Anime Festival Asia is pulling out all the stops with a massive lineup of anime, cosplay, gaming, and concerts hitting Thailand this May.

Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2026 (#AFATH26) is set to return to Bangkok on May 30-31, 2026, at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC). The highly anticipated event will bring together fans and industry leaders to celebrate Japanese pop culture in full force, featuring anime, cosplay, and gaming.

Saturday's artist lineup, organized by Crunchyroll, is nothing short of extraordinary. The event features renowned artists performing hit songs, with most making their Thailand debut:

HIMEHINA: Owner of the viral hit "Heart Pie Dancehall" Shouta Aoi: Voice actor and singer of "Bad End" from the popular anime, making a new appearance as a villain in the dating sim game SPYAIR: Legendary rock band, creators of "Orange" from the anime Haikyuu!! TeddyLoid: Grammy-winning producer who created the soundtrack for Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

Sunday's lineup promises to be equally spectacular, with doors opening one hour early at 6:00 PM and performances starting at 7:00 PM.

HoneyWorks brings the largest artist ensemble ever assembled for Bangkok, featuring 7 lead vocalists and 4 full band members:

CHiCO (from CHiCO with HoneyWorks), HaKoniwalily, Momoko Hashimoto & Momona Matsumoto (from TAKANE NO NADESHIKO), Rio Nagao & Yura Nishihara (from Karen na Ivory), with Guitar: Oji / Bass: kyo / Keyboard: Keiki Uto / Drums: AtsuyuK!

Also performing: KAF: Renowned Virtual Singer artist, creator of "Kako wo Kurau" kz(livetune): World-class DJ and producer famous for collaborations with Hatsune Miku Reona: Distinctive vocalist featured in the Sword Art Online anime soundtrack

Tickets are now available through Thaiticketmajor at https://bit.ly/AFATH26Tickets

VIP One-Day Pass – 3,750 THB per day Includes: 1 VIP ticket (Saturday or Sunday) with benefits such as numbered seating with the best concert views, a chance to win signed posters from artists, and access to the Exhibition and Next Stage zones for the selected day.

Concert General Admission (GA) Standing Pass – 2,750 THB per day Includes: 1 standing ticket (Saturday or Sunday) with standing zone access for the concert and access to the Exhibition and Next Stage zones for the selected day.

Additionally, separate tickets are available for Exhibition and NEXT STAGE areas, giving all fans the opportunity to enjoy the event. Early bird tickets are limited and available while supplies last.

*Prices do not include booking fees. Please note that the artist lineup may change, and no refunds or exchanges are permitted after purchase.

Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2026 May 30-31, 2026 Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC)

For more details, visit: https://animefestival.asia/afath26/ Facebook: animefestivalasia X: @animefestasia Instagram: @animefestivalasia

Maj. Gen. Phanuvit received the Outstanding Otolaryngologist Award from the Royal College of Otolaryngologists of Thailand for 2569, building recognition at the college, national, and international levels. On May 6, 2569, the Royal College of Otolaryngologists of Thailand announced the selection of Outstanding Otolaryngologists for 2569, with Clinical Professor Maj. Gen. Phanuvit Pumhiran selected as an Outstanding Otolaryngologist in the administrative category, or for building recognition at the college, national, or international levels. The Royal College held the ceremony at the Dusit Thani Hotel Pattaya in Chonburi Province on Wednesday, May 6, 2569, to honor and celebrate the achievements of this year's award recipients.

Venerable Luang Pu Bua Geto, the respected abbot of Wat Pa Pang Kuet Kitti Tham in Tambon Intakhil, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026, at 9:29 a.m., at the age of 92 with 72 years in Buddhist monastic life, leaving his disciples and devoted devotees in mourning. Luang Pu Bua Geto suffered from coronary artery disease and nervous system complications. He was placed under royal patronage at Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital and later recovered at Wat Pa Dara Phirom in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai, where he received close care from medical teams and attending monks. He eventually passed away peacefully at Wat Pa Dara Phirom.

Luang Pu Bua Geto was born on May 31, 1934, at Ban Suan, Tambon Na Klue, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi. He was the most highly revered great elder among his disciples and undertook meditation pilgrimages to many locations throughout the eastern, northeastern, and particularly the northern regions of Thailand. This led him to resign from his position as abbot of Wat Chong Lom Na Klue and district sangha leader to fully dedicate himself to spiritual practice.

Luang Pu became proficient in both samadhi and vipassana meditation practices, and was able to guide, teach, and lead others in reducing, abandoning, and relinquishing defilements. He recognized the benefit of establishing temples in various locations, particularly in the northern region, including: 1) Wat Mae Pang in Tambon Santhikiri, Mae Lan Noi District, Mae Hong Son—currently the largest forest temple in Mae Hong Son Province; 2) Wat Khao Nok Yung in Ban Ruk Tabek, Tambon Na Khun Krai, Sri Sa Rong District, Sukhothai; 3) Wat Pa Kaew Nanthorn in Tambon Mae Lan Noi, Mae Lan Noi District, Mae Hong Son; and 4) Wat Pa Pang Kuet Kitti Tham in Tambon Intakhil, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai, where he currently resided during the Buddhist Lent season.

APE X CRYPTO founder and CEO Kanth Khloawutnunt organized the Thailand Digital Asset Leadership Forum: Road to SEABW 2026 to demonstrate public-private sector cooperation and confirm Thailand's readiness across all dimensions—technology, regulations, and human capital—with the goal of building Asia's strongest digital asset ecosystem and advancing the country's economy. The event serves as international communication showing Thailand's progress and successful real-world projects, highlighting Thai professionals' skills in globally demanded fields that will drive sustainable digital economic growth and potentially attract foreign investment and employment opportunities in Thailand.

