Pride parades are expected to sweep the capital from tomorrow as part of a nationwide campaign to host WorldPride 2030.
Bangkok Pride Festival 2026 returns with the theme "Patch The World With Pride" until June 1. It is set to take over Silom Road, Henri Dunant Road and Rama I Road, from 2pm-10pm tomorrow with a more than 500m-long rainbow flag. Starting at Nararom Intersection (Chong Nonsi Canal), the 3.8km-long parade route covers landmarks, including Silom Soi 4, Chulalongkorn University and Siam Square, ending at the National Stadium.
Ann Chumaporn, or Waaddao, founder of Naruemit Pride, which organises Bangkok Pride Festival, expects this year's parade to attract a crowd of more than 350,000 in 2025.
"This is a year in which everyone must come together to demonstrate the strength of the community and growing support for gender diversity before the eyes of the world," she said.
As Bangkok is a candidate to host WorldPride 2030, a campaign flag will be unveiled at National Stadium. The parade is free and open to the public. The five-day programme includes an awarding ceremony, forums, and a drag festival. The Pride City Network will also coordinate provincial celebrations nationwide.
Meanwhile, We All Pride Thailand @Bangkapi is set to return with the theme "Empowering Diversity, Advancing Equity, Inspiring Inclusion" from June 17-21. A parade is set to take over the gateway to eastern Bangkok on June 20, starting from NIDA to The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi.
Varavuth Bunsirithanarot, director of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, said the festival will make the city safe and inclusive.
"This year, we are shifting from celebration to implementation. The festival is an occasion not just to organise a parade, but to create safe space, stimulate the economy and empower vulnerable groups," he said.
The five-day programme covers a film screening, an exhibition, a charity market, a workshop, a speech contest and seminars.
Find more details at facebook.com/bangkokpride.official and facebook.com/rsat.info.
Tonight only
Chakaruna, a queer community platform, launches its debut performance titled GAWDLAND: I BELONG. Drag Dream – The Journey Of Gawdland, in Sphere Hall, Emsphere, at 7pm today.
The drag operetta follows the life of Thai drag star Gawdland, 24, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Vs The World, who made history as the first and youngest Asian to win the international event.
"Bangkok is where I started to believe that I could be something. Every struggle, competition and moment of doubt began here. I BELONG is not just a show, but a love letter to all fighting," said Tharathep Thaweephon, who previously competed in Drag Race Thailand Season 3 in 2024.
Her exceptional performance led to her being chosen for RuPaul's Drag Race UK Vs The World, joining contestants from the UK, Sweden, the United States, the Philippines, Germany, Mexico and France.
Her show blends pop musical and drag operetta with surreal storytelling, chronicling her life from discovery of drag art to command of stage. It combines music, choreography, fashion and theatre to reflect her experience.
Buy tickets at ticketmelon.com.
Global pride
Chumaporn unveils a decade-long roadmap to the world's pride destination. After a successful campaign in 2021, the Marriage Equality Bill took effect in early 2025. Thailand has now submitted its draft proposal to InterPride, who licenses the international pride event. Activities in the run-up to bidding in late Oct will demonstrate the country's readiness.
"Now, we are competing with Barcelona, Spain, to host WorldPride 2030. While it has everything in place, not to mention the fact that it has organised Pride for over 40 years, we have only marriage equality. However, we can use this platform to step up legal protection," she said.
Bidding is set to take place during InterPride General Meeting & World Conference 2026 from Oct 28 to Nov 1. Over 300 participants from across the world are expected to gather in Patong, Phuket. The result is due in January. If Thailand wins the licence to host WorldPride 2030, activities are set to move from Pride Month to Jan 23 to Feb 14.
"WorldPride is not just entertainment, but a global platform to improve the quality of our lives, whether gender recognition, elimination of discrimination or protection of sex workers. Moreover, we want to use our success story to inspire freedom in Asia," she said.
