Kaweewat Siwanartwong

Another working week bites the dust and Bangkok's weekend line-up is determined to keep you out of the house. Rain clouds may still be hanging around, but grab an umbrella and crack on: the city has more than enough going on. Nightlife leads the charge with PRIDAY, a celebration of Bangkok's queer club scene and the communities that shaped it long before rainbow branding arrived. Underground heads can catch Tokyo DJ FU at Parity, while Elaheh settles in for an all-night session spanning house, techno, acid and breaks. For something harder, French producer Rorganic makes his Bangkok debut at Sacristy. After a gentler evening? GalileOasis screens queer short films followed by chats followed by a directors’ talk, while Bangkok Kunsthalle unveils the final chapter of Surrounded, an immersive audiovisual performance months in the making. Shutterbugs should head to Dib Bangkok for Behind Vanishing Bangkok, a session on analogue kit, darkroom craft and the city's street-photography heritage. Bookworms have a cast-iron excuse to bail on everything else. Books & Beers returns with literary natter, indie publishers, BookTok guests and every chance of staggering home with more novels than planned. Over at ChangChui, a cycling festival rolls out BMX battles, film screenings, markets and food stalls. Fancy a mooch instead? Kind Market gathers local makers, sustainable labels and second-hand gems under one roof, while Slowcombo marks its anniversary by launching bit.studio, a new gallery d

When it comes to art and exhibitions, Bangkok has a lot. From poky little independent spaces to avant-garde galleries and the big crowd-pleasing museums, the city brims with shows that perplex, challenge, inspire, educate and leave you thoroughly awestruck. The trouble is, there's an absolute mountain to get through. Too much, you might say. So we're here to tell you where to spend your precious time. Whether you're a bona fide art connoisseur or simply the type who likes to stand about looking pensive in front of a canvas (we've all done it), these galleries promise to inspire and entertain in equal measure. So if you're wondering what's genuinely worth a trip across town, start right here. Have a browse through the best museum exhibitions and art in Bangkok at the moment, take your pick and make a day of it. We refresh this list regularly, so do pop back regularly for our latest and greatest picks.Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok. 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.

Lesbian venues aren't exactly a dime a dozen in Bangkok. The city does a roaring trade in bars and clubs that pull a mainly gay and bi male crowd, yet permanent spaces built for queer women, or trans and non-binary folk, remain frustratingly thin on the ground. You can count the long-running ones on one hand and still have fingers spare. Happily, the tide turns. Social media crowns this the year of the 'Lesbian Renaissance', and Bangkok plays its part with gusto. A growing roster of roving club nights now fills the gap, popping up across Sukhumvit, Silom and beyond the usual haunts, each one carving out a proper safe space where queer women party on their own terms. Discrimination gets left firmly at the door, the line-ups skew fresh and local and the welcome runs warm. Some come monthly, some quarterly, a few keep their locations hush until the last minute, half the fun is the chase. So whether you fancy sweaty basement raves, sapphic disco or a low-key spot to nurse a beer and make connections, the scene finally delivers. Hunting for your new favourite haunt? Here's our pick of the bunch. These venues span everything from dancing clubs to cosy bars and they're all genuinely welcoming to all genders

We arrive on Decho Road in the afternoon, the sun still strong outside but the air pressure dropping, hinting that rain is on its way. It is unusual to be here before opening time, so we slip in through the back door and climb the stairs to a wine bar. In this wine bar, a small cinema is hidden behind curtained walls on the floor above and the dusty smell of old parquet fills our senses. That, near enough, is the whole idea. Photograph: Lalitphat BumrungkarnSala Saneha At a moment when independent picture houses around town are quietly going dark, Natchanon 'Vana' Vana, Pakapol 'Meang' Srirongmuang and Dit Thanasresthavilai have chosen to walk the other way. They have taken things they love – movies, wine, food and books – and poured them into a close-to decade old building, with help from more than a dozen friends drawn from the world of entertainment and art.  The result is Sala Saneha, a place built on the faintly old-fashioned conviction that going out to the pictures ought to feel like romance again. Photograph: Lalitphat BumrungkarnSala Saneha I met the three of them upstairs in the bookshop, on soft chairs among the wood – cladding the walls, forming the bookshelf, the floor, the table, the chairs – and as the early afternoon light came through the leaves just outside the windows, we began to talk. Photograph: Lalitphat BumrungkarnSala Saneha A building with several past lives What was clear, is how exact they are about the conditions. The venue could not disturb

