Kaweewat Siwanartwong

Wake up, go to work, walk the dog, run errands, and somehow November is already in its second half. The month rushes past, leaving little time to pause, yet the weekend opens up spaces to wander, look, and move at a gentler pace. This weekend again, the Time Out team (me) has rounded up the best to make sure these days feel a little fuller, a little richer.  There is still plenty to occupy the senses. Alexander Coke Smith VI’s exhibition at Warehouse Talat Noi transforms the ground floor into a miniature history of Thai cities, from old Bangkok to provincial towns, each model precise yet whimsical, a testament to patience and imagination.  Not far from memory and craftsmanship, Song Wat Week stretches over four days along Songwat Road, a festival of heritage, food and art where narrow alleys reveal old shopfronts, unexpected murals and the gentle rhythm of a city slowing as the evening falls. Galleries’ Night, meanwhile, scatters over 80 spaces, inviting wandering between Silom, Sathorn and the riverside on one night, Sukhumvit, Ari and Pathum Wan on the next, where more than 200 artists bring walls and floors alive with colour, sound and light.  For something tactile, the Ploenchit Fair and 4 Yaek Flea Market offer pop-up stalls, vintage vinyl, furniture and street food, a mix of music and craft under fading sun. Ground Bangkok, Extension 4x4 presents 12 hours of live collaboration, sound and image, a laboratory of movement, dialogue and fleeting invention that keeps creativ

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

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

November in Bangkok means art season running at full tilt, with the city's beautiful contradictions on full display – gridlocked traffic outside, hushed white cube spaces within. Art lives everywhere here: sprawling museums with cathedral-high ceilings, scrappy project rooms above third-wave coffee spots, galleries that look structurally questionable yet house work capable of stopping you mid-stride. Need to feel confused, delighted, unsettled or quietly gutted? Bangkok's got you sorted. The range is genuinely unruly. One evening you're facing neon installations unpacking migration politics, next morning you're locked eyes with a centuries-old portrait that feels disturbingly alive. Contemporary pieces question what existing in this particular metropolis actually means, modernist works get reinterpreted for right now, and the odd old master hangs about with surprising swagger. What makes things tricky is sheer choice. New shows open constantly, so deciding where to spend your Saturday afternoon becomes its own minor ordeal. Consider this less a definitive ranking and more your orientation map through a city that simply won't quit making, showing and interrogating through visual culture, monsoon season be damned. Everything below we've visited personally, stood in front of and probably Instagram-stalked first. Every single exhibition here deserves your time. 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

As the country mourns the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, Bangkok's tempo shifts. Venues stay open and music still plays, but with a quieter grace. It's a month of small joys and thoughtful gatherings before the year slips away. Anyway, we're almost there – one month until NYE. November brings slightly cooler air, though 'cool' is pushing it. The 11th month unfolds with a gentler energy, making space for moments that feel both present and reflective. Kick things off with Ghost2568: Wish We Were Here, a surreal blend of art, nostalgia and light that lingers somewhere between memory and dream. Or escape reality altogether with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert, where the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra breathes life into John Williams' score beneath a 40-foot screen. For something warmer, TYLA's We Wanna Party Asia Tour lands in Bangkok – all amapiano shimmer and attitude. Transport stretches a disco-lit day across 14 hours of pure movement at Chang Chui. Then swap sequins for strings at the Southeastern Old Time Gathering, a weekend of bluegrass, Irish trad and old-time tunes that feel like they've travelled across centuries to reach you. Get out there, enjoy! Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.

Planning Halloween already? It maybe a little early, but the nights are drawing in, the air feels cooler, and before long, the season’s most mischievous celebration will be upon us. Thailand may not have the same obsession with ghosts and ghouls as other countries, but Bangkok knows how to throw a night worth remembering.  Soon enough, downtown Bangkok will shift into a carnival of costumes, flickering lights and characters that seem plucked from another world. Streets, bars, galleries and rooftops will offer everything from quirky pop-ups to immersive experiences, leaving little excuse not to get involved. It’s never too early to start plotting your own night of mischief, assembling your coven, or deciding which haunted corners of the city you’ll explore. Looking for something strange, eerie or delightfully absurd? Time Out Bangkok has your back. While we might not carry proton packs, we know where the best thrills are hiding. From haunted bars and rooftop rituals to costume competitions and spooky markets, our ever-growing guide will keep you informed and entertained. By the time the last lanterns flicker and the city’s ghosts retreat, you’ll know that Bangkok’s Halloween is not just a night on the calendar – it’s a festival of mischief, style and just enough fright to make it unforgettable.

