Kaweewat Siwanartwong

Rain settles over Bangkok, softening the evenings just enough to make staying out feel like the right decision. The city keeps moving regardless, with a weekend line-up that swings between canal rides, warehouse techno, neighbourhood festivals and air-conditioned vintage hunts. Start outdoors while the weather still behaves. Water Cycling by Punklong’s route drifts through Bang Luang Canal past longtail snack boats and banyan shade, while the newly reopened Green Bridge reconnects Benjakitti Park and Lumphini Park with smoother granite paths and proper cycling lanes. Once the rain kicks in, retreat underground for Re:Turn Market, where more than 80 shops turn Kamphaeng Phet MRT into an all-day browse of vintage clothes, toys, accessories and small-label finds. After dark, Bangkok gets louder again. Ratchada Train Night Market rolls back into full form with three nights of free live music, while ThinkFest 2026 transforms Ari into a roaming circuit of talks, exhibitions and live sets. Elsewhere, Sacristy leans hard into industrial techno with Tokyo selectors EVE and PARSA, and DUAL keeps Bangkok’s underground streak going deep into the night. Proper mixed bag, in the best possible way. Map out the rest of May 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 of Bangkok’s best things to do. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, strai

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.  

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. Four 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.

This will be the first time a Marley heir has performed alongside Thailand's top reggae artists, which is pretty monumental when you think about it. Julian Marley, the son of Bob Marley himself has linked up with The Uprising for what’s shaping up to be a milestone gig. He and Alexx Antaeus just scored a Grammy nomination for Best Remixed Recording with their amapiano take on ‘Jah Sees Them’. When he talks about dabbling in different genres, he makes it sound completely natural, like it's just part of the journey. And his father's influence? Still there, always present, guiding everything he does. It's not just Julian Marley taking the spotlight. You've got some Thai reggae legends on this bill too. JOB2DO are there with all the tracks everyone knows and loves, doing what they do best with that easy, laidback feel. Malaiman Downtown bring their own unmistakable  flavour, and then there's INJA, who basically shows up to set the whole place on fire. Jamaican reggae heritage meets Thailand's homegrown talent, all on one stage. If you plan to go, here’s what you need to know before the night starts. When is Julian Marley performing in Bangkok? Julian Marley is set to play a one-night-only live show in Bangkok on Friday 22 May. Where is Julian Marley performing in Bangkok? Julian Marley brings his signature sound to the stage at UOB LIVE, located within Bangkok’s EM District and perched atop the Emsphere. The venue can host up to 6,000 guests, accommodating concerts, entertainment

Summer lands in Bangkok’ April with a bit of force, and it has everyone hunting for shade come mid-afternoon. Parks and gardens start looking fuller and greener, though the real action's happening indoors – galleries are filling up with fresh exhibitions just as Songkran creeps closer. The city feels busier without being louder, just more switched on to what's about. Ditching the aircon at home suddenly makes proper sense. Most galleries give you somewhere cooler to breathe, and something decent to look at that isn't glowing at you from a screen. Drifting from one space to another becomes a bit of a routine. Not sure where to kick off? A few exhibitions are standing out across the city right now, each with its own rhythm and point of view. It's worth popping back regularly since new shows crop up steadily, giving you yet another excuse to get outside even when the heat's doing its best to keep you in. 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 April. 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.

The Italian film industry doesn't do subtle. It rocks up like a Fellini fever dream – all sweeping gestures, crumbling palazzos and someone in outsize sunglasses chain-smoking whilst quoting Sartre. But occasionally it loosens the collar, ditches the silk scarf and lets a few fresh voices slip through. MovieMov – Italian Film Festival is one of those moments. Running April 21-24 at House Samyan, with English and Thai subtitles, the lineup brings just enough introspective angst to properly derail any plans for easy viewing. These aren't your standard arthouse exports either. The festival grows from initiatives involving students, young professionals and local institutions.