June marks the official start of Pride Month, though anyone paying attention knows the celebrations rarely stay contained to four weeks. Across Bangkok, galleries, clubs, restaurants and public spaces roll out programmes honouring LGBTQIA+ communities while making room for protest, conversation and the simple joy of taking up space together. Some gatherings lean political. Others just want you dancing under disco lights until midnight. Both matter. This year's line-up covers everything from large-scale parades and drag showcases to film screenings, speed dating nights and art festivals built around queer storytelling. One evening might find you watching voguing performances above the city skyline, another screaming sapphic pop lyrics in a crowded bar off Silom Road. Rainbow branding arrives right on cue every June, but Pride carries far more weight than a seasonal marketing campaign. Its history is political, personal and deeply tied to communities still fighting for safety, visibility and equality. So whether you’re here for the parties, the performances or the people, these are the Pride events worth adding to your calendar this month. Joining the Bangkok Pride parade? Here's everything you need to know before showing up.

June is here, and just like that, we're halfway through the year. If Bangkok has left you a little frazzled, or you just need a proper reset, this month's art calendar comes with plenty of soul-soothing reasons to get out. We're starting with a roundup of exhibitions and creative happenings across the city. Contemporary art is well represented, including character-filled paintings with more emotional heft than you might expect, plus newly opened shows and a few holdovers still worth catching. Hotel Art Fair also returns this month, taking the gallery circuit somewhere a little less predictable. And don’t sleep on Bangkok World Music Day, a full-on celebration of music, art and free-spirited energy in the heart of the city, timed neatly for Pride Month. Expect reasons to move your feet. Get stuck in. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok. 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.

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.  

June in Bangkok means sweaty afternoons, sudden downpours and permanently questionable hair, but the city rarely lets a bit of rain ruin its social life. Between storm clouds and iced coffees, the calendar quickly fills with riverside markets, free music festivals, film screenings and enough vintage shopping to destroy your budget before payday arrives. PUBPEAB Zine Fair returns with handmade books, risograph prints and crafty workshops for anyone romanticising a life spent making tiny publications. Music lovers are spoiled too. A free festival inspired by France’s Fête de la Musique spreads across One Bangkok and Alliance Française with more than 30 acts covering indie, jazz, hip-hop, mor lam and Ballroom performances celebrating Voguing culture. Elsewhere, the EU Film Festival 2026 brings thoughtful cinema from across Europe to venues including House Samyan and Lido Connect – completely free if you arrive early enough. Vintage hunters should make time for the riverside slow market and the latest Made By Legacy gathering at Pat Arena, where stylish crowds rummage through rails of secondhand fashion, vinyl and deeply unnecessary collectibles. Prefer something slower? Bangkok’s  laid-back Books and Beers festival happily encourages both reading and day drinking. Frankly, June stays packed. Keeping track of what's coming next? Our Bangkok  concert roundup for 2026 stays updated with the latest gigs worth adding to your calendar. Stay one step ahead and map out your month with o

What’s your weekend looking like? Club nights, bar-hopping or a slow wander through a flea market?  If the latter sounds more your speed, you’re in luck. Three flea markets are on the horizon, each bringing its own mix of vintage finds, handmade pieces and low-key people-watching. Here’s the breakdown of what’s coming and where you’ll want to be.

