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

Bangkok fans who missed out on the first date have been handed a second chance. Organisers have confirmed an additional night for The Weeknd's After Hours Til Dawn Tour, with Monday October 12 now joining the original October 11 date at Rajamangala Stadium. The two-night run marks a significant upgrade from the initial single-date announcement. The show forms part of a wider Asia run that also takes in Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South Korea. Support across the regional dates comes from Creepy Nuts, the duo behind viral track 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born'. The production promises to be a large-scale affair. His previous Bangkok stop was contained within an arena; this time the staging expands across a full stadium, with cinematic visuals, towering structures and tightly choreographed lighting built around the darker aesthetic he has developed across After Hours, Dawn FM and Hurry Up Tomorrow. Tickets for both October 11 and 12 Live Nation Tero Presale: May 20, midday-10pm, exclusively at bit.ly/theweekndbkk2026. Free membership registration required. General Sale: May 21, from 10am onwards, at bit.ly/afterhourstildawnbkk A maximum of six tickets per order applies to both the presale and general sale. Buyers purchasing online on May 20–21 are advised to join the virtual queue at thaiticketmajor.com at least one hour before each sale opens. Each ticket is tied to a unique attendee name, which must be entered in English letters. Duplicate names across an orde

Yesterday, Bangkok City Hall carries the sort of bittersweet mood usually reserved for school farewells and final curtain calls. On May 18, Chadchart Sittipunt officially clocks off as Bangkok governor at 5pm, wrapping up four years spent attempting to untangle a city that rarely makes life easy for anyone. Senior officials, civil servants and longtime colleagues gather to send him off with hugs, flowers and the kind of encouragement that lands more sincerely when everyone looks slightly exhausted. Photograph: BMABMA Across his term, Chadchart pushes a practical style of governance that swings between giant infrastructure projects and hyper-local fixes. One minute, it's drainage tunnels and transport systems. The next, it's footpaths, neighbourhood complaints and the smaller frustrations Bangkokians grumble about daily. He often compares the city to a circulatory system: major arteries need strengthening, but tiny capillaries matter just as much if the whole body wants to function properly. For residents stuck in traffic, hopping over broken pavements or watching floodwater rise every rainy season, that comparison makes sense. Still, he openly admits the work never really finishes. Bangkok evolves too quickly for neat endings and any governor inherits problems faster than they solve them. Yet throughout his final day in office, Chadchart keeps coming back to the same point: improving quality of life remains the job worth chasing. Which also explains why he wants another ter

Prepare to gitchie gitchie ya-ya da-da, because Moulin Rouge! The Musical finally makes its way to Bangkok in 2027. Big-name stage productions rarely stop by the city, which is exactly why this one lands with such excitement. After years of dominating Broadway and the West End with rhinestones, romance and enough pop anthems to soundtrack an entire night out, the award-winning musical is set for a run at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre courtesy of Live Nation Tero. View this post on Instagram A post shared by เมืองไทยรัชดาลัย เธียเตอร์ (@rachadalai) Adapted from Moulin Rouge!, the lavish jukebox spectacular traces its roots back to Baz Luhrmann's gloriously excessive 2001 film, itself inspired by the legendary Parisian cabaret. The stage version transports audiences to Belle Époque Paris, where penniless American writer Christian falls hard for Satine, the dazzling star of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. Naturally, love gets messy. A possessive duke lurks nearby, the club's future hangs by a thread and every declaration of affection arrives wrapped in towering vocals and sequins. Photograph: BASE Entertainment AsiaBASE Entertainment Asia When the production opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in 2019, critics and audiences practically threw roses at the stage. A year later, it swept up 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, cementing its place among modern theatre's biggest crowd-pleasers.  For now, organisers are keeping exact performance dates and

Just off Bang Pho's busy stretch, an old sawmill swaps sawdust for stage lights. What once housed timber and machinery now hosts a short play tour that turns the building itself into the main character. Five rooms, five performances and a format that keeps you on your feet from start to finish. Photograph: houseofmaskandmimehouseofmaskandmime The transformation matters. The shift from industrial workspace to T Namcharoen Playhouse adds a fresh cultural note to a neighbourhood already known for its design crowd and easy-going nightlife. The structure helps: a clean 11-by-20-metre span, high ceiling, no columns blocking sightlines. It's unmistakably a theatre, yet keeps the rough edges of its past life. Here's how it works: you move in small groups from room to room, catching five short works back to back. Each space resets the mood, and the shift keeps things brisk. Photograph: houseofmaskandmimehouseofmaskandmime Living Room – The Uninvited Living RoomHouse of Mask & Mime opens with a rare take on mask theatre. Light, playful, slightly offbeat, with movement doing most of the storytelling. Domestic details turn oddly entertaining. Storage Room – Mess You Bad Posture Ensemble shapes a piece around memory. What stays, what repeats, what gets pushed aside. Sound leads the way, creating a hazy, reflective atmosphere. Kitchen – Boiled Chicken with Tamarind LeavesA shared meal without conversation. A mother and child circle each other through action rather than speech. Tens