In Bangkok, the music scene has transformed over the past few years, led by crews of DJs and collectives – both Thai and international, who are tackling imbalances in the industry by carving out their own creative corners. These collectives do more than play music: they build communities, experiment with sound and space, and create opportunities for voices too often overlooked. And the number of groups pushing this forward is far greater than most realise. Collectives are the empowering force. DIY at heart, they share resources, skills and ideas, providing spaces free from discrimination and harassment. Each crew has its own identity: some focus on multidisciplinary arts, others on workshops and mentoring, and some simply craft nights that feel electric and alive. What unites them is a vision of equality, inclusivity and diversity – for their members and for everyone who joins. Detour is the one for those chasing tracks you hear once and immediately need to know more. RomRom bends genres and expectation, from Bhangra to Brazilian hip-hop, creating nights defined by atmosphere rather than label. Non Non Non gives a queer sanctuary, where electronica, EBM and techno collide and the crowd feels at home. Kleaning Service turn up once a month with their offbeat 'cleaning' sessions, a tongue-in-cheek disguise for nights that refuse to behave predictably.  Transport, meanwhile, are a softer, warmer embrace of the dancefloor. moor brings underground international talent rarely seen i

October arrived with a bit of rain, but Bangkok doesn’t really do dull seasons. The city thrives on contrast – traffic outside, white-walled calm within. It’s a place where art lives in every possible corner: vast museums with echoing halls, hidden rooms above coffee shops, galleries that look like they might collapse yet hold works that could floor you. If you want to be confused, delighted, unsettled or quietly moved, this city rarely disappoints. The variety is unruly. One evening you might stumble across a show where neon tubes light up the politics of migration, the next morning you’re staring at a centuries-old portrait that feels impossibly alive. There’s contemporary work that questions what it means to exist in a city like this, modernism reinterpreted for the present, and the occasional old master hanging with surprising confidence. What complicates things is choice. With new exhibitions opening constantly, picking where to spend an afternoon can feel like work in itself. So think of this less as a definitive guide and more as a starting point – a way to orient yourself in a city that refuses to stop making, showing and questioning through art, no matter the weather. 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 October. Whether you're a regular gallery-goer or just art-curious, these are Bangkok’s best spots to live the ar

October in Bangkok doesn’t tip-toe in. As the rains finally turn polite and the air dries, the city arms itself with spectacles that crackle in neon, shadow and trembling melody. Museums open new worlds. Theatres unfurl fresh tales. Bars and cafes welcome midnight whispers. On the music front it’s chaos of the best kind. The Smashing Pumpkins return after nearly three decades, giving a set that could flicker from 1979 to their new rock-opera. Mariah Carey is back too, hair flips intact, marking 20 years since The Emancipation of Mimi with seven-octave theatrics Bangkok hasn’t seen in years.  Sean Paul finally touches down for his Thai debut, bringing the riddims that once soundtracked every school disco. Connan Mockasin drifts in with his woozy dream-funk, while Blackpink stage a three-night stadium takeover that will probably sell out faster than you can open a group chat. Over at the Contemporary World Film Series, Something Like an Autobiography plants its flag. Penned by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and his actress-wife Nusrat Imrose Tisha during lockdown, it folds their marriage into fiction, even as Farooki steps in front of the camera for the first time. It’s a quietly radical piece about memory, identity and how lives unspool when we least expect. And for those who sleep with their lights off: the Junji Ito Collection Horror House turns dreams into architecture. Over 1,500 square metres, you might find Tomie’s cursed beauty, balloon-headed predators or Souichi’s mischievous

Here we are again, only this time we’ve landed at Funky Lam Kitchen – a modern Laotian menu that doesn’t flinch from bold, full-throttle flavours. The cocktails and the wine list aren’t there to soothe but to spar, chosen deliberately to hold their ground against the fire. Step inside and you’re in a space that feels like someone’s memories turned into design: a renovated shophouse lined with old BMW motorbikes, walls hung with images that hint at histories both personal and political. Funky Lam isn’t simply another addition to Bangkok’s dining map. It’s the dream realised by Sanya Souvanna Phouma – the man who gave the city Bed Supperclub, Maggie Choo’s and Sing Sing – alongside his fellow Laotian partner Saya Na Champassak, whose grandmother, once the princess of the south, was famed for menus devised with the palace chef for royal tables. Together, they’ve built something more than a restaurant: a love letter to Lao cuisine, a revival staged with funk, grit and affection. Photograph: Funky Lam Kitchen And that’s why I’m here, to ask how two men who grew up in Paris, haunted by both French kitchens, the stories tucked between plates of olam and glasses of Beer Lao and Laotian memories, ended up here. The inheritance of nightlife and airways ‘It’s in my DNA,’ Sanya says when I ask if his father’s club influenced him. His father, Prince Panya Souvanna Phouma – Harvard graduate, son of a Prime Minister, head of Royal Laos Air – once co-owned The Third Eye, a psychedelic club

