Kaweewat Siwanartwong

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.

Look, the image of Bangkok as constantly grey and drizzly is probably overstated – but what genuinely can't be overstated is how much there is to do here when it does pour down on your hard-earned day off. Or the whole weekend. Or, well, the entire summer. The city stays packed with worthwhile distractions, even when the skies have other ideas. This weekend, the Changing Climate, Changing Lives Film Festival offers a thoughtful escape through films examining how environmental change shapes communities around the world. Art lovers can spend hours lost among 1,100-plus booths at Illust Fusion Expo, where independent artists, limited-edition releases and festival exclusives take over Siam Paragon's fifth floor. Over at Sala Saneha, Sonic Minds Lab digs into the relationship between sound, wellbeing and human connection through screenings, performances and collective listening sessions. After all that, if a slower pace sounds good, Friends, Records & Sober at STØCKHÖLME pairs vinyl selections with alcohol-free drinks and easy conversation. Prefer your caffeine with a soundtrack? The Coffee Rave from MILKLAB, MP3 Social and BEANS serves specialty brews alongside DJs spinning hip-hop, UK garage and global club sounds. Rain may dominate the forecast, but it hardly gets the final say. Map out the rest of June with our guide to what’s on, and keep an eye on our picks of Bangkok’s best things to do. Map out the rest of the month with our guide to what’s on, and keep an eye on our picks

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.

Want the luxury experience without the eye-watering price tag typical of 5-star hotels in major cities around the globe? Bangkok is home to some of the world’s leading hospitality brands offering levels of service perhaps unmatched elsewhere. But here’s the twist: Bangkok is also incredibly great value for money. Joining the ranks among Time Out’s best cities list, seasoned travellers will be quick to notice that it stands out for being one of the best places to visit in the world at far less than you might expect to pay elsewhere. So we set ourselves a challenge: find the best hotels in Bangkok where a night typically costs B10,000 or less, but the experience feels far beyond the room rate. In places like London, New York or Paris, this price point might barely get you a decent boutique room, but here that same budget unlocks a very different level of hospitality.  Sprawling suites, river views, award-winning dining, museums, galleries and parks all within arms reach – the options are vast but our criteria are simple: exceptional rooms that feel more luxurious than the rate suggests and something you can brag about when you get back home. So, whether you’re visiting the city or planning a blowout staycation, these hotels prove that Bangkok might just be the best place in the world to experience a city stay without that eye-watering check-out bill.  

Bangkok’s gallery scene gets a provocative new arrival this month. Tucked among Yaowarat’s old shopfronts, Adult Material opens as a contemporary art space championing queer voices, with a programme that treats art as a starting point for conversation rather than decoration. Founded by Swiss-Chinese curator and critic Olivier Chow, the gallery occupies a space between exhibition venue and collecting platform, bringing together artists who question conventions and push at established narratives. Opening show Against The Grain gathers practitioners from Thailand and abroad, exploring intimacy, desire and identity through works that are thoughtful, challenging and refreshingly unsentimental. Catch it from June 18. June 18 onwards.  Free entry. Adult Material. 11am-8pm

Pride Month signs off with one final glitter-soaked send-off as YUMM throws its post-Pride party, swapping campaign slogans and civic drama for sweat, strobe lights and a dancefloor packed until dawn. Leading the charge is New Zealand selector HALFQUEEN, whose high-energy sets stitch together gqom, footwork, Jersey club, techno and other club sounds built for maximum release. Founded by Sriracha Czaddy and Soup SnakeS, YUMM has become one of Bangkok’s most vital queer nights, championing LGBTQIA+ communities, young creatives and people of colour while keeping the atmosphere welcoming, inclusive and unapologetically joyful. July 3. B300-600 via here. Mustache Bangkok. 10pm onwards

By Sunday, Bangkok’s rainy season often wins the argument. Plans shrink, energy runs low and staying home starts sounding increasingly sensible. This event at STØCKHÖLME offers a pleasant alternative. The gathering swaps loud nights and packed schedules for vinyl records, alcohol-free drinks and the simple pleasure of listening to music with other people. Guests spend the afternoon browsing collections, sharing recommendations and taking turns behind the decks, whether they arrive with years of crate-digging experience or none at all. Soul, funk and downtempo selections soundtrack the day, while conversations drift between favourite albums, forgotten discoveries and the enduring appeal of analogue sound. A calm end to the weekend, before Monday makes its return. June 14. Free entry. STØCKHÖLME. 2pm-9pm

