Kaweewat Siwanartwong

Rainy season shows little sign of packing up, but hiding indoors all weekend hardly seems like a solution. Fortunately, Bangkok's cultural calendar remains stubbornly busy, serving up enough exhibitions, screenings, concerts and curious gatherings to make a soggy forecast easier to forgive. After some thought-provoking queer art? Head for Against the Grain, the opening exhibition at Yaowarat's new contemporary gallery Adult Material, where artists from Bangkok, Berlin, Singapore and New York challenge ideas of identity, masculinity and belonging. Fancy a quieter evening? Cozy Concert & Scribbles pairs intimate live music with doodling, daydreaming and a welcome excuse to put your phone away for a couple of hours. Pride celebrations continue at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, where a full day of LGBTQIA+ film screenings runs from Saving Face and Love of Siam to the gloriously eccentric The Rocky Horror Picture Show, before the festivities move upstairs for cocktails, karaoke and live music. Elsewhere, KEEP MOVIN shines a light on Bangkok's underground creative community through DJ sets and photography, while a rooftop market takeover at Chatuchak's S-Oasis combines vintage fashion, collectibles and skyline views. Prefer books to dancefloors? A Bloomsday literary festival explores Ireland's remarkable storytelling tradition through talks, discussions and readings inspired by writers from James Joyce to Claire Keegan. Or gather around the table for a Bengali summer feast, where seven f

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.

May lands, rain follows, and Bangkok shifts gear. Showers start to roll through, parks turn lush, and the city picks up a quieter kind of energy. Staying in sounds tempting, but galleries aren't having it. Doors stay open, lights stay on, and new exhibitions keep popping up across town. This month's properly busy without trying too hard. Spaces fill with fresh work, each show offering something different – reflective painting here, more experimental setups there. You can dip between them over a few afternoons, ducking out of the rain when you need to, then heading back out once it clears. Not sure where to start? A handful of exhibitions are worth your time right now, each for different reasons. Keep an eye on listings too, as new openings turn up steadily. Consider it a decent excuse to step outside, even when the weather's telling you otherwise. 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 May. 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.

Few cuisines celebrate the rhythm of the seasons quite like Bengali cooking. This communal supper presents seven courses inspired by summer, with recipes shaped by family traditions, regional history and ingredients at their seasonal best. Dishes range from crisp doi phuchka and bittersweet shukto to fragrant macher kalia and chingri malaikari, a much-loved prawn curry enriched with coconut milk. Each plate arrives family-style, encouraging conversation as much as eating. The evening closes with baked rosogolla, while live vocals from Angel and a DJ set by Brent Burns provide a gentle soundtrack to a meal best enjoyed slowly and in good company. June 21. B1,700. Reserve via DM: @fv_products, Line OA: @fvevents or WhatsApp:  091 949 6366. FV39. 5.30pm onwards

Bangkok’s underground scene gets a well-deserved snapshot with the return of KEEP MOVIN, a one-night gathering that brings together music, photography and the communities keeping independent culture alive after dark. What began as a project between friends has grown into a document of the city’s club spaces, creative circles and fleeting moments that rarely make it into the mainstream. This edition also marks the final university project of organiser Savemekilly, giving the night added significance. Expect DJ sets from emerging selectors, photography exhibitions from local image-makers and a crowd that knows exactly where the interesting things happen after sunset. June 20. B400-500 via here. Pickle.BKK. 8pm onwards

Not every great music night requires a giant stage. This intimate gathering celebrates Ireland’s rich singing tradition with three vocalists sharing folk songs, ballads and stories in front of just 30 guests. Expect melodies more often heard around kitchen tables and pub corners than concert halls, with harmonies carrying tales of love, loss, migration and mischief. The small-scale setting keeps every lyric front and centre, creating a rare chance to hear traditional music as it is often passed down: person to person, voice to voice. Arrive early, settle in and let the songs do the talking. June  20. B999 via here. Public House Bangkok. 7pm onwards

Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok marks Pride with a full day dedicated to queer cinema, community and a few memorable singalongs. The sixth Pride Film Festival opens with Alice Wu’s charming Saving Face, followed by Grandma and Chookiat Sakveerakul’s enduring Thai classic Love of Siam, which still hits hard nearly twenty years after its release. As evening arrives, The Rocky Horror Picture Show takes over, bringing its gloriously eccentric spirit to the screen. Afterwards, the celebration heads skyward to Bar.Yard, where award-winning Taipei cocktail bar To Infinity and Beyond joins the party before live bands, karaoke and DJ sets keep things going well past bedtime. June 20. Free entry. Register here. Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. 1pm onwards

Ireland’s greatest export might not be Guinness or green landscapes, but its writers. Marking Bloomsday, the annual celebration of James Joyce’s Ulysses, this two-day festival considers how a small island nation continues to produce literary giants whose work resonates far from its shores. Conversations led by academics, translators and publishing figures explore the ideas, histories and cultural traditions that shape Irish storytelling, from Joyce’s modernist experiments to the contemporary voices of Claire Keegan and Sally Rooney. Highlights include a discussion of Keegan’s acclaimed Small Things Like These and a conversation with Irish Ambassador H.E. Pat Bourne. Best of all, admission costs nothing. June 20-21. Free entry. Jim Thompson Art Center. 11am onwards

Few animated films carry the same emotional baggage as Toy Story, and House of Toy Story 5 banks on exactly that. Created as a celebration of Pixar’s beloved franchise, the limited-run experience shrinks visitors to toy-sized proportions with a giant recreation of Bonnie’s bedroom, complete with oversized furniture and playful photo opportunities. Keep an eye out for rare collectibles, including pieces from celebrity collections, while dedicated merchandise corners cater to anyone still attached to Woody, Buzz and the gang. Once the nostalgia kicks in, round off the day with a screening and relive the adventures that made these characters household names. June 15-25. Free entry. Outdoor Square C, CentralWorld. 10am-10pm

Swap crowded gigs and chatty bars for a quieter kind of evening. Cozy Concert and Scribbles sees artist and producer Tamlin present a floor-seated performance of original songs accompanied by cello and piano, with guests encouraged to sketch, doodle or simply sit back and listen. New arrangements, inspired by the sweeping score of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, bring a warmer, more contemplative quality to her music as themes of identity, purpose and unspoken thoughts drift through the room. The night begins with handpan player MP, whose atmospheric compositions set a suitably reflective mood for the hours ahead. June 19. B650-700 at the door. People of Ari (PoA White Box). 7pm-8.30pm

Chatuchak’s latest weekend distraction arrives several storeys above the usual market crowds. Taking over the tenth-floor rooftop car park of S-Oasis, TRYSTER’s Tay Level 10 gathers more than 80 vendors for a laid-back mix of vintage fashion, secondhand finds, handmade goods, homeware and niche collectibles. Bangkok’s skyline provides the backdrop while DJs, drinks and pop-up activities keep the atmosphere lively without trying too hard. Better yet, the covered setting means a sudden monsoon shower barely registers. Whether you're hunting for a one-off treasure or simply killing a few hours, this rooftop market makes a strong case for heading north of the city centre. June 19-21. Free entry. 10th floor, S-Oasis. 3pm-10.30pm

World Music Day arrives with a suitably lively soundtrack at Le Café des Stagiaires, where the Sathorn favourite marks the occasion with three days of live performances, DJ sets and late-night revelry. Inspired by France’s annual Fête de la Musique, the celebration packs the venue with sounds spanning multiple genres and plenty of reasons to linger after work. Adding an extra draw, Popeye Ink sets up a two-day flash tattoo pop-up for anyone keen to leave with more than a few memories. Best of all, entry is free, making this one of the easiest ways to spend a music-filled weekend. June 19-21. Free entry. Le Café des Stagiaires. 4pm onwards

Good news for anyone still replaying the soundtrack to Given. Centimillimental, the solo project of Japanese musician and songwriter Atsushi, makes a swift return to Bangkok just months after his last visit. Best known for crafting the emotionally charged music behind fan-favourite anime such as Given and Bakuten!!, he builds songs that move effortlessly between delicate piano passages and soaring guitar-driven crescendos. Expect heart-on-sleeve lyricism, cinematic arrangements and the kind of singalongs that leave a room hanging on every note. For devoted fans, this reunion arrives surprisingly soon – and very much welcome. June 19. B2,500-3,300 via here. Central World Live. 7.30pm

