Tita Honghirunkham

There’s a version of Thailand that exists purely on screen: a jagged limestone island hiding a villain, a beach so perfect it sends backpackers wild, a rooftop bar where four strangers wake up with no memory of the night before. None of it is fake, exactly. Somewhere along the way, though, the line between ‘shot here’ and ‘must go here’ blurred – and Thailand’s tourism board took notice. This isn’t a list of films that happened to use Thailand as scenery. Plenty have, and most changed nothing. This is about the handful that did: the ones that turned a cinema seat into a boarding pass and a scene into a bucket-list photo, before the government eventually stopped watching from the sidelines and started engineering the effect. Call it set-jetting or film-induced tourism; either way, films have been shaping Thai travel itineraries since 1957. 1957: the film that renamed a river Photograph: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)The set-jetting guide to Thailand Start with the strangest case of all: it wasn’t even filmed in Thailand. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was shot in Sri Lanka, won  seven Oscars and told a heavily fictionalised story of the Death Railway – the brutal Second World War line built by Allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers under Japanese occupation, whose construction killed well over 100,000 people. Photograph: Niels MickersThe set-jetting guide to Thailand   Then came the real plot twist. The bridge is in Kanchanaburi, but the river was never call

Every Thai kid of a certain generation knows the scene: sitting cross-legged in front of the TV, remote ready, waiting for the theme song that made everything else wait. Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon had their place, but Thailand had its own universe of  Channel 3 line-ups, homegrown studios and characters who felt like neighbours. Most never entirely disappeared. YouTube has become an accidental childhood archive, with official releases, scattered uploads and more English dubs or subtitles than you might expect, often free to watch.  For anyone now in their early 20s, this is a nostalgic guide to the Thai cartoons that defined childhood – what still holds up, what remains Thai-only and where to find each one today.

Chestnut ice cream, craft-soda sorbet, chocolate and yet more ice cream – with steamed buns, vinyl and sunset cocktails breaking up the sugar rush. Eight Song Wat stops, one afternoon and no time to dawdle. Song Wat Road runs about 1.2 kilometres between Chinatown and the river, making  it a natural walking route rather than a checklist. Laid out under King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) after a major fire that swept through Sampheng, the road is said to follow a line he personally traced on a royal map – hence Song Wat, roughly ‘drawn by the king’. Its first section was completed in 1892 and the road reached its present form in 1907, becoming a vital commercial artery as the district rebuilt around it. For much of the next century, Song Wat simply got on with business: warehouses, gold traders, family-run shophouses and goods moving in from the river.  Then came the street artists and coffee roasters. In 2022, local Kiattiwat Srichanwanpen launched a community initiative that has grown from 10 businesses to around 60.  This crawl came down to eight stops in four hours. I started around 2pm and needed to leave before 6pm, so allow at least four hours: three and a half is possible only if you keep every stop brisk. Give yourself longer if you’d rather linger, check each venue’s opening hours before setting out and don’t cut it so fine that you miss golden hour at Sober Record Bar – that would defeat the point of all the rushing.

This isn’t a guidebook, and nothing here is ranked. These are eight places we visited for one very specific, sometimes slightly odd reason – a coffee shop, a guitar store, a Buddha with a secret. Each time, that reason turned out to be the smallest part of the story. Treat the excuses below as a starting point: we’ve dug into what’s actually waiting once you walk through the door.

Somewhere around the third rewatch of a LISA video, it hits you: that alley looks extremely familiar. Bangkok has been moonlighting as one of pop’s favourite film sets – and not in a ‘look at our skyline’ way. Directors keep returning for the stranger stuff: abandoned malls, brutalist office blocks, a fire station and a night market full of second-hand engine parts. Something about the city’s particular brand of decay photographs beautifully. And it isn’t only K-pop, although K-pop has clearly got the memo. Troye Sivan shot much of ‘Got Me Started’ here. Agust D wandered through Chinatown’s old scrap-metal quarter for one of his most stripped-back visuals. LOONA treated the whole city like a mood board in 2020. The Thailand Film Office counted 26 international music-video shoots during the first eight months of 2024 alone – nine of them South Korean. Bangkok isn’t merely a backdrop any more; it’s practically a recurring cast member. So here’s the tour: the buildings, streets and rooftops you’ve spotted without knowing it, and the songs that put them on screen.