Bangkok doesn't really do slow. The city runs hot – always another plate to try, another bar to find, another corner of the night to chase down. Sometimes you just need out. Not far, but far enough: somewhere the air is cooler, the pace drops and the view stretches past concrete and neon. Chiang Mai answers that call. Head north and the landscape shifts, mountains roll in, the Ping River winds through and centuries of Northern Thai culture sit quietly on every corner. The food up here has its own character too: bold, rooted and built on recipes that haven't needed fixing. This guide is put together by the Koktail Thailand Restaurant Guide, spotlighting restaurants where mountain panoramas and riverside vistas do more than set the scene – they're part of the meal itself. Local ingredients take centre stage, each dish a small piece of the larger story that Northern Thailand has been telling for a very long time. RECOMMEND: Best egg noodles in Bangkok Bangkok’s top 13 steakhouses Confessions of a Bangkok food voyeur

A lively neighbourhood conveniently accessible via the BTS Skytrain, Ari is the place to look for colourful cafes, art community spaces, shopping outlets, and dining spots with a cosy atmosphere. Undergoing gentrification all the time, it nevertheless blends the old and new, as witnessed in by its many choices of street food and contemporary dining. Ari has a strong sense of community, where every corner tells the stories of the people who live there. It’s a great place to discover the culture of Thailand, experiencing it through the everyday lives of its locals. The highlight of Ari today is its popularity as a food and drink hub. What makes the neighbourhood stand out is the blend of the latest dining spots and long-established restaurants, all set in a calm atmosphere – no rush here, just a relaxed vibe. You can begin your day with a coffee and pastry at a cosy café, followed by a rejuvenating session at one of the area’s peaceful spas. A stroll around the neighbourhood invites window shopping and art gallery displays, perfect for enjoying the sunny weather. As the evening approaches, the local restaurants and bars offer the ideal setting to enjoy great food and drinks. Ari is the ultimate one-stop destination for a relaxing, feel-good day.

We've hit month five now, and yes, May marks the start of rainy season. But rain or shine, events don't wait around. Plans roll on regardless, and this month's looking pretty packed. Bangkok Pride Festival leads the charge with its city-spanning parade and proper programme, joined by Drag Bangkok Festival and Thailand's Drag Star. Coffee gets equal billing as World of Coffee Bangkok lands alongside Thailand AeroPress Championship, bringing brewers, baristas and plenty of caffeine-fuelled buzz. The music lineup's strong this month. Kraftwerk rocks up with a full multimedia show, whilst Hanumankind stops by on his Asia tour. Reggae gets its moment through Reggae Rumble Thailand Tour, and J.I.D delivers sharp lyricism on the God Does Like World Tour. Then Laufey adds a gentler touch with her Bangkok date. Away from the stage, the annual Neilson Hays Library Book Sale offers a slower pace – shelves of secondhand finds inside one of the city's most elegant buildings. Keeping track of what's coming? Our Bangkok’s top concert roundup for 2026 stays updated with the latest gigs worth marking in your diary. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok. Subscribe to our free Time Out Bangkok newsletter and get the very best of the city delivered straight to your inbox.

Slowcombo marks its third anniversary with the launch of bit.studio gallery, a new space dedicated to interactive and technology-driven art. The venue expands Slowcombo’s creative programme with installations that encourage visitors to engage directly with the work rather than simply observe from a distance. Screens, sensors, projections and digital experiments sit alongside contemporary art practice, highlighting how technology continues to shape creative expression. Visitors can wander through the gallery, spend time with individual pieces and see how artists are using emerging tools to create new forms of participation and interaction. Friday-Sunday. B200-450 via here. Slowcombo. 2pm-8pm

A decade after HONNE first soundtracked countless late-night playlists, road trips and ill-advised text messages, Black Cabin hosts a tribute night dedicated to the British electronic-soul duo ahead of their Bangkok anniversary tour stop. Fans gather for an evening built around the songs that turned HONNE from an internet favourite into a global success story. Familiar choruses fill the room as audiences sing along to tracks spanning the band's ten-year catalogue. The venue is also giving away a pair of tickets to the upcoming tour, with the top spender taking home two ‘Warm on a Cold Night’ passes worth B13,800. June 28. Reserve via LINE: @BLACKCABINBAR. Black Cabin. 9.30pm onwards