Bangkok Art Walk returns to the historic streets around Chakkraphatdiphong and Lan Luang. Instead of white walls and gallery labels, artworks line the route, giving visitors a chance to meet artists, browse their creations and perhaps take a piece home. The market stretches well beyond paintings and prints. Expect vintage treasures, houseplants, pet accessories and gentle live music drifting through the neighbourhood. Four-legged companions are welcome too. Better still, every purchase contributes to a good cause, with part of the proceeds supporting rescued wildlife and rehabilitation efforts at the Central Wildlife Rescue Center in Nakhon Nayok. June 13-14. Free entry. Chakkraphatdiphong and Lan Luang Road. 4pm onwards

Sonic Minds Lab asks you to listen. Presented by Wonderfruit and MSCTY_Studio at Sala Saneha, the two-day programme explores how sound shapes the way we experience places, people and ourselves through performances, screenings, discussions and participatory sessions. Created by James Greer and Nick Luscombe alongside Wonderfruit, the ongoing project examines the relationship between mind, nature and listening. Across the weekend, visitors can encounter works in progress, field recordings and graphic scores, while meeting the artists behind them.  June 13-14. B600-1,000 via here. Sala Saneha. 1pm-9pm

Bangkok’s music community gains a new gathering point this month as MŌCANA Sound launches its first edition. Built around the city’s deep-rooted listening culture and ever-shifting underground scene, the one-night event places sound at the centre of the experience, giving equal weight to careful listening and late-night movement. Maft Sai, Tam Bryce, Tom Aquilina, Mumsfilijayja, DOTT and Meltmode guide audiences through vinyl rarities, Thai experimental works, house, disco and Southeast Asian club sounds. Expect a journey that values curiosity as much as dancing, with discoveries waiting at every turn. June 13. B1,000-1,200 via here. Trinity Silom Hotel. 8pm-3am

More than 16,000 people turned up last year, so it’s hardly surprising that Illust Fusion Expo returns even bigger for 2026. For one weekend, the fifth floor of Siam Paragon becomes a playground for independent creativity, with 729 artists spread across 1,108 booths packed with original prints, handmade objects, limited-edition merchandise and festival-exclusive collectibles. This year’s theme, Shine in Your Own Way, celebrates individuality through the image of a lantern, highlighting the distinct voices shaping Thailand’s illustration scene. Alongside the shopping, expect artist talks, live drawing sessions, copyright discussions and a playful pop-up cafe by Joojee World that adds an extra layer of charm to the proceedings. June 13-14. B120 for one day or B220 for a two-day pass at the door. Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon. 10am-8pm

Coffee culture and club culture have spent years circling each other, and this weekend they finally share the same room. MILKLAB, Melbourne-born collective MP3 Social and BEANS join forces for a free Coffee Rave, swapping late-night habits for caffeine-powered daytime dancing. MP3 Social has built a loyal following through its coffee-fuelled gatherings across Australia, and for its Bangkok stop brings Australian DJ Crystal Cartier alongside local selectors Chaddubb and Danny Luseo. Expect free-flow specialty coffee, limited-edition merchandise and a soundtrack that jumps from hip-hop and UK garage to baile funk and global club sounds.  June 12. Free entry. Register via here. BEANS, Songwat. 2pm-5pm

Vintage hunters on the Thonburi side know the drill: when a secondhand market lands at ChangChui, you clear your schedule. This wardrobe-clear-out gathering swaps polished retail for racks packed with personality, where sellers bring pieces that deserve a second outing rather than another year hidden behind a cupboard door. Expect everything from well-worn vintage gems and pastel dresses to handbags, shoes and the sort of unexpected finds that make rummaging worthwhile.  June 12-13. Free entry. ChangChui. 5pm-midnight

By this point in the year, most of us have spent far too much time staring at screens. Art in the PARQ offers a welcome excuse to step away for a while. Organised by The PARQ Life and Groundcontrol, the ten-day festival fills the mixed-use development with installations, live music, workshops and conversations centred on rest and emotional wellbeing. Artist collective Eyedropper Fill creates a landscape of shifting light and ambient sound, while works by Yibso Ariyaganta sit alongside a free rock-painting activity for anyone craving a quieter moment. After office hours, live painting from Blue Dean and laid-back sets by GYPSHA take over. Weekends add an art market, wellbeing talks, food stalls and activities for four-legged companions. Jun 12-21. Free entry. The PARQ Life. 11am-8pm