Something exciting is happening in Bangkok’s restaurants: the food is only half the story. Walk into the right place and you’ll find a building with a century of memories in its walls, ingredients a chef drove three hours to bring back or a family recipe they have dared to reinvent. These five restaurants make every meal part of a bigger, deeply personal narrative. What stayed with us wasn’t the plating or the price tag, but the radically different ways they interpret ‘Thai food’ – and how a grandmother’s cooking, an old family pharmacy  or a cache of nearly forgotten recipes found its way to our table. Here’s where to find them and why they’re worth crossing town for.

Photograph: random thoughtsBangkok ‘It made New York, Paris or London, overall, feel very old.’  The anonymous writer behind Random Thoughts wasn't trying to insult three of the world's most celebrated, greatly loved cities – they were simply describing how Bangkok felt against their experience of New York and Paris: spontaneous, open and startlingly modern. The diary-like Random Thoughts account is better known for intimate, diary-style observations than provocative city rankings. This time, though, a few frank lines put Bangkok ahead of New York, Paris and London. ‘It made New York, Paris or London, overall, feel very old.’    The writer’s identity remains secret by design – more on that later – but they currently live in Paris and have also lived in New York. Sure, it’s one traveller’s opinion – a hot take, breezing in, perhaps. A personal, subjective view, and hey, everyone’s entitled to their feelings. But those names being dropped come with some context. This is someone who actually knows those cities, has lived in them, and still felt Bangkok was worth raving about. The post travelled well beyond its devoted readership, too – and the comments are still trickling in. ‘What blew my mind was the flow and spontaneity of the city, how you mix high and low,’ they say. ‘This was very new, very fresh and very modern for me.’ Paris and New York are both ‘having some kind of a renaissance’, they add, but this (Bangkok’s) energy is harder to find there.’   ‘Best meals ever’ Pho

You’ve probably walked past them, posed for a photo on the way to check-in. The towering, fanged, brilliantly colourful giants across Suvarnabhumi’s fourth-floor departure hall have watched over travellers for two decades. They may look like elaborate airport decorations, but there’s much more to them . Each of the 12 statues is a named character from the Ramakien, Thailand’s national epic and retelling of the Indian Ramayana. These giants – known as yak, or Yaksha – appear on both sides of the war between the noble Phra Ram and the ten-headed demon king Tosakan. Tosakan’s abduction of Phra Ram’s wife, Sida, sets off a battle involving armies, magic weapons and supernatural powers . Suvarnabhumi’s statues are replicas of figures at Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In Thai belief, giants like these have long guarded temple gates, keeping evil spirits from crossing the threshold. Airports of Thailand placed them at the airport in the same protective tradition, watching over travellers as they depart and return home . Face colour, weapon and posture identify each giant, along with a distinct rank and backstory. Walk the row from one end of the departure hall to the other and it becomes a roll call of the Ramakien’s giant cast .

Craving ice cream? Course you are. Bangkok has a way of sending even the most grown-up among us in search of something cold and sweet  – and the city’s gelato scene has never offered more ways to cool down, dairy-free included. The only problem is choosing. We’ve rounded up the spots worth seeking out, whether you fancy a cone or cup of the good stuff, soft-serve that actually delivers, a cheeky ice cream sandwich or a sundae big enough to share (or not). The choices border on absurd, in a good way: brioche and tacos, fairy floss clouds, candied bacon, charcoal, sea salt and ube. However you roll, here are 16 of the best gelato and ice cream spots across Bangkok and the greater metro area. Still undecided? You can always turn to our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of the best things to do in Bangkok. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, straight to your inbox.

Bangkok is having a little Wong Kar-wai moment. This August, Skyline Film brings Chungking Express, In the Mood for Love and Fallen Angels to Shanghai Mansion Bangkok, turning the 1930s Yaowarat hotel into an open-air cinema with the old-Chinatown atmosphere that makes Wong’s films so magnetic. It follows House Samyan’s recent Christopher Doyle retrospective, celebrating the cinematographer whose dreamy, neon-soaked images helped define Wong’s visual language. The timing makes sense: Bangkok doesn’t merely look a little Wong Kar-wai; it was part of his cinematic world. Although In the Mood for Love is set in 1960s Hong Kong, some exterior scenes were filmed here, where old shophouses, narrow lanes and faded corners could still evoke another era. That connection feels natural. Like Wong’s Hong Kong, Bangkok is a city of layers: Chinese heritage, ageing buildings, glowing signs and stories unfolding after dark. It takes little for Bangkok to slip into a Wong Kar-wai frame. Add sunset and a little rain, then wander beyond the temples and rooftop bars to find neon-lit corners, old streets and quiet moments that feel like scenes waiting to happen. Here are eight places to seek out at dusk.