Pride Month brings a compelling reason to make tracks for Yaowarat, where new contemporary gallery Adult Material opens its doors with Against the Grain on June 18. Tucked among the neighbourhood’s glowing alleyways, the inaugural exhibition assembles artists from Bangkok, Berlin, Singapore and New York whose work probes identity, masculinity and the stories societies tell about belonging. Across sculpture, photography, installation and design, inherited symbols take on fresh meaning while intimacy, desire and power come under scrutiny. Expect standout contributions from Shen Wei, Oat Montien, Dylan Chan, Gregor Jahner and Thyme Neelaphanakul, alongside plenty to spark conversation long after you leave. June 18-August 15. Free entry. Adult Material. 1pm-6pm

What is it? At this bar, the mood is unpretentious and a little scrappy, channelling the easy energy of a proper dive where nobody clocks what you're wearing or how loudly you're singing. Why we love it: Beyond the warm welcome, this place actively wants you to make a scene. Ask the staff nicely and they pass over a microphone, turning an ordinary midweek pint into your own sold-out arena tour, diva belters and all. It's the sort of silliness that gets a crowd onside fast. The real clincher, though, is how seriously the bar itself takes things. Whoever builds the drinks list has thought about everyone in the room, lining up non-alcohol and low-alcohol sippers next to full-strength spirits and craft cocktails straight from the tap. Sober, sober-curious or thoroughly off the wagon, you're sorted. Time Out tip: Round up the group chat for a quieter midweek session, when the mic is yours for the taking.  WO Bar Bangkok. Soi Pridi Banomyong 26. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 7,30pm-midnight. Closed Monday.

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

Surrounded is a performance built around generative visuals that travel across the floor beneath your feet, a spatial sound system spread throughout the venue and a specially prepared Yamaha DC3X Disklavier piano at its centre. Forget the usual stage-and-seats setupg. Here, you can sit, stand, claim your own patch of the room, stay perfectly still or wander as the work slowly unfolds. Bangkok Kunsthalle hosts the closing night of the residency project by artist duo elekhlekha on Saturday June 27 at 8pm. Arrive from 7pm for the opening reception and a proper send-off. Photograph: Bangkok KunsthalleSurrounded Behind it are months of research-led audiovisual work from Nitcha Tothong and Kengchakaj, created with Thai traditional instrumentalists Kanta Kantaphong and Matas Masungsong, and jazz drummer Pitchaon Kanajaroen. The piece has gradually revealed itself across four participatory open studios over May and June 2026, and now reaches its conclusion with lighting design by Voratorn Peerapongpan pulling the strands together. Photograph: Bangkok KunsthalleSurrounded A sixteen-channel speaker array stretches the group across the room itself. Much like a Southeast Asian gong ensemble, the sound scatters between many voices, with melody, rhythm and agency shared among players, instruments, speakers and audience. Tickets are B350 online or B450 on the door, available here. Places are limited and may sell out before or during door sales, so booking is the safer move. The project

Still get the chills when the Interstellar score swells? Spellbound by the world of Harry Potter, or grinning the second that Pirates of the Caribbean theme kicks in? The Ballet Soundtrack Show hands you all three at once, in a shape you probably haven't seen before. This one-night spectacle on August 9 pulls cinema, memory and raw emotion together through contemporary ballet, a live orchestra and a stage loaded with atmospheric lighting and visual effects.   Photograph: Freed BalletBallet Soundtrack Show The evening splits across two acts. The first, 'Birth Struggle Path', traces birth, growth, hardship and self-discovery, set to music from Pirates of the Caribbean, Dune, Tron, Interstellar and The Last Samurai – plus Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Air on the G String' for good measure. The second, 'Destruction Rebirth Freedom', turns to collapse, renewal and the chase for freedom, reimagining scores from Oppenheimer, Kung Fu Panda, Avatar, Gladiator and Harry Potter through the language of modern dance. The cast is the real thing: former soloists from the Mariinsky Theatre, dancers from the Novosibirsk Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and artists from the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus. A pop-symphony orchestra performs every film score live, while projections and lighting shift the mood behind each note. Shows that braid this many worlds together rarely come around twice, so get a ticket sorted early. Catch it at SiamPic Hall on Sunday August 9, with two sittings: 2pm-4pm and 6.3