This two-person exhibition brings together the sharply detailed oil paintings of Kajonsak Rungsuriyan and the distorted, organic forms of Jaiko in a shared examination of humanity’s more uncomfortable questions. Kajonsak places injured figures among decaying religious architecture, while Jaiko reshapes the body into strange, shifting forms that sit somewhere between attraction and unease. Moving through the gallery, visitors encounter works concerned with violence, belief and the stories people tell themselves to explain both. The contrast between the artists is striking, yet their concerns overlap, creating a conversation that lingers long after you leave. June 20-July 5. Free entry. KYLA Gallery and Wine Bar. 3pm-midnight

Kind Market offers a welcome alternative to spending another rainy weekend indoors. The community-focused gathering brings together local makers, independent labels and small businesses for an afternoon of browsing, eating and meeting like-minded people. Stalls are stocked with handmade goods, vintage finds, second-hand treasures and environmentally conscious products, while food vendors keep visitors fuelled with plant-based snacks and drinks. Conversations tend to linger as long as the shopping, with many people stopping to chat with creators about their work. Bring an empty tote bag and a little spare time, because a quick visit rarely stays that way. June 28. Free entry. EKM6. 10am onwards

Long before phone cameras and endless image feeds, photography in Bangkok meant rolls of film, contact sheets and hours spent under the red glow of a darkroom. Inspired by the Vanishing Bangkok series, this programme revisits that period through photographs, conversations and hands-on demonstrations. Organised by Dib Bangkok with Bangkok Darkroom, one of the city's few remaining analogue photography spaces, the session brings together artists and collaborators connected to Surat’s work.  June 27. B850 via here. Gallery 2.3, Dib Bangkok. 2pm-4.30pm

GalileOasis marks Pride Month with an evening of queer cinema under the trees, pairing two Thai short films with a post-screening conversation. As daylight fades and chairs fill the garden, audiences gather for Concrete Wall, a coming-of-age story following a provincial student adjusting to life in Bangkok, and Us, Being and Time, a thoughtful portrait of adolescence, desire and isolation. Both works examine identity from different angles while staying rooted in everyday experiences. After the credits roll, the directors join a discussion exploring the themes, questions and personal stories that emerge from their films. June 27. B270 via here. GalileOasis. 7pm onwards

Sacristy Bangkok brings French hard techno artist Rorganic to the city for his first Bangkok appearance. A regular name on European line-ups, he is known for high-impact sets that combine relentless industrial textures with moments of tension and release. The night runs through a Kirsch Audio sound system from Germany, promising enough low end to rattle the walls and keep the front row firmly planted. House rules: no racism, no sexism, no hate and no flash photography. June 26. B600 at the door.  AVVE: 5-Storey Event Space. 9pm onwards

Kangkao returns with another community-minded gathering centred on local selectors and long-form sets. The concept is loose, but the idea is simple: bring people together, hand the decks to trusted DJs and see where the night goes. The line-up moves from either and eizu through sor, .g, bugsy and Jakrin, each taking a turn steering the room in a different direction. Expect familiar faces gathered around the booth, conversations spilling from smoking areas and dancers drifting back and forth between the floor and the bar.  June 26. B450-B600 via here. DUAL. 9pm onwards

Parity returns to Bar Temp. this month with a guest who knows her way around a dancefloor. Tokyo-based DJ FU takes over the decks for a night of deep house, soulful selections and groove-driven electronics. Born in Tokyo and raised in South London, she draws from Chicago, New York and Detroit house while weaving in the rhythms and sensibilities of UK club culture. The setting suits Parity’s ethos: a party built around openness, trust and shared space rather than VIP hierarchies.  June 26. B400 via here. Bar Temp., 9pm onwards

Bangkok’s queer nightlife does not begin with social media, brand partnerships or rainbow-themed campaigns. It begins in clubs, bars and after-hours spaces where drag performers, DJs, dancers and chosen families built communities long before mainstream recognition arrived. PRIDAY celebrates that history with a night dedicated to the people who shape the city after dark. Expect familiar faces on the dancefloor, old friends reunited at the bar and a soundtrack that traces decades of queer nightlife.  June 26. Register via here. Soho House. 8pm-midnight