Let us tell you straight off: if someone in Thailand says they’ve never heard of Arak ‘Pae’ Amornsupasiri, I’d raise an eyebrow. He’s lived through so many chapters – starting out as a guitarist in Slur in the late ’90s, then branching into solo music and acting, and lately daring to helm his own films. His debut The Stone: Phra Tae Kon Ke didn’t just stir the Thai scene – it went international. We found a fitting place to talk in one go: REC.Bangkok, the sleek Wireless Road bar we’ve taken over for the afternoon. Its dim lights, sharp corners and relaxed energy felt like the perfect backdrop for Pae’s many facets – cool, intense, playful.   Photograph: STYLEdeJATE Each role, a fresh mountain to climb Pae isn’t someone you can pin down to one job description. Singer, actor, director – each title could be its own full-time career, yet he insists on doing all three. Not out of some restless inability to choose, but because every role offers him a new kind of friction to wrestle with. And he seems to enjoy the fight. What links these identities is a stubborn urge to not simply meet expectations but to vault quietly over them. As an actor, he’s always battling that silent question: how do you satisfy the director, the writer or the creative who hired you? Sometimes their request is modest, almost underwhelming. Yet Pae wants to push further, or at the very least match the depth of what they had in mind. When he switches to music, the challenge shapeshifts. He asks himself: how

If you wanted to make a film, how would you promote it? A trailer, perhaps. A poster campaign. A carefully timed festival debut. What you probably wouldn’t think of – unless you’re Note Pongsuang – is opening a bar. I’m sitting inside Doi Dum Punk, the small bar decorated with bits of art on the wall, newspaper pasted as wallpaper and a guitar that looks like it’s never been touched. Outside, a tag hangs on an electric post declaring, almost gleefully, ‘fun fact, punk is dead’. Before sitting down, Note handed me a hand-drawn tag with a list of movie roles to choose from: a lonely punk boy, a heartbreak monk, a drunk tourist or a mountain zombie. Of course, I go for an ‘undercover prostitute’. Now, with a gin and tonic in hand, I watch him talk through this improbable scheme with the easy certainty of someone who has, more than once, bent Bangkok nightlife into new shapes. Photograph: Note Dudesweet Photograph: Note Dudesweet Note is the founder of Dudesweet, a name still uttered like an inside joke that turned into a generational movement, and of National Bar, a space that looks like it tumbled out of his Silpakorn sketchbooks. As a living archive of the city’s indie scene, and for me – someone who grew up hearing stories of early-2000s warehouse parties with badly photocopied flyers – it feels like slipping behind the curtain of a myth. His legend is well known, but Doi Dum Punk, a pop-up bar designed to fund and promote a screenplay, is the reason I’m here with a came

The fourth annual Yuzu Safari returns to Bangkok, this time in collaboration with Masters of Food and Wine and led by Mason Florence, for a one-day celebration of Japan’s most aromatic citrus. Yuzu’s delicate tartness, floral notes and bright fragrance have inspired chefs and artisans for centuries, and here its legacy meets contemporary interpretation. Across the afternoon, leading chefs from Asia reveal their takes on the fruit through immersive workshops, a lively cocktail reception and a six-course dinner at Park Hyatt Bangkok, a space renowned for refined design and culinary excellence. A roving sake trolley offers keepsake cups, while wines curated by Jev, Koko Wines and Wine Garage, alongside artisanal Japanese vintages by Natan labels, weave through the menu. Namika Inoshita of Natan Wines brings Shikoku-grown natural wines that reflect craft and femininity, rounding the evening with elegance and depth. November 22. Starts at B6,750. Reserve via here. Park Hyatt Bangkok, 3pm-9.30pm

This November the cinema offers a French situational comedy that comes alive with eccentric characters and improbable incidents, Love Boat is a film that moves effortlessly between humour and warmth. At its centre is a boat journey designed to spark romance between Franck, a wealthy investor, and Justine, the woman who has captured his attention. The story unspools with a blend of chaos and charm, turning small misunderstandings into moments of laughter and gentle reflection. Critics have celebrated it, with Sortir à Paris calling it a cinematic adventure both hilarious and touching, and Filmhounds Magazine praising its ingenious and superbly absurd plot. The screening is supported by the Embassy of France, who will host a reception afterwards, with Ambassador HE Jean-Claude Poimboeuf introducing the film and offering a glimpse into the world that inspired this delightful and unpredictable comedy. November 22. Free and B20 at the door for non-TK Park members. Reserve via filmforum17@gmail.com. TK Park, Central World, 4pm