Bangkok sprouts new towers every year, cafés come and go at dizzying speed and even its oldest  neighbourhoods keep getting glossy makeovers. Yet beneath the bustle are pockets of the city that have barely changed in more than a century. Behind high walls, iron gates and shady old trees, the palaces and royal residences of Bangkok’s past still stand – looking remarkably grand and holding tight to their stories as the city rebuilds around them. Some once housed kings; others were home to royal relatives before becoming museums, government offices or public spaces you can wander into today. So, if you fancy swapping the mall for somewhere with a little more history, here are five old Bangkok palaces worth the trip.

Every August 12, Bangkok turns a soft shade of blue as flags go up, jasmine garlands bloom on car mirrors and shopfronts, and the city celebrates Wan Mae – Thailand’s Mother’s Day The date honours the birthday of the late Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. First observed in April 1950, Wan Mae moved to August 12 in 1976 to coincide with her birthday.  Queen Sirikit, whose death in October 2025 was mourned across Thailand, spent decades championing rural craftspeople and traditional textiles. Revered as the ‘Mother of the Nation’, she helped turn her birthday from a public holiday into a wider celebration of motherhood. That brings us to the word แม่ – mae. One of the first words most Thai children learn, it carries affection, authority and the promise of comfort food all at once. It appears not only at home but on shopfronts, sauce bottles and restaurant signs across Bangkok, usually signalling something made with care from a recipe nobody is allowed to mess with. A mae brand suggests a woman behind it who started small, got the recipe right and kept going. Here are five Thai food names that wear their mae proudly – and the stories of the women behind them.

By Krusty, the day’s sugar-to-coffee ratio had tipped decisively towards sugar, and I wasn't complaining This small, newly opened café is pastel, pared-back and naturally photogenic, with proper fried ice cream as the draw. It is not one of Song Wat’s loud, long-established names; it is a quiet, cute stop for anyone café-hopping through the neighbourhood, which was precisely why it worked before the afternoon changed gear. 1222/3 Song Wat Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100. Daily, 11am–7pm.

Hidden down an unmarked alley, Choch is devoted to Thai bean-to-bar chocolate made with cacao from provinces including Lamphun and Chumphon. The staff are happy to explain each bar’s origins. I chose the Choco Roselle, although the King Thangkwian with manuka honey was tempting, and paired it with a matcha canelé that disappeared almost immediately.  1192 Song Wat Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100. Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Friday-Sunday 10am-7pm.

Koff & Bun occupies a converted shophouse, all exposed brick, wooden tables and the low hum of a hard-working espresso machine. Its coffee pedigree includes the 2018 Thailand National Roasting Championship, and the menu ranges from espresso and Americano to Brazil-Laos and 2449 Thailand house blends, both favouring chocolate and caramel over bright acidity. The reason to stop, though, is the pairing: traditional Chinese steamed buns – black sesame, custard, salted egg and pork among them – served with specialty coffee. Old and new share a plate on a street whose revival rests on exactly that combination. 983/2 Song Wat Rd., Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100. Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-6pm.

Next came Gu Long Bao, which handles the sweet-versus-savoury question better than anywhere else on the route. It has made Teochew-style steamed buns for more than a century, and you can watch them being folded through the window if you time it right. Sweet potato gives the dough its pale-gold colour and gentle sweetness; fillings run from minced pork and salted egg to black sesame and taro. The order to remember is shumai balanced on a glass of iced Thai milk tea – a savoury dumpling riding above a sweet, creamy drink and somehow making sense from the first sip. Seating is scarce, so grab yours and keep walking. 983 Song Wat Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100. Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, closed Sunday.

I started at Nuury Chest Nut, the kind of place best tackled with an empty stomach and a clear head. Open since 2000, it hides down Trok Saphan Yuan, a small alley off the main road.  The shophouse feels part living room, part old office, with patterned floor tiles, marble tables and shelves of old teapots and brass ornaments. Its menu revolves around chestnuts spooned over ice cream – an oddly specific premise that makes perfect sense once you’’re holding a tub. A few seats in the alley let you watch Song Wat go by, and this street always provides something to look at. 206 Trok Saphan Yuan, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100. Monday–Saturday, 8am-5pm; Sunday, 8am-4pm.