If you spend time around Bangkok’s underground electronic circuit, chances are you’ve already crossed paths with Elaheh. A regular fixture at clubs, warehouse parties and festival stages across the region, she takes over the decks for an all-night session with plenty of room to stretch out. Expect a patient journey through minimal, dub, acid, house, techno and breaks, threaded together with precision. One moment the room settles into a deep groove, the next a tougher rhythm shifts the mood. The best all-night sets tell a story, and Elaheh knows exactly how to hold a dancefloor from first track to last. Jun 26. B300-600 via here. Siwilai Radical Club. 9pm onwards

Carito’s kicks off a new quarterly collaboration series with a one-night supper pairing Bangkok’s Anakade and Chiang Mai favourite Bar San. The evening follows the restaurant’s recent shift towards Thai-Latin cooking, bringing together ingredients, techniques and flavours from both sides of the Pacific. Expect Kolae Beef Tacos topped with pickled jackfruit, Baked Phuket Clams finished with sato zabaione and dry-aged steak glazed with honey pla ra and prik larb, served alongside Thai-style corn esquites. Behind the bar, Bar San shakes up cocktails inspired by familiar Thai flavours, from a Fruity Som Tum highball to a savoury gimlet laced with dried fish and jasmine rice syrup. Everything is à la carte, so you can settle in for a full dinner or simply order a few plates with drinks. June 25. Reserve via 095 370 7699. 3/F, Carito's. 6pm and 8pm

Chiang Mai's finest dream-pop export comes home for a proper headline show. YONLAPA – widely tipped as one of Thailand's classiest live acts – spend years winning hearts across Asia with their hazy, atmospheric sound, and now they're ready to throw their biggest party yet. Photograph: YONLAPA2026 The band wrap a sprawling Asia tour in May, then drop a teaser on their fan page promising a first-ever full-scale solo gig in the capital. Today the details land, courtesy of Fungjai, the crew behind the new Fungjai SOLO Series, a concert strand built to spotlight each act's quirks and signature through carefully curated sets. Hot on the heels of Bomb at Track's emotional farewell at Volume Livehouse (that one's SOLO Series 01), it's YONLAPA's turn to shine in Fungjai SOLO Series 02: YONLAPA 'Homebound'. The group and organisers keep the setlist tightly under wraps, but both promise a night that looks nothing like anything they've staged before. Expect a genuine milestone for a band that climbs from the northern city's underground rooms all the way to international billing. You catch them on August 28 at Volume Livehouse, 5th floor of The Street Ratchada – and happily, all ages get the nod. Rounding up your mates pays off too, since the group rates knock a little off when you buy together. Ticket prices roll out across four phases: June 26-July 5 Early Bird: B790  Early Bird with Merch: B1,400  July 5-August 2 Regular 1: B890  Regular 1 Group: B790  August 2-August 27 Regula

Fancy filling a weekend with art, live tunes and good company by the water? The Art Island Festival hands a riverside stretch of the Chao Phraya over to makers, beat-lovers and anyone with a creative streak. By day, wander stalls stacked with original paintings, handmade trinkets and one-off pieces from independent creators, then roll up your sleeves at a hands-on workshop and craft something to carry home. The waterfront setting keeps things gloriously unhurried: claim a spot in the mellow lounge area, grab a bite and a cold drink and watch longtail boats drift past while a soft breeze rolls in and the evening light turns golden over the river. It's the sort of place where an afternoon slips by without you noticing. Photograph: onelove.bkkArt Island Festival Once the sun dips, the mood lifts. DJs take over a deck perched atop a moored vessel for an open-air psytrance set that sends a charge rippling across the water – proper end-of-the-night stuff that pulls the crowd together. Few gatherings fold gallery browsing, a solid party and easy waterside hanging quite so neatly, all on one site. You catch it all at Bangkok Island Pier, Rama 3 Soi 64, on July 5 from 4pm until 11.59pm. Entry stays free for everyone.

