Get ready for the return of “Bangkok Design Week 2026” (BKKDW 2026), now in its ninth consecutive year, organised by the Creative Economy Agency (Public Organisation) or CEA, in collaboration with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, government and private sector organisations, educational institutions, international organisations, and creative district network partners. This year, the international design festival brings together creators, designers, entrepreneurs, developers, and all members of society to expand the potential of design beyond aesthetics — positioning “design” as a “tool” to drive the economy and enhance quality of life. The festival will be held from 29 January – 8 February 2026, spanning 11 days across 4 main districts: Charoenkrung – Talat Noi, Phra Nakhon, Pak Khlong Talat, Bang Lamphu – Khaosan, and other venues throughout Bangkok.
Unveiling the Theme “DESIGN S/O/S: Secure Domestic / Outreach Opportunities / Sustainable Future” Bangkok Design Week 2026 presents the theme “DESIGN S/O/S,” a signal calling for new solutions and pathways forward, driven by the creative question, “What can design do?” — and brought to life through immediate action across economic, social, environmental, and quality-of-life dimensions. The festival invites all sectors to view “design” from a fresh perspective — as a tool and force that can help us “survive and thrive” whether by moving cities forward, growing businesses, or improving the economy, to propel Bangkok and Thailand toward sustainable growth.
3 Key Pillars of “DESIGN S/O/S” at Bangkok Design Week 2026
S – Secure Domestic: Elevating new standards to invigorate the domestic market
O – Outreach Opportunities: Creating new opportunities and fostering collaboration to reach the global stage
S – Sustainable Future: Finding new pathways forward, ready to tackle every challenge
Over 350 Programs Across Bangkok’s Creative Districts
Experience over 350 creative programs across Bangkok’s creative districts, ranging from more than 200 design showcases and exhibitions that demonstrate how design seamlessly integrates with the urban context, to over 30 talent development programs from 10 educational institutions, preparing the next generation for careers in the creative industries.
The festival also presents a diverse lineup of talks, workshops, creative events, and district tours, developed through collaboration between local communities and designers to support the transformation of areas into creative districts with tangible economic impact. These are complemented by international collaboration programs with designers from over 16 countries, along with design markets, city atmosphere-building activities, and special promotions from local shops and restaurants. Together, these programs embody the dynamic spirit of “Thai design” — not only as ideas, but as real-world experimentation within the city — driving Bangkok forward as a creative city on the global stage.
Bangkok Design Week 2026 is not merely an annual festival showcasing Thai design capabilities, but a crucial mechanism for driving the creative economy — transforming experimental projects into works that impact business and society. It stimulates tourism and creates positive spillover effects across related sectors, including restaurants, cafes, hotels, galleries, transportation, and urban systems, while reinforcing Bangkok’s role within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a City of Design. The festival declares that “design” is the power to “make it survive and thrive” by opening spaces for all sectors to harness creative thinking and design to address current and future challenges, create unlimited possibilities, and release “survival” ideas that are tested and implemented — collectively shaping the future of Thailand’s creative economy.
Don’t Miss Out! Experience all the programs of Bangkok Design Week 2026 across multiple venues throughout the city. Witness the power of “Thai design” as it transforms Bangkok, and join us in shaping a city that uses design and creative thinking to tackle every challenge. See you 29 January – 8 February 2026 at Charoenkrung – Talat Noi, Phra Nakhon, Pak Khlong Talat, Bang Lamphu – Khaosan, and other venues throughout Bangkok.