There’s a suspicious amount packed into Lido Connect’s second floor. In one run of shopfronts, Nailvana does nail art; Xanap, develops actual rolls of 35mm film; Unisound Bangkok sells second-hand Japanese guitars and other instruments; and RENTROOM fills curated racks with vintage and Y2K clothing. Add rotating small Thai labels including Unfound Project, Blulagoon and 22 October Group, and you have a floor held together by one idea: ‘things a slightly niche Bangkok 20-something would actually want’. Nothing feels mall consultant-approved. It’s more as if a group of friends were handed shopfronts and told to sell whatever they were already obsessed with. Address: 2/F, Lido Connect, 256 Rama I Road, Siam Square (between Soi Siam Square 2 and 3) Hours: Most second-floor shops open roughly 11am-8pm, though times vary by tenant; check individual Instagram pages before visiting Read: ‘Bangkok's 10 best film labs’ by Tita Honghirunkham, Feature Writer. Read: ‘The best vintage shops in Bangkok’ by Kraprib Premsinee, Writer.

This Rama V-era palace comprises two main buildings: Chitralada Hall, originally built as a residence for King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), and Paruskavan Hall, home to Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanadh. Chitralada Hall now houses the Royal Thai Police Museum, while Paruskavan Hall is used by the National Intelligence Agency. The main draw is the route through Chitralada Hall, where floor arrows lead visitors room by room around an Italian villa-style building that blends Art Nouveau, Baroque and Rococo influences. Guides stationed throughout explain the palace’s history and each space. Pause in the former dining hall: after the 1932 revolution, the People’s Party used it as a meeting place, earning it the nickname ‘Thailand's first government house’. Continue to the Police Museum for uniforms, equipment and historical documents tracing the development of Thai policing, alongside  reconstructions of past cases and displays on different areas of police work. A visit is more than a wander through an old palace – it is a compact lesson in Thai political and social history. Thanon Si Ayutthaya, Dusit, Bangkok. Tuesday to Friday, 10am-4pm. Free entry.

You may have driven along Thanon Ratchawithi and spotted a pointed spire rising above the trees without knowing what it belongs to. That is Phaya Thai Palace, where European grandeur meets leafy garden charm. Construction began under Rama V before the palace was extensively remodelled under Rama VI. It has since served as a royal residence, hotel and, later, part of Phramongkutklao Hospital. Its defining landmark is Phiman Chakri Throne Hall and its tower, while the Roman Garden convincingly evokes a European courtyard. After exploring, stop for coffee at Café Norasingh, set inside a characterful  historic building and well suited to lingering over the view. Thanon Ratchawithi, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok. Saturdays and Sundays only. Two sessions: 9am-11am and 1.30pm-3pm.

A century-old palace hides in plain sight within the Bank of Thailand’s riverside grounds, unknown even to many Bangkokians. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) commissioned Bang Khun Phrom Palace as a residence for Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, and it is often ranked among Thailand’s most beautiful palaces. The building is a time capsule of late-19th-century European design, confidently blending Baroque and Rococo influences. Ornate stucco, arched windows, marble staircases, carved wooden doors and elaborately decorated ceilings fill the interiors. The grand staircase starts broad and narrows as it rises, echoing Europe’s great palaces and theatres, while the circular, European-style Music Pavilion once hosted performances at royal receptions. Following the political changes of the 1930s, the palace served as government offices before the Bank of Thailand moved in in 1945 and eventually turned it into the Bank of Thailand Museum. Guided tours cover the palace’s history, life within its walls and the development of Thailand’s monetary system – an unusual meeting of grand architecture and financial history. Thanon Samsen, Wat Sam Phraya, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. Saturdays and Sundays only, by advance booking. Two sessions: 10.30am and 2.30pm. Free entry.