Stationery obsessives, this one's for you.  TCDC Bangkok’s Creative & Design Showcase returns with the gloriously specific theme 'Stationerycore #HopelesslyInLoveWithStationery', celebrating the humble notebook and the creative culture built around pens, paper and all things pleasingly analogue. You'll find it at the Central Post Office Building in Bang Rak, where it runs from July 1 to October 18. Photograph: TCDCBangkok Whether you're a compulsive note-taker, a doodler, a scrapbook devotee or the sort of person who hoards washi tape you may never actually use, the programme has your number. The Exhibition Zone maps out the surprisingly wide world of stationery lovers, while the Material Try-On Zone lets you test pens, papers, textures, colours and materials for yourself. Over at the World-Class Design Awards Zone, you can browse award-winning pieces from across the globe and see how function, innovation and good looks come together. For one weekend only, the Creative Weekend Zone turns into a market packed with standout Thai design brands, running July 4-5. Monthly workshops will also rotate throughout the showcase, with registration details to follow. Catch it at  the Creative Space, 5th Floor, TCDC Bangkok. Entry is free.  The show runs July 1-October 18, open daily from 10.30am-7pm, except Mondays.

As the sun slips below the skyline, thousands of lights flicker to life across the heart of Bangkok once more, and the Samyan Mitrtown Lantern Art Festival returns for its fifth birthday. Five years on, this annual glow-up has grown from a pretty light display to one of the mall's best-loved fixtures, and it's easy to see why. This is no ordinary decoration. The festival reimagines the plaza out front as a proper open-air gallery, where art escapes the white-walled museum and lands smack in the middle of everyday city life. The whole idea is togetherness – accessible, free and open to anyone wandering past. Photograph: Samyan MitrtownLantern Art Festival That spirit sits at the core of Samyan Mitrtown's vision: art belongs to everyone, a place to learn, connect and find a spark rather than something locked behind a gallery door. This year's theme, 'The Luminous Bloom', imagines creativity as a flower coming alive. Through a clever marriage of light, colour and design, the plaza becomes an urban garden aglow with warmth and the quiet buzz of growth. Photograph: Samyan MitrtownLantern Art Festival Wander the grounds and you'll discover a spread of lantern artworks and installations, each telling its own story through dazzling colour and inventive lighting. An ordinary night turns genuinely special, the sort worth lingering over. So come admire the collection, snap a few memorable photos and soak up an atmosphere humming with colour, light and inspiration.  At the Plaza in f

Whether you're a devoted disciple of Taiwanese cinema, a documentary obsessive or simply after a chance to discover brilliant films you won't catch at the multiplex, this festival stays one of the year's unmissable screen events. The Taiwan Documentary and Film Festival in Thailand 2026 rolls back round for its eighth edition, gathering more than 17 features and docs from July 22-26, with screenings across Bangkok and Khon Kaen. Over eight years the event has grown a devoted following among Thai audiences hungry for contemporary Taiwanese storytelling and top-tier Asian non-fiction. It hands you a rare shot at seeing hard-to-find work on the big screen and acts as a proper bridge between viewers, makers and the cinematic cultures of both nations. The 2026 outing comes courtesy of Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand (TECO Thailand), the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, Taiwan Docs and the New Taipei City Government, joining forces with Documentary Club and Movies Matter. Photograph: Pushing Hands, 1991Taiwan Documentary and Film Festival Punters can look forward to four feature documentaries, two short-doc strands and six fiction titles, with the complete line-up landing soon. Eagle-eyed fans poring over the early promo reckon this round might resurrect classics from legendary director Ang Lee – namely his Father Knows Best Trilogy of Pushing Hands, The Wedding Banquet and Eat Drink Man Woman. These early gems from the Osca

The warm and welcoming Southeastern Gathering returns, inviting everyone to lose themselves in the rare sounds of acoustic music, from bluegrass to Irish trad and old-time, with artists from Thailand and around the world performing across six full days, October 20-25. Photograph: Bluegrass UndergroundBangkok There's a reason the last edition sold out fast. Capped at just 100 people, this is folk music at its most intimate, the sort of close-quarters affair where you can watch a picker's fingers move and catch every last grace note. Workshops, jams, tunes and late-night sessions unfold at a human scale, and the line between performer and punter blurs pleasingly as the week wears on. Proceedings open with The Pickin' Parlour, three upstairs nights from Tuesday to Thursday, each one built around a single player, instrument or theme, with city views framing the room. Full bills and tickets surface closer to the date. The weekend proper then takes hold from Friday: a loose Welcome Jam and Free Flow to break the ice, a marathon Saturday and a gentler Sunday of Songs & Stories served alongside brunch. Photograph: Bluegrass UndergroundBangkok Expect banjos, fiddles, mandolins, guitars, flutes, harps, voices and stories, played by musicians steeped in these traditions for a Bangkok roots crowd that grows a little bigger every year.  Runs from October 20-25, Public House Bangkok, 7pm onwards (3pm on October 24). Tickets B999-3,299 via here.  One child under 12 attends free with eac