Last year 4 Yaek Flea Market became the city’s most talked-about weekend escape, a magnetic blend of cars and curios that drew crowds in droves. The concept was simple but irresistible: cool test-drive vehicles transformed into pop-up stalls, offering everything from second-hand clothes and vinyl to vintage furniture and home accessories. This year the spotlight shifts to the Motorcycle Booth, where sleek vintage bikes from Vesganworld take the rooftop, each paired with stalls selling goods straight from the machines themselves. The magic really hits at sunset, when the market glows under a warm light and the view stretches across the Ratchada to Rama 9 intersection. Beyond browsing, the market hums with energy from food and drink vendors, making it an ideal place to linger, watch the city pulse below and let the evening stretch out. November 22-23. Free. Fortune Town, 4pm-11pm

For 12 hours a room hums with creation as more than 24 artists from diverse disciplines converge, blending sound and visuals into a single, unfolding experiment. Noise, experimental rhythms and sculpted sonic textures collide with visual gestures, performance and installation, each contributing to a dialogue that exists only in the present. At the centre of this laboratory is a four by four metre stage, the core of Extension, where energy, movement and imagery speak as fluently as words. Every interaction becomes part of a larger composition, a live choreography of impulse and response, where spectators are invited to linger, watch and sometimes step into the flux. By the end the space vibrates with shared imagination, a fleeting but unforgettable testament to collaboration and creative risk. November 22. Free. Ground Bangkok, midday-midnight 

Since 1957 the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy has hosted one of Bangkok’s most enduring charity events, a fair that transforms a corner of the city into a hive of games, stalls, food and entertainment. It is a place where community spirit feels tangible, where laughter and the smell of street food mingle, all while raising funds for Thai organisations that rely on support. This year carries a quieter tone. In remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, the event will adapt to the national mourning period, moving with sensitivity through its usual bustle. Even so, the fair retains its warmth, a reminder that generosity and celebration can coexist, that joy can be gentle, and that a city’s heart is often measured by the small acts it sustains over decades. November 22. B125-250 via here. Bangkok Patana School, 10am onwards

From Ørsta, Norway, Skatebård has been reshaping dance music since the early 2000s, a producer who moves effortlessly between Italo disco, Detroit house and techno with playful precision. His breakout Skateboarding Was a Crime in 1989 set the tone, and a steady stream of releases across Digitalo Enterprises, Sex Tags Mania and Bordello A Parigi has only expanded his universe. On stage his sets oscillate between kitsch and elegance, raw grooves and futuristic melodies colliding to produce moments of pure joy. Sharing the floor are MJMA, Prom Night and Mumsfilibaba. MJMA injects high-voltage energy and dark-textured selections, Prom Night blends sleazy disco with acid and modern twists, and Mumsfilibaba drifts through dreamy Italo and house, turning the night into an unpredictable, celebratory rhythm that lingers long after the last beat. November 21. B300-500 via here. Beamcube, 9pm onwards

Bangkok opens its arms to UK legend Jerome Hill, a figure who has carried the pulse of the rave scene since the 1990s. His impact on a dancefloor is magnetic, a mix of raw energy, fearless track choices and a rhythm that feels alive and constantly shifting. Jerome does not follow trends, he bends them, and every set is unmistakably his own, a testament to decades spent shaping how people move and feel. The evening begins with SaoTeknik, spinning vinyl-only minimal tech house that teases the night into motion, drawing the crowd into a steady groove before Jerome takes over. By the time the main act hits, the room feels suspended, a space where sound and body merge and time itself seems to surrender to the beat. November 21. B300-500 via here. Siwilai Radical Club, 9pm onwards

Niks Anuman, the man behind Teens of Thailand, Asia Today, G.O.D., Independence and Tax, leads an official Nightify bar crawl through Soi Nana and promises to push the street into glorious chaos. The main journey is a private affair limited to 30 guests, guided by Niks himself. You get to hear the stories behind the concepts, get deep dives into the ideas, sip special pours and share a drink with the man who helped shape Bangkok’s cocktail culture. If you prefer freedom, a self-crawl ticket lets you wander 15 bars at your own pace, each stop offering a perk or two. By the end, the street is a river of people, laughter and liquid daring, and Bangkok will not know what hit it. November 21. B390-590 via here. Starts at Teens of Thailand, 8pm onwards 