It's probably not time to ditch the AC just yet, but April is still the month where you can wave goodbye to the old year in the Thai calendar without shedding a tear. Thai New Year is here, which means the city starts to properly wake up – parks get busier, restaurant tables spill out onto pavements, and suddenly there's a flood of festivals and events worth getting excited about. Summer is long here, and with it comes Songkran, the festival everyone's been waiting for. Bangkokians are more than ready to make a celebratory splash, and that long holiday? Perfect timing to explore the city's stunning parks, museums, galleries and – let's be honest – its night life scene. Things are hotting up now, so it's time to shake off that winter hibernation and get stuck into what Bangkok does best: fantastic green spaces, world-class museums and galleries, plus restaurant and bar offerings that are genuinely unbeatable. There's loads happening this month, and we've rounded up some of the best bits to help you make the most of it. Trust us, you won't want to spend April indoors. 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.

2026 makes one thing obvious: Thailand’s music scene sits at an all-time high. Big concerts get announced months, sometimes a year, ahead. Artists keep releasing new albums without pause. Across Bangkok, the livehouse scene steadily spreads, pulling more people out on weeknights. Music culture right now looks lively, busy and hard to ignore.  What makes today’s livehouses stick is their intimacy, a rarity in large concert halls. You stand just a few steps from your favourite artists and catch every move on stage up close. The atmosphere stays relaxed and open. Come alone, bring a date, or gather a group of friends, it all works. Many venues sit within easy reach of BTS or MRT, and ticket prices stay friendly enough not to sting. Live music, suddenly, feels far more within reach. So here’s the plan. Time Out lines up 15 venues and livehouses across Bangkok, from cosy indie spots to full-production stages. Get your ears ready and start ticking them off – your next favourite band waits somewhere on this list. RECOMMEND: Bangkok’s top concerts of 2026

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. RECOMMENDED: Confirmed: Tomorrowland Thailand officially debuts on December 11-13 After 12 years, Studio Lam is closing with an epic 49-night farewell party

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

Malibarn’s floral garland workshop strips things back to repetition, texture and patience. Led by Kru Gig, the session walks participants through traditional Thai garland-making techniques step by step, from selecting flowers to threading each section together carefully by hand.  The appeal here isn’t perfection so much as the pace. After a week of Bangkok noise, spending a couple of hours focusing quietly on colour, scent and small details feels surprisingly restorative. May 17 and 21. B2,250. Reserve via LINE OA: @malibarn. Slowcombo. 11am-1pm

Paws and Plates turns into a properly dog-centred affair at Yoonique House, with Pup Cities Bangkok helping shape a morning built equally around humans and their four-legged plus-ones. While owners work through a Korean-fusion brunch spread, dogs get their own kitchen-prepared menu alongside snack stations, personalised keepsakes and live pet portraits. The atmosphere stays relaxed rather than overly curated, which helps. It feels more like a sociable weekend hangout than a heavily branded pet event, and the included goody bag doesn’t hurt either.. May 16. B299 for humans only and B399 for humans plus up to two pets via here. Yoonique House, Sathorn Soi 10. 11am-3.15pm

Elden Zachery closes a month-long residency with Singapore Butoh Collective and NAGAPHORN through a site-specific performance that pulls together drag king performance and Butoh movement into something tense, physical and difficult to categorise neatly. Using gender expression as a marker of time and place, the work pushes against fixed ideas of masculinity, flesh and control. Movements swing between restraint and release, keeping attention locked onto even the smallest shifts in gesture and rhythm. It starts exactly on time, so arriving early genuinely matters here. May 16. Free entry. Register via here. 80th Anniversary Celebration Park. From 6pm

Re:Turn Market makes a convincing case for spending an entire afternoon underground. Set inside Kamphaeng Phet MRT Station, the air-conditioned market gathers more than 80 shops under one roof, mixing vintage clothing, streetwear, toys, accessories, art pieces and small-label finds without forcing everything into the same aesthetic lane. The best part is the pace. You can wander slowly without melting in the heat or making emergency rain dashes between stalls, and the mix stays broad enough that even casual browsers usually leave carrying something unexpected. May 15-17. Free entry. Kamphaeng Phet MRT Station. 11am-9pm