Bookworms and beer drinkers, this one's for you. 'Books & Beers', a ten-day Bangkok festival celebrating the simple joy of a good read and a cold pint, returns this month under the cheeky banner 'Drink Hard, Read Harder', and it's every bit as gloriously indulgent as it sounds. The programme caters to seasoned page-turners and curious newcomers alike. Book Talk sessions are the big draw, giving you the chance to meet authors, translators and publishing folk, hear titles dissected from fresh angles and natter about all things literary. Live music and a steady stream of drinks keep the whole affair wonderfully laid-back. Photograph: Books & BeersBangkok At the heart of it all sits the book fair, where independent shops and publishers cram an enormous spread of titles under one roof, Thai literature, translated fiction, light novels and a generous helping of Boys' Love (BL) reads. Special promotions run throughout, making it a proper treasure trove for anyone who can't resist a new spine. Reading isn't the only thing on offer, mind. Hands-on workshops keep your fingers busy while a craft market showcases handmade goods and one-off creations from local makers. New for this year is the 'Books & Beers Club', a relaxed corner where readers settle in, recommend titles and compare notes, swapping the usual solitude of a good book for something far more sociable. On Saturday July 4, from 3pm-5pm, popular booktokers and content creators including Paeng (paengggg), Nong Ro Jo (thewinte

Good news for design obsessives and curious browsers: Public Garden is back in Bangkok, and it remains one of the most quietly thrilling weekends on the city's cultural calendar. Born as a grassroots get-together, the fair has built a devoted following over the years. The roaming regional showcase rounds up independent labels and well-known names from across Asia – think Singapore, Thailand and plenty in between – for two days of swapping ideas, making things and showing off the good stuff. Photograph: Public Garden2026 Nothing is off-limits when it comes to medium or industry here. Fashion, ceramics, homeware, crafts, oddball gadgets and clever little inventions all sit happily side by side, and the only real entry requirement is a genuinely original concept. Because exhibitors spend months tinkering away before opening day, you turn up to find collections that launch right here, fresh from the workshop – so expect to stumble on the sort of treasures you won't spot anywhere else. Prices stay refreshingly approachable too, which makes browsing dangerously easy on the wallet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Public Garden (@publicgarden) It's also a brilliant spot for talent-spotting. Emerging makers share floor space with international creatives flown in especially for the occasion, and the whole affair doubles as a reunion of sorts. Regulars describe it as a place where you cross paths with old friends, make a few new ones and keep those con

Got a blank space in your diary this weekend? Spend it ambling through one of Bangkok's most charming old quarters, where Chakkraphatdiphong and Lan Luang Road keep their heritage good looks intact down to the last shopfront and shuttered window. On Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21, the neighbourhood comes alive with the Bangkok Art Walk – a four-hour-plus celebration of creativity, live music, proper food and the stories that make this pocket of the city tick. Wander from gallery to gallery and meet working artists in the flesh, swap a bit of inspiration and watch pieces take shape right in front of you, paint barely dry. Fancy getting hands-on? Have a go at arranging your own flower bouquet, then carry home an original artwork as the loveliest of souvenirs. Bring your friends, your other half or even the dog along for an afternoon of art hopping, with generous helpings of bar hopping and cafe hopping thrown in. The area's independent coffee spots, secondhand bookshops and much-loved local kitchens fling open their doors at every turn, so you're never more than a few steps from your next pit stop. Things kick off at 4pm and roll on through the evening. There's a good cause behind it all, too: 10 percent of takings go to the Central Wildlife Rescue Center in Nakhon Nayok, helping injured animals recover before they head back to the wild. Stick it in the calendar and drop a map pin on Chakkraphatdiphong and Lan Luang Road (Lan Luang Post Office). June 20-21, from 4pm onward