Bangkok’s streets move at their own rhythm, a blend of chaos, charm and ritual that caught the eye of London-based photographer Barry Macdonald. Fascinated by the wai, he began to see it not merely as a greeting but as a cultural language, layered with subtlety and history. His project Sawadee captures this gesture across the city, exploring what it communicates and how it adapts to modern life. In the exhibition, the wai appears in surprising contexts: marking social hierarchy between friends, elders and monks, performing in muay Thai or khon, offering comfort in massage parlours, or appearing in mascots, public signs and LINE stickers. Even as younger generations use it less, the wai remains a quietly potent emblem, a gesture instantly recognisable and deeply entwined with Thai identity. Until December 14 2026. Free. Palette Art Space, 4pm-9pm

Urban Canvas Pavilion at One Bangkok Park has never been a passive backdrop. The structure folds, shifts and stretches as if testing the limits of its own skin, an architectural gesture that hints at a building capable of travelling if it ever grew restless. That restlessness becomes the pulse of a new contemporary exhibition where three artists respond to the pavilion’s shapeshifting spirit. Parvit Pichienrangsan, Waritsara Jirattitijaroen and Jeanne Penjan Lassus turn movement into language, tracing states of becoming through installations that drift between material and emotion. Their works examine how transformation can feel abrupt or barely perceptible, like a thought changing course mid-sentence. Guest curator Mary Pansanga gathers these voices into a loose constellation, allowing the pieces to converse with the pavilion itself as it quietly rearranges the space around them. November 20-23. Free. One Bangkok Park, 10am-10pm

Connection is rarely tidy and almost never quiet, which is precisely why this exhibition lingers in the mind long after you leave it. Spread across the room are 74 photographs shaped by the eyes of 30 photographers and the steady hands of 20 riggers Each image holds a moment where bodies, wires and emotion collide. The pictures move between tenderness and strain, showing how intimacy can sharpen or soften depending on the angle. Some frames feel like overheard confessions, others resemble scenes from a play that never made it to stage. Together they form a study of human expression that refuses to settle for easy sentiment. Instead the show leans toward tension as a kind of truth, suggesting that connection is born as much from friction as it is from comfort. Until November 30. Free. Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, 10am-8pm

Central Chidlom has decided to suspend reality for a moment and turn its ground floor into something resembling a spell gone slightly rogue. For a short run, the space becomes a portal to the world of Wicked: For Good, inviting visitors to wander through a virtual reconstruction of scenes that once belonged only to cinema screens and fan forums. Elphaba and Glinda reappear as if mid-conversation, their long-tangled histories rendered in glowing detail that feels both theatrical and strangely intimate. The installation ends with the film’s sweeping conclusion, a final gesture that slips between spectacle and sentiment, leaving you unsure where the illusion stops. Until November 30. Free. Central Chidlom, 10am-10pm

After 55 years, one of electronic music's most groundbreaking acts is finally heading to Bangkok. Kraftwerk, the German pioneers who basically invented the blueprint for everything from techno to EDM – are bringing their Kraftwerk Multimedia Tour 2026 to Thailand. If you're not familiar, Kraftwerk have been at it since the ‘70s, crafting those instantly recognisable synthesiser sounds and robotic vocals that changed music forever. Their influence is everywhere: synth-pop, electro, industrial, house. Basically every genre that uses a drum machine owes them a debt. But what makes them properly special is how they stripped everything back to its essentials, creating these hypnotic, repetitive patterns that feel almost mathematical in their precision. It's rare to catch a band this influential playing Bangkok, especially one that treats their performances like proper multimedia art installations. If you've ever wanted to experience 'Autobahn' or 'The Model' in person whilst being completely mesmerised by cutting-edge visuals, this is your moment. Here's everything you need to know about getting tickets. When are Kraftwerk performing in Bangkok? Kraftwerk are bringing their legendary live experience to Bangkok for a single performance on Sunday May 10 2026. Where is Kraftwerk performing in Bangkok? German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk will perform at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. When are the tickets on sale? Tickets go on sale via Thaiticketmajor and Trip.com from