The beating heart of royal Bangkok – and still unlike anywhere else in the city. Built when King Rama I founded Rattanakosin, the Grand Palace housed Thai kings for generations. Although no longer a full-time royal residence, it still hosts major state ceremonies and remains one of Thailand’s most-visited landmarks, with good reason. Step inside and the first thing that hits you is the sheer amount of gold, with roofs and spires catching the light in every direction. Glazed tiles, mirrored mosaics and intricate details cover the buildings. The complex is divided into outer, middle and inner courts, with highlights including Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat, Phra Thinang Dusit Maha Prasat and the Phra Maha Monthien group. Don’t skip Wat Phra Kaew itself. Its Rattanakosin-era craftsmanship is extraordinary, from gilded chedis and coloured glasswork to a spectacular ordination hall. Around the cloisters runs the Ramakien mural, a continuous painted retelling of Thailand’s version of the Ramayana and one of the world’s longest and most complete murals of its kind. Ancient stone sculptures from several countries dot the grounds, making the complex feel less a single attraction than an archive of Thai heritage. Phra Borommaharatchawang Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. Daily, 8.30am-3.30pm. Free for Thai nationals; B500 for non-Thai visitors.

Suan Sunantha Palace is now best known as the home of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, but it was once an inner royal residence, with halls and living quarters for female members of the royal family. Sai Sudthanophadol Hall has been preserved as a museum documenting the daily lives of women at the royal court through clothing, personal belongings, handicrafts and household objects. Downstairs displays everyday items, clothes and the kitchen; upstairs recreates the private living quarters including a bedroom, bathroom, reception room and sitting room, offering a close-up look at court life. This is said to be the birthplace of nam phrik long ruea (literally ‘chilli paste that sailed the boat’), a dish credited to Chao Chom Sadap during the reign of Rama V. She reportedly transformed leftover kitchen ingredients into a dish fit for the King during a river outing, creating an enduring royal-court classic. Suan Sunantha Palace is also remembered as a centre for training young noblewomen. The phrase sao chao wang (‘palace girl’) became shorthand for a distinctly Thai grace and refinement. The museum’s clothes, objects and old photographs evoke the elegance and the discipline of daily palace life. Thanon U Thong Nok, Dusit, Bangkok. Monday to Friday, 9am-3.30pm. Free entry.

Khaan’s premise is an act of translation: bringing Thai street food to the fine-dining table without stripping away what made it street food in the first place. Chef Aom Sujira Pongmorn – the first recipient of Michelin’s Young Chef Award – has built a zero-waste tasting menu around regional Thai ingredients sourced from across the country, with biodynamic wine or tea pairings. Grilled rice paddy crab from Singburi farmers,served with sticky rice, directly references the way the dish is eaten on the streets of central Thailand. The restaurant’s name means both ‘tiger’ and ‘to proclaim’ in Thai, which feels apt: this is Thai cuisine with something to say, served in a two-storey house on a quiet, tree-lined soi that feels far removed from the traffic outside. Khaan, 14/3 Soi Somkid, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok.  

Some films fade. Love of Siam still hasn’t. When Chookiat Sakveerakul’s coming-of-age drama opened in November 2007, its gay romance was largely absent from the marketing. Audiences discovered it mid-film, stirring controversy before the reviews turned to acclaim. By the end of awards season, it had swept Best Picture at Thailand’s major national film awards. Nearly two decades later, it is often credited with helping clear a path for Thailand’s booming Boys’ Love industry. For a generation shaped by Siam Square, it remains the local coming-of-age film against which the rest are measured.  We spoke to Pich Witwisit about what Love of Siam still means nearly two decades on – read the interview here. Now GMMTV is giving the story a second life on stage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GMMTV (@gmmtv) GMMTV has confirmed Love of Siam The Musical, a stage adaptation at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre. The  announcement has the pull of an old cassette rediscovered – the same melody and ache, ready to play again. Production details remain scarce. Fans are already wondering how the musical will recreate Siam Square, handle songs including ‘Gun Lae Gun’ and ‘Piang Ter’ and bring Mew, Tong, Ying and Sunee to the stage. It is a demanding film to adapt without flattening its emotional weight, but  GMMTV has picked a title with a devoted audience and plenty to argue about. For now, the dates and venue are confirmed: Love of Siam The Musical runs at Muangthai Ra

