The Ministry of Culture revealed the success of the event. “Under the Royal Grace: 244 Years of Rattanakosin” attracted over 240,000 tourists, generated 168 million baht in revenue, and is advancing the promotion of “Thai Traditional Dress” towards world heritage status.
Ms. Zabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, said that collaboration from all sectors—including government, private sector, religious networks, arts and culture communities, and the public—played a crucial role in creating a meaningful experience for the celebration marking the 244th anniversary of Rattanakosin’s founding. This also honored the royal grace and paid tribute to King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, who established Rattanakosin as the capital of Thailand on 21 April 1782.
Regarding the event, “Under the Royal Grace: 244 Years of Rattanakosin”, which was held across three venues with distinct styles: 1. The 100th Anniversary Park at Chulalongkorn University, creating a new cultural space where old and new generations coexist harmoniously in a living Rattanakosin; 2. The National Museum Bangkok, where visitors toured the palace, viewed museums, watched films and shows, shopped, and tasted food in the luminous palace atmosphere, experiencing early Rattanakosin era; and 3. Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan, with community walks through Khlong San and Kadi Chin showcasing Rattanakosin-style temple fair culture. The event took place from 22–26 April 2026 and was highly successful, attracting over 248,000 attendees—more than 240,000 Thai nationals and over 7,400 foreign tourists—generating over 168 million baht in circulation and reaching over 39 million online views. This underscored the cultural capital’s potential to promote Thailand’s economy and tourism.
Ms. Zabida added that the highlight allowing attendees to experience Thai identity across the three main venues was the 100th Anniversary Park at Chulalongkorn University, which blended past and modern technology through outdoor multimedia exhibitions and AI-generated Thai traditional dress images, alongside concerts by famous artists and distinctive Thai cultural performances. Next, the National Museum Bangkok offered a “Night Museum” experience where people enjoyed the beauty of the palace at night, outdoor movies, and rare traditional performances. Finally, Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan emphasized the beauty of the Khlong San-Kadi Chin community lifestyle through activities like Buddhist merit-making, food contests from three religions, and cultural performances reflecting Thai faith and community bonds, fostering close cultural engagement, participation, learning, inspiration, income generation, and sustainability socially and economically.“Night Museum”(included in previous part)
The event was filled with people wearing traditional Thai dress, modernized Thai attire, and Thai fabrics styled to express individual identity beautifully and sincerely. This event encouraged Thais to proudly display their cultural identity and take pride in Thai heritage, aligning with the Ministry of Culture’s policy.“Proudly Wearing ThaiNationwide” promotes Thai culture’s recognition and acceptance internationally. Meanwhile, “Thai Traditional Dress: Knowledge, Craftsmanship, and Practices of Wearing National Thai Dress” is under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 21st Intergovernmental Committee meeting on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, to be held from 30 November to 5 December 2026in Xiamen City,People's Republic of China.
Additionally, the Ministry of Culture launched a nationwide campaign encouraging wearing Thai traditional dress throughout April, starting from 2–8 April 2026 for Thai Heritage Conservation Week, and 13–15 April 2026 for the Songkran Festival and nationwide Songkran activities.
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