Looking for something to be inspired by? Here is your guide to some of Bangkok’s most inspiring events.

For English novelist W. Somerset Maugham, inspiration was a daily occurrence, striking him early in the morning as he prepared to write. But what to do if you’re in a creative rut and those wild flashes of vivid imagination never present themselves so easily? Koktail Kurated has put together a list of ten inspiring events that will rekindle your childlike wonder and help you on your journey, artistic or otherwise. 

1/10 THAIPOGRAPHY: A Group Exhibition

Date: Tuesday to Sunday, 13 December 2025 – 22 March 2026, 10.30am-07.30pm

Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok ART Space by MOCA BANGKOK

Each artist depicts national identity through visual forms, showcasing how history and cultural heritage are intertwined with contemporary design in a very fascinating way. What results from the assemblage of symbols, codes and patterns is a lingua franca whose vocabulary reflects the ongoing process of globalisation and the integration of digital culture. Thai script is reimagined outside the strict confines of its linguistic usefulness, and meaning emerges not from the rational arrangement of words, but from the interplay of mood, colour, and texture.

2/10 To Fall From Grace: A Solo Exhibition by Naraphat Sakarthornsap

Date: Tuesday to Sunday, 18 December 2025 – 28 February 2026, 11am-06pm

Venue: 1st Floor, SAC Gallery

The title refers to the commercial obsolescence of the Dendrobium Pompadour in the Thai orchid market. In Naraphat Sakarthornsap’s tragically beautiful floral arrangements drenched in bleeding magenta, the fallen status of the once-coveted species not only raises questions about the nature of commodification but also the erasure of queer identity. There’s also a vulnerability in his work as well, as the artist’s pensive mood is gracefully revealed through his subtle floriography, his private language of flowers.

3/10 The SEA-NEMA Experience

Date & Time: Monday to Friday, 12 January – 12 May 2026, 09am-04.30pm

Venue: 1st Floor, Chulalongkorn University Museum

Figuratively speaking, if the ocean hired you to become the lead screenwriter for a biopic based on its real life, what kind of story would you tell? That is a question posed by The SEA-NEMA Experience. Filled with interactive games and an impressive array of rare finds from the sea, the exhibition sparks curiosity as well as environmental awareness. It’s a chance to get to know the ocean a little better. Kids and adults alike get to imaginatively retell its story and determine where the conclusion is heading.

4/10 Gentle Monster Pop-Up Store

Date: From Friday, 16 January 2025 onwards

Venue: M Floor, The EmQuartier

Gentle Monster has announced its 2026 Bouquet Collection along with the opening of a vibrant pop-up store, which features large flower plush toys and dreamlike elements. The pop-up store at The EmQuartier is part of a global rollout. With seven pop-up locations worldwide, Gentle Monster seeks to combine commercial interests with artistic visions.

5/10 Parallel Within Uneven Parallels: A Solo Exhibition by Ruthorn Rujianurak

Date & Time: Tuesday to Sunday, 18 January – 15 February 2026, 11am-06pm

Venue: 1st Floor, Joyman Gallery

A contemporary twist on Cubism, Ruthorn Rujianurak’s exhibition explores various dichotomies through uneven lines and geometrical shapes, swinging back and forth from one uneven plane to another. This all points to sharp tension beneath the surface. What at first seems like order and harmony soon unravels to be a chaotic storm of colours and tangents—lines that almost align, parallels that are simply uneven.

6/10 The Future of Memory: Sans Soleil by Chris Marker

Date & Time: Sunday, 18 January 2025, 05pm

Venue: Bangkok Kunsthalle

The Future of Memory is a screening series curated by filmmaker Rosalia Namsai Engchuan, with Sans Soleil by Chris Marker being its first instalment. Supported by the Embassy of France in Thailand and the Institut Français, the screening program is meant to highlight the ingenuity of New Wave directors such as Chris Marker and Agnès Varda. These directors were part of the same collective known as the Left Bank, which is different from the Cahiers du Cinéma crew, whose members included Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. Marker’s influential examination of memory paved the way for other aspiring filmmakers who wish to combine cinematic form with the essayistic nature of the documentary genre.

Entry: Free admission

7/10 Made by Legacy Flea Market No. 19

Date & Time: 23–25 January 2026, 01pm-11pm

Venue: Cloud 11

If you’re into antique collecting and want to experience what it’s like to be a 19th-century flâneur strolling through the bustling Parisian arcade, look no further than the naturally lit Made by Legacy Flea Market on Sukhumvit Road. With over carefully selected 250 vendors, many hidden treasures are waiting for you to discover.

Entry: 160 baht, and free admission for children under 13

8/10 Read Fest: Reading Journey

Date: 23-25 January 2026, 10.30am-10pm

Venue: Hua Lamphong Railway Station

All aboard! This year’s Read Fest will take place inside the historic Hua Lamphong Station, calling all passengers with paperbacks in their leather satchels (or faded tote bags) to embark on a literary expedition most enlightening. Lined with art exhibitions, pop-up workshops and musical acts, the century-old station is sure to come to life again at a moment’s notice. Discover hidden gems at your own pace and let yourself be lost in reveries—one page at a time.

Entry: Free admission

9/10 Reading in the Park EP3

Date: Saturday, 24 January 2026, 04pm-06pm

Venue: Amphitheatre in Benjakitti Park

Who says reading has to be lonely? Sometimes the deep solitude of your study can feel a bit overwhelming, so you might want to unwind with a novel and get some fresh air while meeting kindred spirits in a relaxed setting. Well, good news, because that’s precisely what Reading in the Park offers. Here, reading turns into a communal activity in which concentrated silence highlights the shared passion for books between those involved. You can exchange insights later and perhaps make some friends along the way. And make sure to bring some N95 masks with you if you decide to attend.

Entry: Free admission

Registration: https://luma.com/40cdtai8

10/10 Bangkok Design Week 2026: DESIGN S/O/S

Date: 29 January – 8 February 2026

Venue: Various places in Bangkok

Bangkok Design Week 2026 (BKKDW2026), running from January 29 to February 8, turns the city into an 11-day celebration of imagination, design, and the everyday experiences that make Bangkok life so vibrant. This year’s theme DESIGN S/O/S captures a playful urgency: design isn’t just about pretty objects, it’s about tools for survival. What can design do? Stay tuned to find out.