4 Events around the World to Kick off 2026

As the calendar turns, the world awakens with a vibrant surge of creativity, natural wonder, and athletic triumph. Starting from the neon-lit creative hubs of Bangkok to the frost-kissed peaks of the Italian Alps, January and February 2026 promise a global stage for the extraordinary.

The season’s most essential experiences come into focus. Witness a city reimagined through the lens of urgent, innovative design in Thailand’s capital, then lose yourself in the ethereal, misty blooms of Udon Thani’s pink water lilies. Beyond borders, Tokyo pays a masterful tribute to Claude Monet’s Impressionist legacy. Finally, the spotlight shifts to the glamour of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo as they welcome the world for the Winter Olympics.

CREATIVE SOS

Bangkok, Thailand

January 29 – February 8, 2026

Bangkok Design Week 2026 will allow you to take the pulse of one of Asia’s most exciting creative scenes. During its 9th edition, installations will reimagine urban spaces, workshops will spark fresh thinking, and creators of all stripes will reveal how they are tackling climate change and industry challenges. All over the city, exhibitions, performances, and creative programs will offer unique perspectives on contemporary design and problem solving – each one centered around the theme “Design S/O/S”, and geared towards unlocking Bangkok’s potential.

Discover the exciting events in Bangkok. Fly to Bangkok with Thai Airways!

PRETTY IN PINK

Udon Thani, Thailand

January 1 – February 28, 2026

Picture this: thousands of pink water lilies on a vast freshwater lake, their petals unfurling in the golden light of sunrise. Welcome to Talay Bua Daeng, where traditional boats glide through a living Impressionist painting, and the morning mist dances above carpets of flowers that stretch to the horizon, creating scenes so ethereal that no filter is needed. Board your boat between 06:00-11:00, breathe in the serenity, and lose yourself in one of Thailand’s most photogenic natural phenomena.

Impressed by the view of the water lilies? Fly to Udon Thani with Thai Airways!

MONET IN TOKYO

Tokyo, Japan

February 7 – May 24, 2026

At Tokyo’s Artizon Museum, the exhibition Monet: Questioning Nature is honoring the centenary of the Impressionist master’s passing with a presentation of over 40 masterpieces. Journey through Claude Monet’s scenes – from Le Havre’s harbors to Giverny’s legendary water gardens – and discover how he revolutionized landscape painting by capturing nature’s fleeting moods. Many of these paintings are making their Japan debut, making this remarkable collaboration with the Musée d’Orsay in Paris an unmissable treat for art lovers.

Calling the art lovers. Fly to Tokyo with Thai Airways!

WINTER’S GRAND STAGE

Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

February 6-22, 2026

The city of Milan and the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo are about to co-host the Winter Olympics. For its 25th edition, over 3,500 athletes from 93 nations will compete for 195 medals. Head to Milan to catch ice skating, then venture to the Dolomites for downhill thrills set against stunning backdrops – and to see a sport making its Olympic debut, ski mountaineering. Make no mistake, this will be an event where athletic greatness meets Italian hospitality and the ‘la dolce vita’, or good life.

Witness one of the biggest sport events in the world. Fly to Milan with Thai Airways!