If you spend any time around Siam Paragon, the Lido Art Cult Market hardly needs an introduction. One of Lido Connect's longest-running fixtures, it has cropped up time and again since 2023 with a straightforward mission: make art something everyone can enjoy while giving both fresh faces and seasoned makers a proper platform. The whole idea rests on two principles, weaving creativity through daily life and building a community where artists and the people who love their work actually cross paths. Across exhibitions, pop-up stalls and a rotating line-up of hands-on sessions, it carves out room for inspiration and a good natter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LIDO CONNECT (@lidoconnect) Now hitting its 20th outing, the market goes full woodland with a rainy-season theme called 'Craft to the Jungle'. More than 40 booths from artists and makers fill the floor, so you can browse and snap up all manner of handmade treasures – crafts, home decor, jewellery, ceramics and plenty of one-off pieces you won't spot on the high street. Shopping isn't the only draw, mind. Workshops and activities run across all three days, so you can get your hands messy, pick up a new skill or simply watch the artists at work. It's an easy win whether you're a sucker for cute, unusual odds and ends or just fancy a laid-back weekend surrounded by creative types in the middle of the city. Pack a tote bag and lose an afternoon in this leafy hideaway. At Lido Connect, floor 1.

Tucked inside Pipa Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11, Baia Bangkok is a dimly lit, atmospheric three-in-one restaurant, bar and late-night haunt – just the sort of spot you linger at long after your plates are cleared. Traditional Italian cooking meets modern technique here, with a menu built to please just about every palate. Photograph: Baia BangkokAuthentic Italian cuisine A taste of Italy The kitchen magic comes courtesy of Chef Konstantinos Papadimitriou, whose approach champions Italy's regional traditions with a contemporary twist. Order the tuna and prawn tartare with avocado puree, the mortadella and pistachio pizza, Baia's lobster roll in focaccia or the cotoletta alla milanese, a golden fried veal chop served with lemon mayonnaise (Check here for the full menu).  Save room for pudding: semifreddo al limoncello or a Valrhona chocolate mousse cheekily dressed up as caviar. Over at the bar, Italian-inspired cocktails get the spotlight, from a tiramisu martini to a bellinissimo, moka magica and bloody maria. Photograph: Baia BangkokAuthentic Italian cuisine From dinner table to dancefloor Design-wise, expect a boho coastal vibe, wooden textures and woven seating that nod to 'baia', the Italian word for bay. As the night rolls on, curated soundtracks and immersive lighting transform the room from dinner table to dancefloor, with a beefy speaker setup and flexible layout that keep things flowing whether you're eating or mingling. Baia Bangkok, Pipa Hotel Bangkok, Sukhumvit S

Running is back in a big way, and this time it is not about shedding kilos. The sport has grown up, turning from a solitary slog round the block to a proper lifestyle, the kind that hands you energy, friends and a decent excuse to lace up on a Sunday morning. Credit much of that revival to the rise of run clubs, which have taken over big cities everywhere. Pounding the pavement alone is so last decade, nowadays it is a social fixture, somewhere to natter, swap training tips and find people who fancy the same post-jog flat white. Photograph: Amazing Thailand MarathonBangkok The crown jewel of the year-end calendar? Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2026, back and bigger than its earlier outings. The whole affair unfolds across two days at Sanam Luang, stretched out to give more participants a crack at the start line. Saturday November 28 belongs to the Half Marathon (21.1km), while Sunday November 29 comes in the full distance (42.195km), a Mini (10km) and a Family Run (4.5km) for those bringing the little ones. Here is the clever part: the route carves straight through the capital with every road shut to traffic. One minute you are dwarfed by glassy skyscrapers, the next you glide past gilded temples and grand old architecture along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Precious few city races serve up that combination.   Photograph: The Amazing Thailand MarathonBangkok   It also enjoys a reputation as a cracking course for chasing a Personal Best, thanks to a layout built for speed ra