After months of cryptic teases about some enormous new venue, FVTURE Bangkok is finally throwing open its doors on December 30. The 6,000-capacity beast is billing itself as Asia's first 'hyperclub' of this scale, packed with enough tech to make even the most jaded raver pause mid-sip. We're talking the first L2 and L2D L-Acoustics system in the region (that's over 40 subwoofers for those keeping score) comes with a 500sqm LED wall up front and another 500sqm of modular LED lighting scattered throughout. Essentially, it's a 360-degree sensory assault in the best possible way. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FVTURE (@fvture.bkk) For the grand opening they've secured ARTBAT, the Ukrainian duo whose melodic techno has turned them into Beatport chart fixtures. Artur and Batish have credentials, their productions consistently dominate the platform's top sellers – so expect them to give all that hardware a thorough workout. Supporting is Thailand's own Nakadia, a veteran selector who's been flying the flag for Thai dance music internationally for over two decades. Given the sheer scale and all that kit, this is clearly designed to compete with Europe's big superclubs rather than Bangkok's more intimate haunts. The opening night should give us a good sense. Early bird tickets are going for B1,300 on Ticketmelon (though you'll need to arrive before 10.30pm to snag them). Standard entry sits at B1,300 as well, whilst VIP standing goes for B2,000.

People from Suan Luang Rama IX know it well – the big festival that kicks off every December when botanical event takes over the park. This year it runs December 1-10. The Suan Luang Rama IX Botanical Festival starts as a showcase of the garden's star specimens before morphing into something between a plant market and seasonal celebration. You'll find stalls flogging gorgeous greenery and flowers at decent prices, handy when you can't be bothered driving across town. There's local food to try, photo spots dotted about and displays from government departments alongside private businesses. Photograph: Supakitpit Akbanjod Locals who turn up annually already know what to expect. For this neighbourhood, it feels like a reunion. You'll spot families from Prawet wandering together, all dressed up nicely exploring the grounds with neighbours, people from Samut Prakan arriving early to spend entire days here. These scenes have become part of the furniture for residents. What's actually lovely is that it happens in a garden, nudging Thais who usually do weekend loops round shopping centres to visit a stunning green space instead.  A massive garden, solid event, not too far from the city – it’s no wonder so many people mark it in their calendars. Suan Luang Rama IX Botanical Festival runs December 1-10. Entry is B20 per person. MRT Yellow Line, Suan Luang Rama IX Station.

Morlam, that folk performance art and vocal music from Thailand's northeast and Laos, is having a crack at turning this traditional form into what they're calling ‘the melody of life’. Traditional culture reimagined without the usual nostalgia trip? Rare enough to be worth your time. There are just two performances on November 24 and 25 at Bangkok Kunsthalle, and calling it Molam Collective actually undersells what Jitti Chompee and Alexandre Fandard have managed here. Chompee, who runs 18monkeysdancetheatre and serves as artistic director at NCCT, knows how to make bodies speak when words fall short. Fandard, a French choreographer obsessed with improvisation, brings restless intelligence to everything he touches. Photograph: bangkok_kunsthalle Classic Isan melodies thread through contemporary movement in ways that shouldn't work but absolutely do. The whole thing's improvised, meaning nobody's seen this exact version before and nobody will again. Well, that makes it feel precarious and wildly alive. The evening splits in half.  Part one: Fon Français opens with an artistic encounter between Alexandre Fandard, a French dancer, and morlam melody, connecting with healing practices through physical expression. Part two: Fon Farang continues with performances by Jitti Chompee and artists from Khon Kaen, creating a physical dialogue between cultures that folds morlam's roots seamlessly around contemporary choreography. Shows run at 7.30pm on November 24 and 25. Tickets are B1,0

Song Wat Road has this uncanny ability to stay relevant without trying too hard. The area's always had its devoted fans, but lately it's become properly rammed with Gen Z snappers and tourists hunting for that perfect Instagram shot. Credit where it's due though, the influx of new restaurants, cafes and galleries has injected fresh energy into the neighbourhood whilst somehow keeping that lovely lived-in character intact. To embrace the street, not just grabbing quick photos, Song Wat Week returns for another year, and organisers have extended the festivities to a full four days this time round so circle November 20-23 in your diary. The festival runs from 11am-9pm across all four days, giving you plenty of time to poke around heritage buildings, meander along the riverside, nurse a flat white whilst pretending to understand contemporary art, and stuff your face with proper local food.  Naturally, Time Out Bangkok's already sorted the ultimate guide if you need pointing in the right direction. Photograph: Made in Song Wat The action spreads across Songwat Road and its warren of sidestreets, running from near the shrine and Phoei-Eng School down to Ton Pho intersection by the water.  This year's theme, 'Where Heritage Meets Creativity', sounds a bit corporate-speak, but the execution's actually rather good. It's about breathing new life into the old commercial quarter's stories through contemporary creative expression, which is exactly what's been happening organically here