Looking for an after-work hangout that isn’t another mall bar, or a weekend market with a bit more altitude? Pin this one.  TRYSTER is taking over the rooftop car park on the 10th floor of S-Oasis in Chatuchak for Tay Level 10, a breezy hybrid market that pulls together vintage shopping, music, drinks and just enough  activity to keep things from becoming another browse-and-leave affair.  More than 80 vendors are setting up shop, with vintage threads, rare secondhand finds, home decor, handmade pieces and collectibles from sellers worth lingering over. You get to browse with Bangkok spread out below, and since the whole thing is under cover, the usual June weather roulette shouldn’t kill the mood. Photograph: Tay Flea MarketS-Oasis Shopping aside, there’s also the Beat The Stress challenge by THEGUNNER_MUAYTHAIGYM, which lets brave visitors step into the ring and spar with a real Muay Thai instructor for one full minute. A little dramatic? Yes. More satisfying than doom-scrolling after work? Almost certainly.  From 6pm, DJ VINYL (LEONCAII) of Dig and Duck Records takes over the decks with vinyl sets, turning the rooftop into a low-key after-work hideout for anyone who wants to wind down somewhere above street level. Bring a friend, hunt down something nobody else owns or just grab a cold drink and let the records do the work. Tay Level 10 runs at S-Oasis, near MRT Chatuchak, from Friday June 19 to Sunday June 21, 3pm-10.30pm. Entry is free.

Pride Month hands us the perfect excuse to clock a brand-new spot for anyone who loves boundary-pushing art and a bit of stylish gallery-hopping. Adult Material throws open its doors on Thursday June 18, tucked down the lantern-lit lanes of Yaowarat, and its debut show Against the Grain gathers seriously striking work from Thai and international names alike. Craft obsessives, diversity champions and the plain nosy all walk out inspired, buoyed by the warm, generous energy of the place. Photograph: adultmaterialgalleryAgainst the Grain Photograph: adultmaterialgalleryAgainst the Grain Spanning sculpture, photography, installation and design, the artists here push against inherited ideas of identity, masculinity and cultural expectation. Through performative acts of discipline and submission, queer subjectivity turns transformative, forever renegotiated across space, memory, matter and the body. Domestic interiors, bodily adornment, architectural motifs and handed-down symbols become charged sites where intimacy, vulnerability, desire and power get contested and reimagined. The upshot frames queerness not merely as a subject but as a whole way of living in and remaking the world. Photograph: adultmaterialgalleryAgainst the Grain Look out for pieces by Shen Wei (New York), Oat Montien (Bangkok), Dylan Chan (Singapore), Gregor Jahner (Berlin) and Thyme Neelaphanakul (Bangkok). The gallery is the brainchild of Olivier Chow, its founder and director – a Swiss-Chinese curator,

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 12 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 wait is finally over for fans of one of the world's most beloved animated franchises. This is 'House of Toy Story 5', one of the year's biggest happenings and a love letter to the living toys that have charmed audiences across the globe for generations. Step through the doors and a whole world of imagination opens up again, ready to sweep you back to where it all began. Photograph: CentralwOrldHOUSE OF TOY STORY 5 Wander inside a giant recreation of Bonnie's Room and you'll swear you've shrunk to action-figure size in the blink of an eye. Crane your neck at the towering Lily Pad Gate, snap away at exclusive photo spots and gawp at celebrity-owned collectibles you won't clap eyes on anywhere else. A dedicated shopping zone comes stuffed with officially licensed goodies – plushies, keyrings and the kind of figurines that'll test your willpower – plus premium freebies for anyone who spends enough to hit the magic number. Photograph: DisneyToy Story 5 Once you've had your fill of selfies, carry the fun over to the big screen. 'Toy Story 5' lands in cinemas nationwide on Thursday June 18, though die-hard fans needn't wait that long – early screenings kick off from 5pm on Wednesday June 17, so you get a proper cry in before everyone else does. (Yes, you will cry. These films always get you.) So round up your friends, wrangle the little ones and set off on another adventure with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the whole crew at the 'House of Toy Story 5'. At Outdoor Square C, Cent