Thailand's digital asset regulatory framework, overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission, is recognized as one of the most comprehensive digital asset ecosystems globally, with clear legal standards comparable to international norms. The SEC's recent initiatives include opening mechanisms like Crypto Futures and providing five-year regulatory exemptions for cryptocurrency innovation to support Thai entrepreneurs' adaptation and growth amid global market changes.

Hojin Kim, CEO of ShardLab (a joint venture between Hashed and SCBX), noted that while South Korea leads in Web3 project development, Southeast Asia and Thailand specifically show significant potential. Developer numbers in Southeast Asia grew 30% last year, exceeding global averages, and Bangkok ranks among the best cities for technology and investment, with readiness in both talent and innovation-friendly environment benefiting not only Thai citizens but also 1.5 million foreign residents, tourists, and Korean entrepreneurs in Thailand.

ShardLab is organizing Southeast Asia's blockchain festival May 20-21 in Bangkok as part of SEABW 2026, showcasing local projects to global audiences while introducing regional people to emerging Web3 technologies. While South Korea benefits from more practitioners, Bangkok's higher global accessibility, greater tourist numbers, and larger foreign population provide distinct advantages in reaching worldwide target markets.

At 1:30 p.m. on May 6, 2025, at Parliament, Chaiwat Sthavarvijit, a party-list MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, announced his resignation from parliament following his candidacy announcement for Bangkok governor. Though he expressed some regret, he emphasized that this opening represents a new opportunity for Bangkok residents, with the People's Party taking the Bangkok election seriously this time.

He acknowledged that finding a suitable candidate for Bangkok governor required a lengthy and careful selection process, and the party ultimately decided to put him forward. He stressed that the party genuinely prioritizes the Bangkok race, otherwise he wouldn't need to resign from parliament. He feels his new role as Bangkok's representative carries the same weight as his previous parliamentary work.

Krunapon Tiensuwan will replace him as a party-list MP. Chaiwat expressed confidence in the seamless transition, noting they've worked together extensively and will continue as a unified team.

However, Chaiwat admitted that had it not been for the complications arising from the 44-MP legal case, former governor candidate Wirojn Lakchanaadisr might have been the party's nominee instead. Since the case's outcome remains unclear, the party decided against risking Wirojn's candidacy.

Regarding his opponent, current Governor Chatchai Sitthiphan, Chaiwat described the race as highly competitive, acknowledging Chatchai's popularity among Bangkok residents. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence in his bid to win and offer Bangkok residents an alternative vision for their city's future.

He emphasized that elections provide opportunities for citizens to choose change and improvement. He aims to present a new vision for Bangkok and better quality of life for residents.

When asked if the party's 33 constituency MPs would guarantee sweeping all 50 districts, Chaiwat cautioned this might be difficult, as Bangkok voters consider multiple factors in their decisions. The party's 33 MPs represent Bangkok residents' trust, which the party aims to repay by presenting a competitive gubernatorial candidate.

Krunapon noted that the party's candidate selection process included external candidates and considered policy alignment, collaborative capabilities with both current and future councilors, as well as parliamentary representatives. Given Bangkok's role as a transitional area requiring coordination with surrounding provinces, these factors were crucial.

He argued that given Wirojn's 44-MP case—which could pose future problems if a verdict is handed down—the party opted for someone with better communication skills, proven competence, and suitability to represent Bangkok moving forward.

Krunapon added that while Chatchai has performed well previously, he alone cannot drive Bangkok's agenda forward. The issues extend beyond minor infrastructure improvements to include major infrastructure problems and questionable budget allocations on multiple occasions. Additionally, Chatchai is not affiliated with any political party.

Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Lawaron Saengsonit has confirmed that issuing a royal decree to borrow 400 billion baht is urgently necessary, insisting the decision is legally sound and the funds will be used efficiently. The borrowing will support both immediate relief measures for citizens and structural economic reforms to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

The finance ministry determined that the emergency loan is truly necessary because Thailand's economy is being severely impacted by the global energy crisis, and existing funding sources are insufficient to provide swift relief and economic restructuring. The ministry has already reviewed alternative funding options, including budget transfers under this fiscal year's act, which total less than 500 million baht, and mid-year budget reserves of only 200 million baht. Meanwhile, next year's budget won't take effect for another five months, making it impossible to address the economic emergency through normal channels. Therefore, the emergency loan decree is essential.

Regarding proposals to reduce fuel excise taxes by 6-7 baht per liter, the finance ministry notes this would eliminate 2 billion baht in revenue for the Revenue Department and create a revenue shortfall, ultimately requiring another emergency borrowing decree to cover the deficit. The ministry opposes this approach as it would compound the fiscal and economic crises, damaging investor confidence and credit ratings.

Permanent Secretary Lawaron stated that the 400 billion baht loan has been designed for maximum efficiency and transparency. After the royal decree is submitted to the throne and published in the Royal Gazette, the Finance Ministry will issue two announcements: first, establishing criteria and conditions for projects seeking loan funds, with careful review by economic agencies and a public website displaying all approved projects; second, establishing an oversight committee to evaluate loan-funded projects, comprising mostly independent members outside the ministry to ensure impartial assessment and eliminate any perception of self-oversight.