Industrial techno takes over Sacristy this weekend with a night that starts in hard groove territory before gradually tightening into darker, heavier sounds. Tokyo-based selectors EVE and PARSA make their Bangkok debut, bringing distinctly underground energy shaped by Japan’s late-night club circuit. The local line-up holds its own too. REIKS returns after a standout Monasterio Moscow appearance, NØSYNC plays a final Bangkok set before relocating to the US and MALAII.EXE joins the crew for the first time. Expect strobe, smoke and a rebuilt Kirsch Audio setup dialled fully into immersion mode. May 15. B300-890 via here. Sacristy Bangkok. From 9pm 

In ‘Echoes of Us’, Molticha Pongudompanya leans into uncertainty rather than resolution. Figures drift between recognition and disappearance, suspended somewhere between memory, reflection and physical presence. Layering and double exposure shape much of the work, with overlapping bodies and objects creating a sense of movement that never fully settles. The surfaces carry just as much weight as the imagery itself. Rough brushstrokes soften into hazier textures, while scraped paint leaves behind traces that resemble dust, smoke or fading film negatives.  May 10-31. Free entry. Joyman Gallery. 11am-6pm

As AI settles deeper into everyday routines and the shape of work keeps shifting, ThinkFest 2026 leans into a quieter question: what kind of life still feels worth building? Under the theme ‘Everybody Changes’, the festival turns Ari into a walkable circuit of talks, workshops, exhibitions and live performancves spread across neighbourhood venues. The format works best when you don’t overplan it. Start near Ari BTS Exit 3, follow whichever crowd of soundtrack catches your attention and let the day unfold from there. Collaborators including Loveis Entertainment, What The Duck and Pantang Artwork bring their own energy into the mix, keeping the route varied without feeling overly programmed. May 29-31. Free entry. Register via here. Across Ari. 1pm-10pm

Back behind Esplanade Ratchadaphisek, Ratchada Train Night Market slides straight back into rhythm after its March return. From May 15-17, the sprawling bazaar folds free live music into its usual mix of vintage stalls, smoky grills and ice-cold beers. Landokmai opens the weekend on May 15 with hazy guitar pop before Mirrr takes over later that night. May 16 shjifts into luk thung and molam territory with Arpaporn ‘Hi’ Nakhonsawan and Paradise Bangkok, while Yented and Fellow Fellow close things out on May 17 with a softer indie finish. May 15-17. Free entry. Train Night Market Ratchada. 5pm-1am

Bangkok’s underground circuit gets a new late-night address with DUAL, which takes over from Kangkao Collective space inside Trinity Complex. The focus here stays firmly on electronic music, with Southeast Asian selectors sharing the booth alongside visiting international names. The room keeps things stripped back and intimate, letting the sound system carry most of the atmosphere while the crowd settles in for long sessions rather than quick drop-ins. Anyone familiar with the old Kangkao spirit will recognise the easy camaraderie immediately, just with a sharper edge and slightly heavier energy. Open Friday-Saturday. B300-500 via here. DUAL, Trinity Complex, Soi Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra 3. From 9pm

Skip the usual park loop and head for Bang Luang Canal instead, where Punklong’s water cycling project turns a quiet stretch of canal into an unexpectedly good weekend detour. The pedal-powered route passes weathered wooden houses perched close to the water, giving glimpses of everyday canal life as longtail boats drift by selling grilled snacks and sweets. Midway through, a sprawling century-old banyan tree throws enough shade to make the midday heat manageable. The boats run entirely on pedal power, so the whole thing stays calm, quiet and oddly meditative without losing the novelty factor. Free trial rides run until May 15, with regular pricing afterwards. At Wat Kamphaeng Bang Chak. Daily 10am-6pm. Updates via Punklong's Facebook page