Bangkok's cycling crowd has somewhere proper to be this June, as ChangChui Creative Park hands over two full days to a festival built for anyone who loves bikes, film and a good knees-up. Across June 27-28, from 3pm ‘til 11pm, the venue throws open its grounds to riders, film buffs, creative types and weekend pedallers, with screenings, sport, art, music, food, workshops and markets all crammed under one roof. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @bbff.bicycleflimfest The action kicks off with a short film competition and screening, where cycling-themed shorts from Thailand and abroad go head to head for cash prizes – so grab a seat and cheer on your favourite. If you'd rather watch people throw themselves about, the Extreme Bicycle Contest delivers, with a Balance Bike Drag Race, BMX Flatland, BMX Box Jam, Fixed Freestyle and a Bunny Hop High Jump, where riders gun for the highest leap of the year. Then comes the Bicycle Show, a proper beauty pageant on two wheels with more than B30,000 up for grabs. Categories run the gamut – MTB Vintage, Road Bikes, OS BMX, Mini Velo, Mini Chari, Touring, Cargo, Fixed Gear and Fancy – so whatever you ride, expect a class to suit. Photograph: ChangChui Creative ParkBicycle film festival Skint or just browsing? The Swap Buy and Sell market gathers importers, shops, independent sellers and brand owners flogging tasty deals, while the rest of the site keeps you busy with art, live music, street food and hands-on wor

Bangkok rarely sits still. The capital is forever adding new green spaces, plugging gaps in its public transport and working out better ways to look after the people who live here. And the people best placed to say what actually works? The ones walking its streets every day.  That is the thinking behind Bangkok Active Festival,  free three-day gathering at Lumphini Park from June 19-21, organised by Thai PBS Centre for Social Agenda and Public Policy Communication with a network of partners. Under the park's big rain trees, just a short walk from the Silom and Lumphini MRT exits, residents are invited to imagine, debate and help shape a better Bangkok – from greener neighbourhoods and wider transit coverage to support for vulnerable communities and a more serious crack at urban poverty. Photograph: The ActiveBangkok Active Festival The line-up makes room for plenty of voices. On the central stage, Vision in the Park brings people together to swap ideas about where the capital goes next, while Bangkok Open Mic hands the microphone to artists and locals with their own take on the city. The exhibition zone, Bangkok Has Come Far, But Can Go Further, looks back at the capital’s past and asks what still needs fixing through displays such as Bangkok Timeline: 50 Years of Bangkok Governors and Interactive Data: Four Years of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council. A Policy Market gives younger generations space to pitch fresh ideas for everyday city life. Photograph: The ActiveBangkok A

Remember when HAVE YOU HEARD? dropped the first Maho Rasop Series 2026 line-up with Caribou on the bill? Well, the promoter has now lifted the lid on its second wave, and the headline name is one that'll make a lot of Bangkok music fans go a bit misty-eyed. Kings of Convenience are coming to town, playing SiamPic Hall on Tuesday December 1. Photograph: Kings of Convenience- KOCErlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe make the kind of music that rewards a proper listen, delicate guitar lines, unexpected melodic turns and hushed vocals that wrap around you like a warm jumper. Their debut, Quiet Is the New Loud, turned heads at the turn of the millennium, with 'Winning a Battle, Losing the War' becoming the gateway track for a whole generation. It broke big in the UK first, then earned an unusually loyal crowd across Asia. Here in Thailand, those songs have practically soundtracked a decade of cafe culture. After more than 12 years away, the pair came back with Peace or Love, a record that reunited them with Feist, so this gig serves up a generous mix of old favourites and fresher cuts, plenty of which Thai audiences have never caught live. Photograph: haveyouheard.liveKOC Tickets land on Friday June 12 at 12pm, here. You're looking at B3,600 for Level 1 Zones A and B, B3,100 for Level 1 Zone C and B2,600 for Upper Level Zones D and E, all seated. This is just the opening salvo. Maho Rasop Series 2026 – a joint effort from HAVE YOU HEARD?, Seen Scen