The Ministry of Social Development collaborates with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and ThaiHealth to invite Thai families to "Close at Heart, Not Far Apart" at "FAM FESTIVAL 2026," opening creative spaces to address societal changes and declining birthrates, supporting strong families.
At 1:00 p.m. on 28 March 2026, Colonel Dr. Thanakrit Jit-areerat, Secretary to the Minister of Social Development and Human Security, presided over the opening ceremony of the “Family Festival (FAM FESTIVAL 2026)” under the concept " COSMIC FAMILY - Always Together: Close at Heart, Not Far Apart". The event aims to provide a space for children and families to spend creative time together and includes the presentation of the “Happy Family” awards. Attendees included Mrs. Chatuporn Rojanapanich, Director-General of the Department of Women's Affairs and Family Development; Mr. Sanan Wangsaengboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok; Mrs. Phoranee Puprasert, Assistant Manager of the ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation and Acting Director of the Office of Child, Youth and Family Well-being Support; and representatives from related agencies at the Bangkok Children's Discovery Museum 1 (Chatuchak), Bangkok.
Colonel Dr. Thanakrit said the Ministry of Social Development, together with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Office of Child, Youth and Family Well-being Support (ThaiHealth), organized the Family Festival 2026. “FAM FESTIVAL 2026” under the concept “COSMIC FAMILY – Always Together: Close at Heart, Not Far Apart.” Held from 28-29 March 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., this is the second year of the event designed to open creative spaces for Thai families to spend time together amid a society facing rapid economic, social, technological, and demographic changes. Thailand is entering an aging society while birthrates continue to decline, resulting in families taking on multiple roles including work, child-rearing, and elder care, even as family time together decreases.
Creating a “shared space” that allows families to spend quality time together is thus a key mechanism to strengthen relationships, understanding, and the family institution. The Ministry of Social Development is committed to promoting Thai families as safe spaces of love and opportunity for all ages. We advance this through policy development, supporting knowledge to create creative family spaces in communities, promoting life skills and relationships, and ensuring vulnerable groups have access to rights and welfare because we believe that “If families are strong, society will be stable,” and if every family member feels “they have a place,” then the nation will also have a secure future.
Mr. Sanan said the world is changing rapidly. Children grow up amidst digital media, many families face economic pressures, and Thai society is fully entering an aging phase. These factors make time and quality of family relationships more valuable than ever. Bangkok is therefore developing into “an age-friendly city.” We prioritize learning spaces near homes and support creative activities for children, youth, adults, and the elderly.
Mrs. Phoranee said ThaiHealth is committed to systemic collaboration with agencies and network partners to give every Thai family opportunities to build shared well-being. We drive policies through various projects and activities such as creative school break programs, promoting positive parenting, sparking social conversations about “free play,” creating safe local learning spaces for children, building networks of child workers at the community level, and developing ready-to-use tools and knowledge for families to care for health and promote quality lifelong learning.
The event features engaging activities including the FAM Talk Stage with sessions like “Family Talk: This Home Has Love” and “Always Together When Kids Grow Faster Than Before,” creative workshops such as “My Bottle Garden” and “Pirate Camera Inventor,” FAM Show & Talk with special performances by Bee Tatsapark Chee, and discussions with celebrity families including the Mosmadjuk family and Boonrod family. There are also educational, health, and leisure activities for families of all ages. Additionally, the “Happy Family” awards honor 17 exemplary families demonstrating love, bonding, and inspiration to society, such as the families of Ple Nakhon, Bee Tatsapark Chee, Nook Thanadol, and Mosmadjuk. The event aims to foster shared learning, create valuable memories, and reinforce that “No matter how far apart we are… the hearts of family always orbit close together.”
