On 17 July 2026, H.E. Mr. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Ambassador of Thailand to the UK, presided over the opening ceremony of Thai Festival: Thailand Showcase 2026 at Potters Fields Park, London with the presence of Councillor Patrickson Obanya, Deputy Mayor of Southwark, members of Team Thailand in London, representatives from partner organisations, business sector, media pool and influencers.

 

In opening the event, the Ambassador underscored the importance of the Thai Festival: Thailand Showcase in London. Acknowledging the Tower Bridge area‘s potential as one of the key economic, cultural and tourism landmarks of London, the Embassy has decided to arrange the 5th Thai Festival in the UK in the London Borough of Southwark for the first time. Over the years, the Thai Festival has continued to grow in scale and significance, becoming an important platform for promoting Thai culture, tourism, trade, and Thailand’s creative economy in London. This year’s festival is organised under the theme “Creative Life and Creative Heartbeat,” which reflects the creativity embedded in Thai ways of life, including cuisine, arts and culture, craftsmanship, wellness and spa, tourism, and innovation. The Ambassador also highlighted that London has been selected as one of the 12 Flagship Cities among 43 Thai Festival cities worldwide this year, reflecting the importance of the UK as a key economic and cultural partner of Thailand. The Ambassador encouraged the public to experience the best of Thailand through cultural performances, Muay Thai demonstrations, Thai cooking demonstrations, creative products, and family-friendly activities.

 

Councillor Patrickson Obanya also delivered opening remarks as representative of Southwark, congratulating the Royal Thai Embassy on staging the event in the London Borough of Southwark which illustrates East West linkages and strong ties between Thailand and the UK.

Following the opening ceremony, the Ambassador invited Councillor Patrickson Obanya to visit Chud Thai Exhibition before touring booths of Thai products and crafts. The Deputy Mayor of Southwark was interested in craftsmanship and contemporary handicraft products from the Sustainable Arts and Craft Institute of Thailand (SACIT) and innovative sustainable products from the the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and enjoyed tasting Thai food delicacies from vendors participating in the Thai Festival.

 

Thai Festival: Thailand Showcase 2026 is open to the public free of charge at Potters Fields Park from 17–19 July 2026. On the first day of the Thai Festival, more than 30,000 visitors attended the event. The Thai Festival in London has become one of the most popular events in London this weekend and a total number of visitors over the three-day festival is expected to exceed 90,000.