Chiang Mai’s biggest annual celebration of design, culture, and creativity returns for its 11th edition! Chiang Mai Design Week 2025 (CMDW2025) transforms the city into an open playground of ideas, innovation, craft, food culture, and music — all under the theme, “LOCAL PLUS,” a call to empower the creative energy of North Thailand and connect it with the world.

Assembling networks of creatives, entrepreneurs, and communities across the region, the festival spans the areas of Klang Wiang, Chang Moi–Tha Phae, Sanpakoi, and the surrounding creative districts.

“LOCAL PLUS” brings math to creative power

Inspired by mathematical symbols, this year’s theme, “LOCAL PLUS,” expresses how creativity strengthens local identity while connecting Chiang Mai to global opportunities:

• ( + ) Add: Co-create ideas and unlock new opportunities.
• ( × ) Multiply: Amplify creative works and global collaboration.
• ( ÷ ) Divide / Share: Exchange knowledge and skills across disciplines.
• ( − ) Subtract: Reduce constraints and environmental impact.
• ( ∞ ) Infinity: Highlight boundless growth as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

This year, CMDW2025 partners with designers, artists, and institutions from over 10 countries & territories, including China, Japan, Taiwan, France, Russia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Laos, and Canada, reinforcing Chiang Mai’s position as a city of “Crafting Wellness from Local Essence, Inspiring Asia.”

Chiang Mai Design Week 2025 highlights

( + ) ADD: Bringing Together the Power of Creatives

1. Make Scents, Make Sense — A groundbreaking fragrance exhibition reimagining scents as Thai cultural capital, linking biodiversity, regional botanicals, and the future wellness economy.

📍 TCDC Chiang Mai 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

2. The Homecoming Club by ThairathPlus — Interactive zones exploring the Northern creative ecosystem across arts, music, product, and culinary innovation.

📍 Sri Lanna Thai Cultural Promotion Association 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

3. CMDW × Mango Art Festival: “Treasure Discovered 2025” — This international art showcase brings Thai and international contemporary art into a unique space of antique rice barns and heritage furniture.

📍 De Siam Antiques Chiangmai 📆 5–10 Dec 🕜 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

4. Chiang Mai HO Zix — A massive showcase of over 40 Chiang Mai artists across every genre, from Thai folk and dream pop to alternative rock and blues.

📍 Uniserv CMU Carbon Parking Lot 📆 8–11 Dec 🕜 4:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

5. Exhibition from The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles — All eight styles of Her Majesty the Late Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother’s royal Thai dresses presented in a rare, elegant display.

📍 Chiang Mai Cultural Centre 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

( × ) MULTIPLY: Scaling Creativity to the World

6. LABBfest 2025 — A boutique music and live-performance festival featuring artists from Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, France, and more.

📍 Club Carving CNX 📆 6 – 7 Dec 🕜 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

7. International Design Showcase — Craft and design exhibitions from China, Japan, Laos, Taiwan, France, and Russia.

📍 Chiang Mai Cultural Centre 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

8. CRAFTed of Taste: The Art of Eating — Thai–French collaboration between ceramicists, inspired by Northern food culture, with an exclusive dining experience.

📍 Chiang Mai Historical Centre 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

9. Yumeie Dream House Project: “Igniting the Next Generation” — Youth-driven “future home” concepts designed for the new normal, in collaboration with KIITO Japan.

📍 Chiang Mai Historical Centre 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

( ÷ ) DIVIDE / SHARE: Knowledge, Innovation & Future Thinking

10. Kids’ Creative Power: “Kit-Play-Create” — Playful creativity for children and families through performances and interactive learning.

11. RILA: Regenerative Material Collective of Asia — A living lab for “grown materials,” showcasing the future of sustainable materials.

 📍 Mr. Leaf, San Kamphaeng 🕜 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

12. Chiang Mai Digital Creative Festival — Talks, demos, and networking for digital art, animation, XR, and creative content industries.

 📍 College of Arts, Media and Technology, Chiang Mai University 📆 11–14 Dec

( − ) SUBTRACT: Creativity with Lower Impact

13. POP Market: Creative Craft Market — A curated lifestyle market with sustainable products, workshops, and art performances.

📍 Lanna Folklife Centre 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

14. Pavilion: “City-Makers” from 4 Northern Provinces — Exhibition featuring identity and cultural assets from the northern provinces of Phrae, Nan, Sukhothai, and Phichit.

📍 Chiang Mai Cultural Centre 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

( ∞ ) INFINITY — Boundless Growth & Global Recognition

15. Design Excellence Award (DEmark) — Outstanding Thai product design recognized by the Ministry of Commerce.

 📍 Chiang Mai Cultural Centre 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

16. Paper Exhibition: “Days in Rainy Summer” — An atmospheric installation blending Lanna wisdom, sound, light, and motion into a multisensory experience.

 📍 TCDC Chiang Mai 🕜 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.For more details, check out the official Chiang Mai Design Week website, follow their Facebook Page and Instagram account, or add their LINE OA.

About Chiang Mai Design Week

Now in its 11th year, Chiang Mai Design Week (CMDW) is a flagship festival for design, innovation, and creative exchange. It connects youth, communities, entrepreneurs, and visitors through exhibitions, workshops, talks, markets, and performances — strengthening Chiang Mai’s identity as a global creative city. CMDW is organized by the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), which supports Thailand’s creative industries and fosters city-wide creative development.

 

 

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