Small moments stack up in Some, the debut solo by Sayaporn Apornthip. Detailed paintings gather people, animals, objects and passing scenes, each one caught mid-thought or mid-action. The title does the heavy lifting: ‘some’ as fragments, ‘sum’ as what happens when they collect. A glance, a pause, a half-forgotten afternoon – all filed together as memory. Sayaporn treats everyday life with care, giving equal weight to the ordinary and the quietly significant. Nothing shouts for attention, yet everything holds it. It’s a gentle reminder that meaning isn’t fixed. At times life adds up neatly, at others it drifts. Either way, these small records stay, offering a moment to slow down and take stock. Until May 28. Free. 6060 Arts Space (white building). midday- 8pm

Few Bangkok evenings settle in quite as nicely as this. LHONG 1919 marks the birthday of the Mazu Goddess with three nights of free open-air screenings beside the Chao Phraya, where lanterns glow against old wooden facades and boats drift slowly past in the background. From 6pm onwards, two films screen back-to-back each night, giving people plenty of reason to linger in the courtyard with a drink. The line-up swings comfortably between blockbusters and local favourites: Superman and Mufasa: The Lion King on May 9, Jurassic World and Panda Plan on May 10, then Thai crowd-pleaser Nak Loves Mak Sooo Much! paired with The Stone on May 11. Easy, sociable, and worth building an evening around. May 9-11. Free entry. LHONG 1919. 6pm onwards

Tucked away in Nang Loeng, Sala Chaloem Thani keeps its quiet winning streak going. Since reopening last year, the 107-year-old wooden cinema has earned a loyal following with sharp programming, free entry and a charm that never tries too hard. This May, it's rewinding the clock again with a double bill. Curated by the Thai Film Archive, the ‘Classic Love’ programme pairs a Thai classic with a Hollywood favourite, both projected in a setting that suits them perfectly: creaky floors, filtered light and a sense of history that sticks around in every corner. Photograph: thaifilmarchive Saturday, May 23 – The Scar (1977) Cherd Songsri's adaptation of Ya Khop's novel still cuts deep. The story follows Phluen and Phraeng, caught in a rural love triangle that turns tender moments sour. Lush, tragic and unmistakably Thai, it remains a benchmark for romantic drama decades on. Photograph: Paramount Sunday, May 24 – Roman Holiday (1953)  Directed by William Wyler and starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, this one never loses its sparkle. A runaway princess swaps royal duties for a day on the streets of Rome, crossing paths with a journalist who senses a story. What follows? Light, charming and quietly poignant. Screenings start at 4pm, with free tickets handed out from 3pm on a first-come basis. Doors open from 1pm for anyone keen to wander, take photos or simply sit with the building for a while.

Treadmill runs get repetitive and the same playlists loop again and again. If motivation for exercise slips, Bangkok has a simple fix on May 14. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) teams up with Thairath to turn Chatuchak Park from regular green space to a lively open-air workout venue. It aims to get city residents moving again while easing work stress after long days at the office. Chatuchak Park usually draws weekend joggers and cyclists, but this evening shifts the focus towards shared movement and public participation. Photograph: BMA The park's aerobic activity zone becomes a large dance floor where fitness meets molam rhythm, led by professional instructors alongside mother Arpaporn 'Hi' Nakhonsawan. Easy-to-follow moves, plenty of laughter and a crowd that ranges from office workers to regular park-goers. Dress code stays open, so trainers, costumes or office shirts all fit right in. Live music elements and call-and-response instruction keep the atmosphere engaging while staying accessible for beginners and casual participants alike. Event highlights include: 5pm – Activity booths open, get your body warmed up and ready 5.40pm – The Bangkok Governor officially opens the event 6pm – Start of the ‘molum style’aerobic dance session led by professional instructors and Mae Arpaporn 'Hi' Nakhonsawan Booths line the space for light activities and quick wellness checks, so arrive early, warm up and stay a while after the session ends. Water stations sit nearby t