Thailand’s book world rarely does things quietly. The 31st National Book Fair – officially Book Expo Thailand 2026 – takes over Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from October 23-November 1, with ten days of books, comics, manga, BL titles, children’s reads, second-hand finds and foreign-language editions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thai Book Fair (@thaibookfair) The numbers from the previous edition set a fairly daunting benchmark. The 30th National Book Fair in March drew more than 1.5 million visitors over 11 days and generated more than B474 million in sales – both record figures for PUBAT, the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand. More than seven in ten visitors were Gen Z, while horror and detective fiction were among the strongest-selling genres. So much for the image of book fairs as hushed affairs populated mainly by people browsing poetry . This edition is slightly shorter at ten days, filling  Halls 5-7 on QSNCC’s LG floor. The familiar seven-zone format returns, covering general books and fiction, Wonder Y – the fair’s dedicated BL/yaoi section – Book Wonderland for comics and teen reads, children’s and educational books, second-hand titles and a foreign-language section for anyone looking to stock up on English or Japanese books . This year’s theme is ‘Unread Messages’, playing on the idea that opening a book can feel like finally around to a message that has been waiting for you. PUBAT has carried the con

Bangkok International Film Festival 2026 opens on September 13 with a film already carrying some serious momentum: Thailand’s official Oscar submission, 9 Temples to Heaven. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BKKIFFofficial (@bkkiffofficial) Sompot Chidgasornpongse's Cannes-premiered family drama leads the opening at ICONSIAM, where Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi will preside over the ceremony. The red carpet unfolds beside the Chao Phraya River, with international actors arriving by boat to dock at the venue – a suitably cinematic start for a festival still rebuilding its scale after several years away. From there, BKKIFF runs until September 27, with more than 150 films screening across Doc Club & Friends, Samyan Mitrtown, Paragon Cineplex and CentralWorld’s SF World Cinema. Screenings, Q&As and competition strands run daily, making this a city-wide festival rather than a single-cinema showcase. The Oscar connection gives this edition an especially strong opening hook.  9 Temples to Heaven was selected from a shortlist of eight films by Thailand’s National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations following wins at Shanghai and New Zealand and a Directors' Fortnight premiere at Cannes – the first Thai film in that section in 19 years. Its BKKIFF screening comes just days before its nationwide release on September 17. For a festival only in its second year back, opening with a film already attracting that level

Thailand has chosen a Cannes-premiered family pilgrimage drama for the 99th Academy Awards – months before most local audiences have had the chance to see it. Photograph: 9 Temples to Heaven, 2026Thailand’s Oscar 9 Temples to Heaven has been selected by the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations as Thailand’s official submission for Best International Feature Film. The announcement follows a festival run spanning Cannes, Shanghai and New Zealand, all before the film’s Thai theatrical release . Written and directed by Sompot Chidgasornpongse, the film follows nine members of one family on a one-day pilgrimage to nine temples. They race to ‘make merit’ in the hope of changing the fate of their grandmother, who has been told she has little time left. The premise is rooted in Thai belief, though Sompot has described its underlying themes – family, faith and hope – as universal. That unusual route began with a world premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. It was the first Thai film selected for the section in 19 years, following Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s Ploy in 2007. As Sompot’s first narrative feature, it was also eligible for the Caméra d'Or. Photograph: 9 Temples to Heaven, 2026Thailand’s Oscar Awards followed at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, where Sompot won Best Director and lead actor Sompop Songkampol won Best Actor in the Golden Goblet Awards’ Asian New Talent competition. In New Zealand, the film later

If you’ve ever lost an evening scrolling through pictures of other people’s cats, this one’s for you. Ma Ma Meow brings more than 1,000 cat stamps from around the world to the Thailand Stamp Museum – proof that postal services everywhere share your priorities. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thai Stamp Museum (@thaistampmuseum) Meet the cats behind the stamps The centrepiece, ‘Every Cat Tells a Story’, spotlights 100 cats submitted by members of the public, each with a short story. Forget famous felines: these are ordinary cats curled up on someone’s sofa – arguably far more interesting if you’re a cat owner. There’s also a guide to 20 popular cat breeds for anyone keen to learn more about the animals behind the stamps.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thai Stamp Museum (@thaistampmuseum) Turn your own cat into a stamp The exhibition isn’t just for looking. At the ‘Make Your Cat Stamp’ station,  visitors can transform a photo of their cat into a stamp design, adding to the museum’s collection with every contribution. Elsewhere, ‘Meow Mission’ invites visitors to fold origami cats to add to the exhibition. Cat-loving collectors can also browse the new iStamp collection and hunt down a series of especially cute stamps around the museum. When: August 15–October 18, 2026; Wednesday–Sunday, 8.30am–4.30pm (closed Monday, Tuesday and public holidays) Where: Thailand Stamp Museum, Saphan Kwai, Bangkok. Nearest station: B