Looking for a way to get the kids off screens without bribery or bargaining? Dib Bangkok has a neat answer with its one-hour Family Art Tour, a short-format gallery session that swaps fidgeting for curiosity. It runs for just two mornings, so timing matters. Aimed at children aged seven to 12 (and the adults who tag along), the programme keeps things light but considered. A guided walk through selected works, a few prompts that spark conversation rather than lectures, and hands-on moments that invite younger visitors to respond in their own way. You'll likely leave with a few unexpected opinions from the smallest member of your group. Photograph: Dib Bangkok Works on the route include Alicja Kwade's Pars Pro Toto, Paloma Varga Weisz's Bumpman on a Tree Trunk and Pinaree Sanpitak's Breast Stupa Topiary, alongside pieces by Sho Shibuya, Marco Fusinato and Lee Bul. The mix keeps things varied: sculpture, installation, image and sound all make an appearance, offering different entry points depending on attention spans and interests. One child lingers on colour, another clocks shape, someone else spots a detail the rest of you miss. Photograph: Dib Bangkok The real draw sits in how the tour nudges families to talk to each other. Questions are open, answers aren't fixed, and adults don't need a background in art to join in. Turns a gallery visit from quiet trudge past labels to proper shared activity. Once the hour wraps, you're free to roam the rest of the museum at your own p

Just a few weeks remain until Pride takes over central Bangkok on Sunday May 31, and this year’s turnout is expected to be huge. More than 200,000 people are set to join celebrations across Silom and the surrounding districts, as organisers roll out a new 4.8km parade, a 300-metre rainbow flag and a programme that moves between full-scale drag spectacle and quieter moments rooted in solidarity, visibility and local LGBTQ+ stories. Outfits and pre-drinks are probably already sorted. What matters now is figuring out where to stand, which stages to aim for and how much walking you’re realistically signing up for in Bangkok heat. Thankfully, organisers have now released the full details. Photograph: Time Out Bangkok When is Pride in Bangkok? Pride in Bangkok takes place on Sunday May 31. This year’s edition expands with a new 4.8km procession stretching through the city centre, alongside cultural performances i mor lam acts celebrating Thai LGBTQ+ identity and community stories. Where is Pride in Bangkok? The parade begins at Nararom Intersection near Khlong Chong Nonsi before moving through Silom Road and several major central Bangkok routes. What is the Pride in Bangkok parade route? The route starts at Nararam Intersection (Khlong Chong Nonsi), continuing along Silom Road before turning onto Henri Dunant Road and Rama I Road. The parade finishes at  Thephasadin Stadium. Expect the Silom stretch in particular to get densely packed well before the procession officially starts.

As Bangkok gears up for its own Pokémon Center moment, the city's lining up another crowd-puller for anyone raised on anime, gaming and all things J-pop adjacent. Anime Festival Asia lands at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on May 30-31, and it arrives with a programme stacked enough to fill your weekend plans. Pick your battles wisely, because the schedule runs deep. One major draw comes from SPYAIR, the band behind 'Orange' from Haikyuu!!, who take to the stage for a live set likely to pull a full house. Elsewhere, the cosplay competition promises serious commitment – Thai cosplayers rarely hold back, and the standard keeps climbing every year. Photograph: animefestivalasia Voice acting fans get their moment too. Kikunosuke Toya, known as Denji in Chainsaw Man, makes an appearance, which means panels, fan interactions and the sort of queues that require patience and a charged phone. Then there's the wildcard: the Asian premiere of Sparks of Tomorrow, giving early bragging rights to anyone who snags a seat. Anime Festival Asia runs May 30-31 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Tickets cost B250 per day at the door.

Made by Legacy wastes no time. Fresh off its 19th outing earlier this year, the cult favourite returns with edition number 20, landing across June 19-21. This round sets up at Pat Arena, the home court of Port Futsal Club in Khlong Toei. It's an indoor switch-up, which means air-con, tighter corners and a slightly different rhythm from the usual open-air sprawl. Photograph: Made by Lagacy Regulars know the drill. More than 250 vendors line the space with vintage clothing, handmade pieces, vinyl, homeware, books and the sort of oddities you didn't plan to buy but somehow carry home. The ‘New Old Community’ crowd shows up properly, and the people-watching alone is worth the ticket. Food remains a major draw. Stalls take over part of the arena, serving everything from quick bites to proper plates, while DJs and live acts keep things moving throughout the day. It's social without trying too hard, and yes, pets are still welcome – expect a fair few well-dressed dogs making the rounds. Made by Legacy #20 runs from 1pm to 11pm daily. Tickets cost B160 per day, with parking available nearby.

Bangkok, I choose you! The Pokémon obsession is about to get considerably more serious. After years of side-eyeing Singapore and Taipei, Thailand finally lands its own official Pokémon centre – and not just any branch either. Later this year, CentralWorld becomes home to the first Pokémon Center Bangkok, which also claims the title of the largest Pokémon centre outside Japan. Photograph: Pokémon Pickup Japan For anyone who grew up memorising Pokédex numbers faster than maths formulas, the concept already needs little introduction. Pokémon Centre serves as the gathering spot for Trainers of every generation, recreated straight from the anime and games with the kind of detail that makes longtime fans immediately lose composure.  The shop stocks the full spectrum of official goods: trading cards, plush toys, gachapon, art toys, stationery, homeware and souvenirs that somehow convince you that yes, you absolutely need a Snorlax cushion. Exclusive Thailand-only items also seem highly likely, judging by previous overseas branches. Photograph: Pokémon Center Beyond the shopping bags, though, sits the real draw. Pokémon Center Bangkok plans regular community events, card-trading sessions and competitive tournaments tied to the global Pokémon Trading Card Game circuit. Casual fans may turn up for nostalgia, while serious players will be dusting off their decks immediately. Bangkok's Trainers better start shuffling again. Between the tournaments, trading sessions and shelves packed

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.