After pulling in nearly 7,000 people last year, Bangkok World Music Day returns with bigger ambitions and a longer soundtrack. On Saturday June 13, the city hands over its afternoon and evening to more than 10 hours of live sets, all free and spread across two central spots: One Bangkok and Alliance Française Bangkok. View this post on Instagram A post shared by One Bangkok (@one_bangkok) More than 30 artists step in across five stages, with a programme that jumps from pop and indie to molam, hip-hop, jazz and electronic. The fun sits in the mix. Collaborative performances add another layer, especially on the electronic stage where Thai and international names share the decks. Photograph: worldmusicday.bkk The full line-up lands on May 19, though the shape of the day's already taking form. A ballroom segment brings voguing culture front and centre, with performances and walk-friendly energy that welcomes anyone keen to join the floor rather than just watch. Elsewhere, emerging musicians take to smaller corners for busking sessions, while a roaming food market keeps you well fed between sets. The idea traces back to Fête de la Musique, launched in France in 1982 and now marked in more than 120 countries. The premise stays simple: bring music out of concert halls and place it squarely in public life. Block out the day. Start early, stay late and let the city set the pace.  

As AI tightens its hold on daily life and the idea of success keeps shifting shape, the question starts to linger: what kind of life actually makes sense to keep chasing? Not the glossy version, not the one that looks good on paper, but something that fits. That question sits quietly at the centre of Think Fest: Everybody Changes, a three-day happening by BrandThink that turns Ari up as a walkable map of ideas, people and small discoveries. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BrandThink (@brandthink.me) Ari does a lot of the heavy lifting. This isn't just a strip of cafes or a checklist of viral spots. The neighbourhood has its own cadence, shaped over years by independent businesses, low-key studios and a community that quietly gets on with making things.  Across the weekend, that familiar landscape shifts slightly. ‘Creative hopping’ becomes the main activity, with venues across the area hosting everything from talks and exhibitions to workshops, live sets and casual meet-ups.  The collaborators give a sense of the range. Music labels like Loveis Entertainment and What The Duck bring their own crowd and sound, while Pantang Artwork – known for its behind-the-scenes work on films and series  adds a visual layer likely to spill beyond a standard gallery setup. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BrandThink (@brandthink.me) The programme splits across four modes, each offering a different way to take part: Think Mode:

The starting horn cuts through the dark, sharp and unmistakable, and suddenly the city shifts gears. Trainers slap the pavement in quick succession as runners stream through Bangkok's historic core in neon kits, old race tees and race-day shoes worn in just right –  proof that the city barely sleeps in the first place. Mark your calendar: the Bangkok Marathon 2026 returns on Sunday November 8 for its 37th outing. Every year, it pulls in everyone, from nervous first-timers testing their stamina to seasoned marathoners chasing a personal best, all moving through landmarks that look completely different before sunrise. Photograph: Bangkok Marathon Distances range from manageable to slightly unhinged, depending on your mood. 5 km – Fun Run 10 km – Mini Marathon 21.1 km – Half Marathon 42.195 km – Full Marathon Photograph: Bangkok Marathon The timings lean fully nocturnal, which only adds to the atmosphere. 11pm (Saturday November 7): arrival and check-in at Sanamchai Road Midnight: full marathon start 3am: half marathon start 4.30am: mini marathon start 5am: fun run start 7am: awards ceremony 8am: wrap-up Registration opens in June 2026 via here. If the thought has crossed your mind before, consider this your nudge.

Lumphini Park keeps finding new ways to pull people in, from its Japanese-style dog park and Green Bridge to the always-packed Hawker Centre. But a few streets away, another green space has quietly reopened, skipping the fanfare in favour of a softer reset. Chalermprakiat Park 80th Anniversary of His Majesty the King (Sathorn) returns after a lengthy renovation, and the whole place clearly leans towards younger visitors. Children take over from the entrance onwards, darting between play areas while parents spread out nearby with snacks, mats and one eye on the action. Photograph: Greener Bangkok Photograph: Greener Bangkok It’s not especially large, but the layout works hard. A looping track gives joggers a quieter alternative to Lumphini, while compacted playgrounds keep younger visitors occupied for hours. Lawns open upjust enough for casual kickabouts and easy picnics, and shaded corners beneath the main structure double as breezy rest stops. Around the pond, benches face the water – proper spots for slowing down once the light starts to soften. Photograph: Greener Bangkok For Sathorn office workers, it lands as an easy lunchtime escape. Nearby residents, meanwhile, finally get their neighbourhood park back in proper form. Compared with the scale of Benjakitti Park, this one stays firmly on the intimate side, though that's part of the appeal. Mature rees and newly planted greenery scatter shade across the grounds, with flowers tucked along the paths. Kids' laughter c