Prepare to gitchie gitchie ya-ya da-da: Moulin Rouge! The Musical has finally confirmed its Bangkok dates, taking over Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre from August 17 to September 12, 2027. Major international stage productions don’t visit the city nearly often enough, so this is big news. After conquering Broadway and the West End with rhinestones, romance and enough pop anthems to soundtrack a night out, the Tony-winning musical makes its Bangkok debut courtesy of Live Nation Tero. View this post on Instagram A post shared by เมืองไทยรัชดาลัย เธียเตอร์ (@rachadalai) Adapted from Baz Luhrmann’s gloriously excessive 2001 film, itself inspired by Paris’s legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret, this lavish jukebox spectacular whisks audiences to Belle Époque Paris. Penniless American writer Christian falls for Satine, the nightclub’s dazzling star, but romance quickly gets complicated: a possessive duke is circling, the club’s future hangs by a thread and every declaration of love comes wrapped in towering vocals and sequins. The production officially opened at Broadway’s at Al Hirschfeld Theatre in 2019 and won over critics and audiences. At the 2021, Tony Awards it collected 10 trophies, including Best Musical, cementing its place as one of modern theatre’s biggest crowd-pleasers. Now for the bit everyone’s been refreshing their feeds for: tickets. Presale for R Card members, Live Nation Tero members and sponsors run from September 14 to 27, 2026, followed by general sa

After decades of waiting, Thai volleyball fans finally have the news they’ve longed for: the national women’s team is going to the Olympics for the first time. The historic ticket was secured in a nail-biting final against hosts and 13-time Asian champions China at the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Asian Championship in Tianjin. Thailand prevailed 3-2 in a five-set thriller to win a fourth Asian title and successfully defend the crown they claimed in 2023. This was far more than another trophy. Thailand have competed on virtually every major stage, but the Olympic Games had always remained tantalisingly out of reach – until now. Credit, too, to Coach Aot, Kiattipong Ratchatakriangkrai, who returned for a second spell as head coach and steered the team to this landmark triumph. The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games run from July 14 to July 30, 2028. The women’s volleyball schedule and Thai broadcast details have yet to be announced. For now, start warming up those vocal cords. Team Thailand are about to take the Olympic court for the first time.

Yayoi Kusama died from multiple organ failure at a Tokyo hospital on August 14, aged 97, according to David Zwirner, the gallery that represented her. The Yayoi Kusama Museum and Foundation announced the news on August 27. As tributes pour in, here’s ours: a look back at Bangkok’s history with the Japanese artist – and where to see one of her pumpkins in the city today. Kusama grew up in Matsumoto, where visual hallucinations of dots and patterns began in childhood and became the language of her art. She moved to New York in 1957 in search of artistic freedom, then returned to Japan in 1973. Four years later, she voluntarily moved into a Tokyo psychiatric hospital, working from a nearby studio for the rest of her life. Bangkok had its own Kusama history: a 2005 show at 100 Tonson Gallery; Dots Obsession at BACC in 2009; giant pumpkins at CentralWorld and Siam Paragon for Bangkok Art Biennale 2018; and Louis Vuitton’s 101-pumpkin takeover at Parc Paragon in 2023. Most has since moved on: exhibitions end, installations are shipped elsewhere, and the Louis Vuitton screens at The Place nod to the collaboration rather than display original Kusama works. One thing remains, though. Fittingly, it’s a pumpkin.   Where to see Yayoi Kusama in Bangkok right now The pumpkin at Siam Patumwan House Photograph: Siam Motors GroupBangkok At the time of writing, this is the only Kusama sculpture we could confirm is still standing in Bangkok. JWD Art Space handled the import, transport and ins

