.  In Bangkok the festival lands at GalileOasis, which screens Before Sunrise and Before Sunset back to back on December 31 from 7pm onwards. Tickets are B200 for the double bill, so you can spend New Year's Eve falling in love with Vienna and Paris all over again. Or you can head to House of Commons to read your way into the new year. The full film lineup includes:   Before Sunrise (1995) Before Sunset (2004) Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996) La Chimera (2023) The Gleaners and I (2000) Herb & Dorothy (2008) Happened (2017) Opus (2017) Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (2021) Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2022)   The festival spans eight locations across Thailand: Bangkok: GalileOasis and House of Commons Nongkhai: Nongkhai and Friends Nakhon Sawan: STREAMLINE FILM and Sannyas Chanthaburi: bliss project Nan: Banban Nannan library Songkhla: Greenbook Cafe-Space The whole

Bangkok's getting a breather on its new pet rules. The BMA plans to push back enforcement of the 2024 Animal Keeping Ordinance, which was meant to kick in on January 10 2026, after realising the city isn't quite ready to handle the massive rollout. The delay gives everyone more time to get their furry friends microchipped and registered without the rush. The goal is to cut down on neighbourhood complaints about barking and mess, get the stray population under control and build a proper citywide database so authorities actually know how many pets are out there. The new rules set limits on how many pets you can keep based on your living space, and it counts dogs and cats together. Already got more pets than the limit allows? Don't panic. You can keep them for their natural lives as long as you register the actual number you've got. For condos it goes like this. Up to 20 square metres means one pet. Between 20 and 80 square metres lets you have up to two. Anything over 80 square metres means up to three pets. Houses and townhouses get more breathing room. Up to 200 square meters allows up to two pets. Between 200 to 400 square meters means up to four. Over 400 square meters gives you up to six. Planning to run a mini animal sanctuary? You'll need to officially register as an animal shelter instead. Here's the issue though. Bangkok has absolutely loads of pets, and the current services can't cope with getting them all registered and chipped in time. So the BMA is going all in on

If you're planning to see in 2026 somewhere across Bangkok but anxious about the journey home afterwards, here's some brilliant news. The city's trains are running ‘til 2am. This NYE, December 31, the ARL, BTS and MRT will all stay open for the late-night countdown crowd. That's right, no more frantically checking what time the last train leaves whilst you're mid-celebration. Whether you're watching fireworks along the river, dancing at a rooftop bar or counting down at a street party, you've got a guaranteed ride home. Here's what you need to know about getting around. Airport Rail Link The last trains from both Phaya Thai to Suvarnabhumi and Suvarnabhumi back to Phaya Thai depart at 2am. Perfect if you're heading to or from the airport, or just using the line to get across town. BTS Skytrain The BTS Skytrain system, including the Gold Line, will run extended hours across all lines. For the Sukhumvit Line, the last trains from Khu Khot Station and Kheha Station leave at 2am. The Silom Line's a bit different though. The last train from National Stadium departs at 2.44am, whilst Bang Wa's final service leaves at 2.22am. If you're at Siam Station, the very last train to all destinations departs at 2.45am, making it your best bet if you're unsure about connections. MRT Lines All four MRT lines will run their last trains from origin and terminal stations at 2am. The Blue Line runs from Chalongrat Station, the Purple Line from Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Station, the Yellow Line from S