Bangkok's The Weeknd fans can finally unclench. After weeks of whispers and wishful thinking, Abel Tesfaye confirms the real thing: a full-scale Bangkok date lands at Rajamangala Stadium on October 11. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abel (@theweeknd) The show doubles as a victory lap for a trilogy that reshapes his world over the past few years, threading together After Hours, Dawn FM and the newly released Hurry Up Tomorrow. Expect a setlist that moves between eras without slowing down, stacking chart-toppers alongside deeper cuts that reward long-time listeners. Photograph: Kevin Mazur This return arrives on a much larger scale. His previous Bangkok stop kept things contained within an arena, but this time the production expands across a stadium, bringing cinematic visuals, towering staging and tightly choreographed lighting that match the darker, more stylised tone he's been working with lately. Bangkok sits within a wider Asia run too, with dates scheduled across Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South Korea – putting the city firmly back on the global touring circuit. Photograph: Hiroya Brian Support comes from Creepy Nuts, the duo behind viral track ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Born’, joining most of the regional shows. Ticket details follow soon via Live Nation Tero. Presales begin May 18 for fan club members, May 19 for VISA cardholders and May 20 through the promoter, with general sale opening May 21. If you plan on going,

Right now, a growing number of Bangkok runners are chasing something far more persuasive: a free massage, an onsen soak or a glowing complexion. The city's quietly turned kilometres into currency, with brands swapping step counts for rewards that land somewhere between indulgence and discipline. Momentum, after all, rarely arrives with a grand gesture. It starts small. A few thousand steps. Besides getting your body moving, these campaigns also give you small goals that can motivate you to be a little more active. If you're looking for inspiration to start exercising again, these campaigns are a great place to begin. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yunomori Onsen & Spa (@yunomori_onsen) Run your way to a soak at Yunomori Onsen & Spa A long day ends better in hot water. Yunomori's step-based rewards make that post-run ritual easier to justify. Clock 6,000 steps and the onsen pass drops by 20 percent. Double it to 12,000 and you're looking at a buy-one-get-one situation. Hit 20,000 and the soak comes free, which feels like the universe quietly applauding your effort. Campaign runs until May 29. If heat therapy isn't enough, hands-on relief waits nearby. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Healing House Clinic (@thehealinghouseclinic) Trade distance for downtime at The Healing House Clinic Five kilometres earns a 30-minute neck, shoulder and back massage – the exact areas that complain first after a run. Regular runn

Another milestone lands, and this one carries a certain national pride. This year, M Studio rocks up to the Cannes Film Festival 2026 with a confident stride, setting up shop at the Marché du Film – the industry's busiest trading floor. Not just a showcase, more a statement: Thai filmmaking stands ready for a bigger conversation. Photograph: Death Whisperer Photograph: The Confession of a Sorcerer The lineup helps make the case. Death Whisperer: Saming The Werebeast leads with scale and bite, expanding a familiar horror universe while sharpening its visual ambition. Folklore with muscle, backed by effects that hold their own against global heavyweights. Alongside it, The Confession of a Sorcerer takes a quieter, more psychological route. Adapted from The Ghost Radio, it threads mysticism through questions of morality, trading spectacle for tension that lingers. Photograph: M Studio Elsewhere, the slate stretches in all directions. GOD SKIN fuses fantasy with underground boxing, layering tattoo technology over bone-crunching action. Then comes The Last Bliss, Exchange and Khong Khaek 2, each adding a different flavour – from introspective drama to genre-driven storytelling aimed squarely at younger viewers with global tastes. Behind the push stands Surachet Asvaroenganan, steering M Studio's international charge with clear intent. This trip isn't about ticking a festival box. It's about presence, positioning and proving range. Thai cinema has long travelled well across t

