The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is supporting Bangkok Art Biennale to elevate Bangkok’s profile as a global art destination and present Thai contemporary art to wider international audiences.
By linking The Spirits of Maritime Crossing 2026 in Venice with Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 in Bangkok, the initiative advances Thailand’s creative tourism strategy and broadens the country’s appeal among quality travelers seeking culturally rich experiences.
TAT Governor Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool said, “TAT’s support for Bangkok Art Biennale reflects our direction to position culture, creativity, and contemporary Thai identity as powerful drivers of quality tourism. Through this platform, we are creating new inspiration for travel, strengthening Bangkok’s global visibility, and reinforcing Amazing Thailand as a destination where creative energy, cultural depth, and meaningful visitor experiences come together.”
Building on Bangkok’s recognition as one of the Best Cities in Asia 2026 and a UNESCO Creative City of Design, this collaboration presents Thai and ASEAN contemporary art to global audiences while supporting TAT’s Value over Volume direction. By transforming art, design, heritage, and contemporary urban culture into compelling travel motivations, the initiative enhances Thailand’s international image and reinforces Bangkok’s emergence as a leading creative hub and global art destination.
The Spirits of Maritime Crossing 2026 is presented by the Bangkok Art Biennale as a collateral event of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Held from 9 May to 2 August 2026 at Palazzo Rocca Contarini Corfù in Venice, Italy, the exhibition features 20 artists from Southeast Asia, Ireland, Serbia, and beyond.
Transforming Bangkok image
Through performance, film, installation, painting, and sculpture, the exhibition explores identity, displacement, diaspora, memory, and spiritual resilience in a world shaped by migration and global change, including new collaborative works and a short film created specifically for the exhibition.
The Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 program will be visible in Thailand from 29 October 2026 to 28 February 2027. First launched in 2018 and held biennially, the fifth edition will be presented under the theme Angels and Mara, with works by Thai and international artists across museums, cultural landmarks, religious sites, and public venues.
Confirmed locations include Museum Siam, Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan, Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan, One Bangkok, and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, forming a citywide route that connects heritage sites, riverfront communities, contemporary districts, and everyday urban life.
TAT’s tourism communication will amplify the project across domestic and international markets through Amazing Thailand branding, editorial content, social media storytelling from participating international artists, and media familiarization activities in Thailand and overseas.
By linking exhibition venues with wider destination experiences, the campaign will invite travelers to discover the country and engage with Thailand through contemporary art and fresh cultural perspectives.