Sound doesn't need translation when it's done right. Sound can connect people through listening, performing and creating shared artistic spaces. If there was an event that explores this concept, would you go? Well, Voice Unmuted happens for that reason, an initiative built on the idea that listening, performing and building creative spaces together can connect people far beyond words alone. Happening Wednesday November 19 at FV Sukhumvit 39 from 4pm-8pm, the evening's led by Mae Happyair, Creative Director of Non Non Non, Bangkok's underground haven for queer and women-led nightlife. She's collaborating with Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia, a German foundation championing democracy, gender equality and human rights. HBS has been working with artists and activists across the region to amplify voices that often go unheard, bridging art with activism and experimental sound in genuinely meaningful ways. Photograph: vinatpol_smit What makes this particularly special is its roots in Bangkok's independent, constantly shifting nightlife scene. Rather than simply celebrating sound for sound's sake, the programme highlights how creative expression actually strengthens communities and keeps culture alive. Something that feels increasingly vital in a city where underground spaces matter more than ever. Programme Schedule  4pm-5pm: Registration 5.30pm-6pm: Introduction led by Gres Teh 6pm-7pm: Panel Talk and Sound Design Showcase through Dance Music and Rave Culture featuring LnH

Anyone with a free weekend on November 21-22 and a craving for something different might enjoy wandering through the city with Galleries' Night, the annual art marathon that keeps Bangkok awake in the best way. Now in its 12th year, the event gathers more than 200 Thai and international artists across over 80 spaces. It's a useful excuse for those of us who keep meaning to step inside a gallery but never quite manage it. The late hours help. Everything runs deep into the night, so there's room to take your time, stroll without rushing and see how the city behaves when the usual chaos dies down. Bangkok feels surprisingly different after dark. Getting around is simple enough. Free MuvMi electric shuttles run from 6pm-11pm, stopping at all the participating venues. Each space hands out free maps, and the website galleriesnights.com has downloadable PDFs if you'd rather plan ahead, though a bit of aimless wandering tends to work just as well. Galleries' Night Bangkok (November 21-22) Split across two routes over two nights November 21: Silom, Sathorn, Riverside November 22: Sukhumvit, Ari, Pathum Wan Galleries' Night Chiang Mai (November 14-15) Three routes, all beginning at CMU Art Centre Route A A1: 31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit – Aesthetic of Hope and Dreams by Kamin Lertchaiprasert A2: Wattana Art Gallery – Collected works by Wattana Wattanaphan A3: Figurelab Art Studio – COLOR BODY ATTACK A4: Pongnoi Community Art Space – ART IS EVERYWHERE.. by Bartosz Fracz

Bangkok Design Week 2026 is creeping up on us. It’s hard to believe it's only a bit over two months away. The city-wide festival returns from January 29-February 8 2026, sticking with its usual stomping grounds across eight districts: Charoen Krung-Talat Noi, Phra Nakhon, Pak Khlong Talat, Yaowarat, Bang Pho, Phrom Phong, Hua Lamphong, Bang Lamphu-Khao San and Phra Khanong-Bang Na. But there's more happening outside these core areas too, with exhibitions popping up in neighbourhoods all over town thanks to artists, studios, shops and venues that've signed on for the next year's edition. Photograph: MunMun Srinakarin This time round, the theme is ‘Design S/O/S’. Before you panic, it's not a cry for help. It's actually about showcasing design as a survival tool, which feels pretty apt given the state of things. The organisers have split it into three strands. First up is ‘S’, Secure Domestic, which pushes local design to punch above its weight and give the home market a proper shake-up. Then there's ‘O’, Outreach Opportunities, all about forging new collaborations and getting Thai design onto the international stage. Finally, ‘S’, Sustainable Future asks how we're going to navigate what's coming next while keeping our heads above water. Whether you're a design-obsessive or just fancy a wander through some of Bangkok's most atmospheric quarters, it's worth blocking out a day (or three) in late January or early February. The whole thing runs for 11 days and won't cost you a sat