Coffee runs the show for most of us, dictating mornings, meetings and mid-afternoon survival. So let's treat the addiction. World of Coffee Bangkok 2026 lands at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre from May 7-9, pulling together more than 400 brands from 40 countries and placing Thailand firmly on the map as ASEAN's coffee capital. Photograph: World of Coffee Asia The headline act? The World Cup Tasters Championship, where elite tasters size up flavour profiles at speed, chasing the 2026 title with near-surgical precision. Not far off, Roaster Village lines up an international roster of coffee makers, pouring everything from award-winners to hard-to-find beans that rarely leave their origin. Producer Village, supported by SCATH, shifts the focus closer to home, spotlighting Thai farmers and the craft behind each cup. Photograph: World of Coffee Asia Pick your own caffeine adventure. Cupping Rooms offer structured tastings for anyone keen to sharpen their palate. The SCA Lecture Series brings in industry insiders to unpack trends and techniques without drowning you in jargon. The Community Lounge keeps conversation flowing, while the Brew Bar hands things over to World Coffee Championships winners, each serving precise, competition-level brews using beans sourced across the globe. Doors open 10am-6pm, with an earlier 5pm close on the final day. Tickets via here, come in at B500 for a single day or B1,000 for the full run.

Anyone still thinking of Pak Khlong Talat purely as a place for jasmine runs and armfuls of marigolds probably has not wandered through lately. This weekend, Bangkok Art Walk returns to the historic flower market, folding street-side exhibitions, live performances and creative pop-ups into the district’s already chaotic rhythm. View this post on Instagram A post shared by L’On bangkok (@l.onbangkok) More than 30 Thai and international artists spread across the market's winding riverside lanes, turning flower-filled walkways into a shifting mix of paintings, photography and installations while live music drifts through the stalls after dark. You come for orchids or roses, then somehow end up lingering over handmade crafts, chatting with artists or photographing corners of the market you normally rush straight past. Photograph: owen.cassette_1960 Pak Klong Talad already ranks among Bangkok's most visually rewarding neighbourhoods once evening hits and the pavements start overflowing with petals, neon signs and delivery carts weaving through tight alleys. Bangkok Art Walk simply layers something new into that atmosphere without sanding away the market's everyday charm. The event gives people an excuse to slow down and actually look around rather than power-walking through with an armful of flowers. Alongside the exhibitions, expect workshops, small craft stalls and easygoing pop-ups scattered throughout the area, making it very easy to lose an unhurried after

The annual trade show for the region’s F&B industry is back in Bangkok with a bang this year. Marking the largest edition to date, THAIFEX – ANUGA Asia 2026 runs from May 26-30 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani and comes at a time when sourcing decisions across the industry are becoming more critical and more time-sensitive. Across Asia-Pacific, as supply chains struggle to adjust to ever-changing geopolitical developments, buyers have less room for error and decisions made earlier are carrying greater impact. Hence the importance of THAIFEX – ANUGA Asia 2026, which brings together 3,300+ exhibitors from 60+ countries and regions and over 88,000 trade visitors from 140 markets, to create one of the region’s largest points of interaction between buyers and suppliers. Photograph: Koelnmesse Pte Ltd / THAIFEX – Anuga Asia Expect a showcase of ideas as products with 11 trend zones spanning alternative foods, clean label, Halal, organic and curated innovation showcases. Key programmed events include new-to-market reviews of products before they hit the shelves at scale, numerous curated tastings, and THAIFEX – ANUGA Startup, a platform for early-stage F&B ventures to pitch and exhibit live to investors and buyers. The event also sees the 12th staging of the Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge contested by more than 400 professional and junior chefs from Asia.