Climate change usually arrives as statistics, policy papers and increasingly grim news alerts. The Changing Climate, Changing Lives (CCCL) Film Festival prefers a more human approach. Returning this June, the annual event hands the mic to filmmakers, artists and storytellers charting how environmental shifts shape everyday experiences, from eroding shorelines and harsher weather patterns to quieter transformations unfolding across neighbourhoods. The programme spans fiction, animation and experimental works from emerging voices around the world, many spotlighting stories that rarely reach wider audiences. Some films wrestle with loss and uncertainty, while others focus on resilience, collective action and the people finding inventive ways to adapt as the world changes around them. June 12-21. Free entry, though seats must be reserved in advance here. Lido Connect and The Jim Thompson Art Center.

Le Café 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. DJs stay 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.  June 11. Free entry. Le Cafe des Stagiaires Bangkok, 7pm onwards

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

Anyone who missed Bangkok Book District Fest the first time around gets a second chance. The festival returns on July 25-26, bringing books, ideas and a healthy dose of urban exploration back to Phra Nakhon. This year’s edition invites visitors to wander through Phan Fa, Wang Burapha, Fueang Nakhon, Sao Chingcha, Tha Tien and Nang Loeng. These historic neighbourhoods are being reinterpreted through independent bookshops, creative events and the communities that continue to prove reading still has a place in city life. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @bkk.bookdistrict One of the festival’s biggest draws is its network of more than ten independent bookstores spread across the district. Each with its own character, carefully curated shelves and a distinct point of view. The conversations between booksellers and readers are often just as rewarding as the books themselves. You might arrive looking for a novel and leave with a recommendation, a new perspective and a conversation you’ll remember. Photograph: bkk.bookdistrictOld Town The previous edition filled the neighbourhood with second-hand book markets, discussion circles and reading walks. One standout was Reading in the Park by the Bangkok Literature & Arts Festival, which transformed Rommaninat Park into an open-air reading room. The event showed how public spaces can become cultural gathering points, bringing together readers, local history and community life beneath the trees. Photograph

The community surrounding zines keeps growing, and Pubpeab Zine Fair grows right alongside it. Back for its third outing with a new theme, ‘The Maker Space’, the fair reimagines GalileOasis as a working print house where artists, publishers, collectors and curious first-timers all come together under one roof. Not the sort of print house filled with conveyor belts and fluorescent lights. Organised by GalileOasis and Wuthipol Designs, the event also welcomes fabric-printing specialists Studio2B and risograph producer Haptic Editions, turning the venue into a temporary workshop where ideas move as freely as ink on paper. Photograph: Pubpeab Zine FairGalileOasis What sets this year apart is the emphasis on making rather than merely displaying. The centrepiece is ‘Make Some Zines’, a hands-on workshop area where visitors follow a publication from start to finish. Pick your papers, test materials, experiment with layouts and stitch everything together yourself. Never folded a single page before? Photograph: Pubpeab Zine FairGalileOasis Elsewhere, Space Bar Zine and Wuthipol Designs present selections from their own collections, showing just how broad the format can be. Personal diaries, political statements, artist books, travel journals, playful visual experiments – part of the appeal is never quite knowing what waits on the next table. And, naturally, the beloved zine swap returns. Bring a publication, exchange it with someone else and watch it begin a new life in another pa

Barely a month after we got wind of the first official Pokémon Center landing at Central World, here comes another bit of news worth a celebratory fist-pump: Pokémon Run. The whole thing rolls out to mark 30 years of the cartoon most of us grew up glued to, with UNIQLO backing the party. Mark your calendar for January 9-10 next year, and keep half an eye out for registration, which should open before 2026 wraps up. Pokémon Run 30 makes seven stops across Asia – the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand – and it's a long way from your average Sunday slog. You're a Trainer here. You pick a starter partner to run alongside, and every creature you cross paths with gets logged in your Pokédex. Rack up enough and you trade that haul for rewards once you're done. The more ground you cover, the more experience you earn, and your little sidekick evolves as you go. Here's roughly how a lap unfolds: – Pick your partner and go: The start line is where you choose your first companion and brace yourself for what's coming. – Take on the Gyms: Scattered along the way you'll find ‘Pokémon Gyms’, cheeky obstacles that test your grit and earn you those Trainer stripes. – Refuel at the Pokémon Center: A hydration stop to catch your breath and load up for the next chunk. – Meet, collect, evolve.:Gather Pokédex entries and exclusive stickers off the characters you meet, then watch your partner evolve as you cross the finish. There's a Pokémon Center Bangkok Po