Right, so you've landed in Bangkok in November and everyone's suddenly asking about your festive plans. Here's the thing about Christmas in this city: it shouldn't work. You've got 30-degree heat, shopping centres going absolutely mental with decorations and somehow the whole thing feels perfectly normal. If you're the type who'd rather someone else sorted the champagne and you quite fancy a proper countdown, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok has essentially done all the thinking for you. Hotel festive packages can feel a bit samey, but this lineup gives you everything from Italian romance to rooftop revelry to the city's highest countdown party, all without trekking across Bangkok's traffic-clogged streets.  Photograph: Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok At Ms.Jigger, this Italian restaurant goes properly festive from December 20 through January 4, 2026, serving up an afternoon tea (B1,990 for two) that pairs Drappier champagne with delicate bites. The setting's romantic, the plates look designed for confessions and tackling the holidays on tea alone seems frankly criminal.  Photograph: Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok On Christmas Eve, Ms.Jigger's elegant four-course set (B3,990 per person) features Boston lobster salad, charred octopus risotto and Atlantic turbot over pumpkin cream, all wrapped in a warm zabaglione finish. Come New Year's Eve, Ms.Jigger transforms completely. The set menu's a love letter to excess: oscietra-topped Hokkaido scallops, saffron monkfish risotto and a chocolate praline

Let's talk about why elephants matter to Thailand. These magnificent creatures have carried kings, hauled teak and stood as symbols of power, wisdom and good fortune since long before anyone thought to stick a camera in their face. So when the Elephant Parade rolls through Bangkok's Talad Noi and Song Wat neighbourhoods, it's a love letter to conservation wrapped in colour and creativity. Running from November 15 through to February 21 2026, the parade invites you to grab a map from the Elephant Parade Talad Noi shop or participating stores and tick off your discoveries as you go. Over 50 elephant sculptures, each one designed by Thai and international artists, have taken up residence across alleyways, shopfronts and tucked-away corners throughout these historic quarters. This isn't the parade's first time here, but familiarity hasn't dulled its charm. When they arrived earlier this year, the elephants came dressed in everything from sunny floral yellows and deep ocean blues to a pink Hello Kitty number and, rather brilliantly, one decorated with khao soi and a chicken drumstick. It's playful, unpredictable and wonderfully Bangkok. Photograph: Elephant Parade Land What makes this more than just another photo opportunity is the intention behind every painted trunk and patterned ear. The entire installation shines a spotlight on Thai elephant conservation, using art as the vehicle to spark proper conversations and spread meaningful awareness. It's cultural soft power done rig

Thai pride comes first. Salin, or Salin Cheewapansri, is a drummer, producer and songwriter who was born and raised in Thailand before moving to North America at 20 to chase a dream. She's carved out a place in Canada's jazz scene and made waves internationally – most memorably through a performance on live platform KEXP, where she sat behind the kit in traditional Thai dress. Early 2025 saw her return to Thai stages for the first time with a set at Bangkok Design Week, leaving a proper mark on home crowds. Her work on Dominique's album landed a Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year in 2019. Not long after, Salin put out her own  debut, Cosmic Island – a mix of jazz, soul, funk and groove inspired by her thesis research into river pollution back in Thailand. The album took her on tour across the US and Europe, and in 2025 she came back with Rammana, a project that pulls together afro-jazz, funk and Thai folk music through themes of identity, spirit and joy. It earned her a spot as one of CBC's 2025 Revelation Artists, putting her among the rising voices in Canadian music. Here's what you need to know before the night starts. When is Salin performing in Bangkok? Salin comes to Bangkok for a live show, but just for one night. It’s going down on Friday January 9 2026.  Where is Salin performing in Bangkok? The Thai-born drummer, producer and songwriter hits the stage at Lido Connect 2. When are the tickets on sale? You can grab your tickets on Ticketmelon here, starting on

Grab your tote bags: Bangkok's vintage market is back for its third edition, and this time it's taking over the riverside at Phra Arthit Road. Rookie BKK x The StandardX runs on November 15-16 from 4pm-11pm, transforming the area around The StandardX on Phra Arthit Road – just steps from Tha Phra Arthit pier – with a Thai funk and molam theme that celebrates the best of reduce, reuse and recycle culture. The organisers have handpicked over 30 vendors selling everything from rare clothing and accessories to brilliant second-hand pieces you won't find anywhere else in the city. Photograph: Rookie BKK What makes this market worth the trip is its proper commitment to sustainability. Shoppers are asked to bring their own cloth bags (one per person minimum), because the organisers genuinely want to prove that looking good and caring about the planet aren't mutually exclusive. The riverside location is a bonus – you can rummage through vintage treasures whilst the Chao Phraya flows past, then stick around for live Thai funk and molam performances that'll keep everyone entertained throughout the weekend. Photograph: Rookie BKK The market caters specifically to vintage enthusiasts after serious finds rather than the usual tat. Each stall has been carefully selected to make sure you're discovering genuinely unique pieces with actual history behind them.  Photograph: Rookie BKK Both days happen at The StandardX, Bangkok Phra Arthit. Getting there is easy enough – Tha Phra Arthit p