Photograph: TATBangkok There’s something oddly thrilling about visting a museum after dark. Samut Prakan’s Naval Museum normally closes at 3pm on weekdays and doesn't open at all on public holidays. It’s a quiet, formal place built to preserve rather than perform.  That’s what makes Pai Kan Prakan (ไปกันปราการ) Eastern Flavour Fest so enticing. For three nights, the museum stays open until 9pm and takes on a completely different character after sunset. Much of the appeal lies in the setting. At night, the seaplanes, submarine conning tower, tanks and guns scattered across the lawn look very different from how they do at 10am. Then there’s a replica of the Royal Barge procession staged with a light-and-sound show, plus LUMINA DREAM, a glowing installation shaped like a water droplet. Together, they turn the museum visit into a proper night out. Inside, the permanent collection remains the heart of the museum. Founded in the 1940s, it traces naval history through uniforms, navigation instruments and weaponry once used by the Royal Thai Navy. There are also scale models of ships that have appeared in the Royal Barge procession since the reign of King Rama V. The standout is the preserved conning tower of HTMS Machanu, one of Thailand’s first four submarines and one of the rarest exhibits you’ll find in the country – worth building your visit around, event or no event.   Across all three evenings, concerts, performances and a good spread of food stalls add to the after-hours a

Bruno Mars just made Bangkok’'s April 2027 calendar much more interesting. The Romantic Tour – which has already broken Ticketmaster’s single-day sales record – is coming to Rajamangala National Stadium on April 24 and 25. The two Bangkok concerts are part of a new 26-date expansion spanning Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Mexico City. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Live Nation Tero (@livenationth) This is the first time in nearly a decade that Mars has toured behind a new album. His fourth solo record, The Romantic, became his first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, while singles ‘I Just Might’ and ‘Risk It All’ have topped charts across Apple Music, Spotify and Billboard. Anderson .Paak will join every newly announced date as DJ Pee.Wee, including for both Bangkok shows. Live Nation Tero is promoting the Thailand concerts. Where and when: Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, April 24 and 25, 2027 How to get Bruno Mars Bangkok tickets: Tickets will be sold exclusively through ticketmaster.co.th. There will be no-box office sales or physical tickets; all tickets are mobile only. Artist presale: September 11, 2pm–September 12, 2pm (register at BrunoMars.com by September 7) Trip.com presale: September 11, 2pm–September 12, 2pm Live Nation Tero presale: September 11, 2pm–September 12, 2pm (free registration required) General sale: September 14, from noon Presale access does not guarantee a ticket: allocations are  limited and sold

Walk into Karmakamet’s Erawan branch and the usual perfume-counter script goes out the window. There is no talk of top notes or dry-downs; instead a wall holds 540 smells gathered from around the world. Some are familiar, many are bizarre and a few may prove impossible to unsmell. Among them are baby skin, cat urine, whale vomit, dog fur, beaver musk, banknotes and medical equipment. The scents are grouped by gender and ethnicity – an unusual curatorial choice for what is, technically, a quick mall detour. Some are instantly recognisable; others may have you checking the label twice. SCENTORIUM is more than a sniff-and-shrug exercise. A short personality quiz generates a scent profile, then sends you searching among all 540 smells for your match. Where: Karmakamet Erawan, Erawan Bangkok When: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm Cost: Free entry Booking: Required in advance via karmakamet.co.th/en/scentorium More info: @karmakamet on Instagram

‘The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club.’ The 1999 film Fight Club may ban the subject, but Bartender Fight gives Bangkok plenty to talk about. Nobody is entering this ring out of anger. By night, these bartenders pour drinks, hear strangers’ stories and build community from behind the bar. At Bartender Fight, they strap on head guards and gloves, then climb into the ring for the honour of the venues they represent. Photograph: Bar335Bartender Fight The Muay Thai spirit is central: every punch carries discipline, respect and heart. The opponents begin in opposite corners, but the final bell leaves more than a winner  – it celebrates the friendship forged in the ring. Bartender Fight Vol.2 stages 11 matches, each lasting one three-minute round. The first bout begins at 9.30pm and the last is scheduled for 11.25pm.  The card brings together bartenders from across Asia, including Speak Low Shanghai, venues from the Asia Today group and other leading regional names. Winners pose for photographs before the after-party takes over. Photograph: Bar335Bartender Fight Longnuamboyz, the boxing apparel and equipment brand from Ped–Thanapon Thanachenlert, Pe–Arak Amonsupasiri and Thamthai Pakplaeng (TIMETHAI), has supported Bartender Fight from the start, helping create a stage where bar culture meets the artistry of Muay Thai. Tickets are B1,500 for the general public or B1,200 for hospitality-industry guests, with two drinks included. Book via Line OA: @ba