When Ireland comes up in conversation, most people picture emerald landscapes, windswept coastlines and a fiddle drifting out of a countryside pub. Equally enduring, though perhaps less obvious, is the country's literary legacy.  For centuries, Irish writers have shaped the way we tell stories, wrestle with big ideas and make sense of everyday life – from the modernist experiments of James Joyce to the razor-sharp observations of Sally Rooney and the quiet brilliance of Claire Keegan. Ireland's contribution to world literature is astonishing. Photograph: Jim Thompson Heritage QuarterIrish Literature Festival That rich tradition arrives in Bangkok this month as the Embassy of Ireland in Thailand presents the Irish Literature Festival 2026 at the Jim Thompson Art Center on June 20-21. Held in celebration of Bloomsday, the annual tribute to Joyce's monumental Ulysses, the two-day festival casts a much wider net. The programme explores why writing from a small island nation continues to resonate across generations and continents. Expect lively conversations led by academics, translators and publishing figures, including Professor Dr Paige Reynolds, Associate Professor Dr Verita Sriratana and members of the Moonscape literary collective. Together, they’ll unpack the themes, traditions and cultural forces that have kept Irish literature firmly on bookshelves around the world. Photograph: The Jim Thompson Art CenterIrish Literature Festival   Highlights include a discussion of

Pride Month brings a significant healthcare milestone for Thailand's LGBTQ+ community. As the country continues to broaden healthcare access and strengthen legal recognition for gender-diverse people, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has announced that hormone therapy medications under the Universal Coverage Scheme will be available from June 10.  The rollout begins across 50 participating healthcare facilities nationwide, marking a quietly significant step for gender-affirming care within Thailand's public health system. Photograph: National Health Security OfficeThailand's Gold Card What is the Gold Card? For anyone unfamiliar with it, the Gold Card – often known as the B30 scheme – sits at the heart of Thailand's Universal Coverage Scheme. It provides free or low-cost healthcare for Thai citizens who are not covered by other government programmes or private insurance, spanning routine treatment, emergency care and prescription medication. The programme also extends to many marginalised groups and ethnic communities awaiting citizenship verification, helping to bridge longstanding gaps in access. Foreign visitors, expats and most migrant workers remain outside the scheme. Photograph: Rory DoyleThailand's Gold Card What does the benefit package cover? That coverage now expands to include medically supervised hormone therapy. The new package covers eight medications across four categories: Oral female hormones, including estradiol Injectable testosterone Oral a

One camera, many stories. That's the idea behind Canon's new EOS R6 V, a creator-focused hybrid that packs professional-grade video tools into a body that doesn't demand a film school education. Built for travel vlogs, documentaries, short films and social content, it's the camera that keeps pace with however many ideas you've got on the go. Photograph: CanonThailand Canon has spent the past few years sharpening its focus on creators, and the EOS R6 V is perhaps the clearest sign yet of who it has in mind. The fourth model in the R6 line-up and the latest in the brand's video-centric V Series, this is a camera designed for people who spend more time filming than peering through a viewfinder. So Canon removes the electronic viewfinder altogether. Before photographers start clutching their lens caps – the move makes sense. The EOS R6 V is built around how creators actually work. A large vari-angle touchscreen takes centre stage, and a built-in cooling fan keeps things running during lengthy recording sessions.     Photograph: CanonThailand   Photograph: CanonThailand At its core sits a 32.5-megapixel sensor capable of capturing 7K RAW Open Gate footage, alongside 4K recording at up to 120fps for slow-motion sequences. Canon's autofocus system remains one of its strongest suits, tracking subjects quickly and accurately whether you're filming yourself, covering an event or following action on the move. A handful of practical tools help streamline production. Simultaneous Re

Climate stories often arrive wrapped in graphs, reports and alarming headlines. The Changing Climate, Changing Lives (CCCL) Film Festival takes a different route.  Returning this June, the annual event hands the conversation over to filmmakers, artists and storytellers who document how a warming planet reshapes daily life – from shifting coastlines and extreme weather to the quieter changes rippling through communities. Photograph: Kawin SirichantakulHidden Paradise   Rather than sticking to familiar environmental documentary territory, CCCL puts together a programme spanning fiction, animation and experimental cinema, making the case that climate conversations can be urgent, imaginative and surprisingly moving. Emerging directors from around the world spotlight experiences that rarely reach mainstream screens, particularly those of young people and communities most affected by environmental disruption. Several works this year blur the line between personal reflection and collective responsibility, asking audiences to sit with not only what's being lost but what can still be protected. Others bring genuine moments of optimism, spotlighting resilience, local knowledge and creative responses to a rapidly shifting world. Photograph: HAULOUTCCCL Film Festival The festival's role stretches well past the screening room. Panel discussions, talks and networking sessions give visitors a chance to swap ideas with filmmakers, activists and fellow attendees – keeping the conversatio

It’s Pride Month, hallelujah. June once again sees rainbow flags, drag shows, film screenings and late-night parties spill across Bangkok, with celebrations popping up in nearly every corner of the city. Among the fixtures that have earned a place on the city's Pride calendar on Saturday June 20, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok continues its celebration of queer storytelling, culture and community through a day of landmark film screenings and shared experiences. Once the credits roll, Bar.Yard carries the festivities into the evening with its annual Freddie Mercury-inspired party, bringing together live music, karaoke and plenty of opportunities for a sing-along under the city lights. Photograph: Kimpton Maa-Lai BangkokPride Month The day starts at the hotel’s Grand Studio with the sixth edition of the Pride Film Festival, a public screening series dedicated to iconic LGBTQIA+ storytelling.  This year journeys from Alice Wu’s tender Chinese American romcom Saving Face at 1pm to Lily Tomlin indie favourite Grandma at 3pm, before landing on Chookiat Sakveerakul’s generation-defining Love of Siam at 4.40pm, still one of Thai cinema’s most quietly devastating love stories nearly two decades later.  Closing the programme at 7.40pm is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the cult musical that turns every screening into a slightly unhinged communal ritual. Admission is free with advance reservation here, while snacks, drinks and limited-edition goodies from LUSH Thailand keep things fuelled be

After pulling in more than 16,000 visitors last year, Illust Fusion Expo is back for another packed weekend at Paragon Hall. On June 13-14, the fifth floor of Siam Paragon gets taken over by 729 artists and creators spread across 1,108 booths – making it one of Thailand's biggest celebrations of illustration and independent creativity. Every corner of the hall offers something different. Original illustrations sit alongside handmade objects, limited-edition merch and hard-to-find collectibles, plenty of which are produced exclusively for the festival. Photograph: Illust FusionParagon Hall This year's theme, ‘Shine in Your Own Way’, takes the lantern as its central motif – a nod to individuality and the distinct voices that make the local art scene worth paying attention to. A standout addition this year is a special pop-up café created with Joojee World, whose artwork also serves as the event's key visual. Think familiar characters and illustrations translated into a playful cafe setting that runs alongside the main exhibition floor. Photograph: Illust FusionParagon Hall The programme runs well past browsing, too. Artist talks feature popular creators including Peakkyboo, simpleseasun and Joojee World, while panel discussions tackle subjects like Our Lines, Whose Rights? and How to Use Inspiration Without Copying. Representatives from the Department of Intellectual Property are also on hand with practical copyright guidance, and live drawing sessions carry on throughout t

If the first half of 2026 has felt like one long notification, The PARQ Life has a possible antidote. From June 12-21, the mixed-use development teams up with Groundcontrol for Art in the PARQ, a ten-day programme of art installations, live music, creative workshops and conversations centred on rest, reflection and emotional wellbeing. The festival’s installations are designed to slow things down for a moment. Artist collective Eyedropper Fill creates a calming environment of shifting light and ambient sound – somewhere to linger, switch off and let your thoughts drift. Nearby, works by Yibso Ariyaganta sit alongside Don't Worry Stones, a free rock-painting activity that swaps overthinking for a handful of paint and a little creative quiet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The PARQ (@theparqbkk) Weekday evenings are geared towards anyone emerging from the office in need of a change of pace. Once the workday winds down, artist Blue Dean takes over with live painting sessions accompanied by easy-listening sets from GYPSHA. Grab a brush and add your own splash of colour, masterpiece optional. Photograph: A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Georges SeuratArt in the Parq Weekends bring a little more energy. An art market on the third floor gathers local makers, while a Food Zone keeps everyone fuelled between workshops and talks focused on mental wellbeing, self-care and restoration. Dogs are welcome too, with pet-friendly activities ranging from facial ma