Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanan revealed that efforts are underway to urgently resolve issues with the Children's Museums, emphasizing understanding of children and parents and fully pursuing solutions to reopen as soon as possible.
On 22 Sep 2026, at the Chao Phraya Room, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) City Hall, Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon District, Mr. Sanan Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, addressed the temporary closure announcement of Bangkok Children's Museum No. 1 (Chatuchak) and No. 2 (Thung Khru), which has attracted public attention on social media. He clarified that the closure is not due to a policy to cease operations but results from the fiscal year transition and procurement processes to appoint new contractors.
Deputy Governor Sanan stated that the Children's Museums are a key BMA policy and important learning centers. Bangkok plans to develop and expand their services and has no intention to close them. However, during the fiscal year transition, it is necessary to conduct government procurement to select new contractors to manage and maintain the facilities for continuous operation.
The Bureau of Culture, Sports, and Tourism issued prior notice that Children's Museum No. 1 (Chatuchak) and No. 2 (Thung Khru) will be closed from 1 Oct 2026 onward due to ongoing procurement for new contractors in compliance with the 2017 Public Procurement and Supplies Management Act.
Mr. Sanan added he understands that the closure impacts the public, especially children and parents during school holidays. He has therefore urged relevant agencies to expedite solutions and contractor selection to resume services as quickly as possible. Currently, procedures and options are being reviewed.
"We are well aware of the significant impact, especially during school breaks, so I have emphasized resolving the issue promptly because the budget is allocated for year-round operations. The key is to find contractors quickly and minimize downtime," Deputy Governor Sanan said.
The limited timeframe for this year's procurement partly relates to delays in the Bangkok Metropolitan Council's budget approval compared to usual schedules, due to elections this year. This shortened preparation time for contractor selection. Bangkok needed to announce the situation in advance to inform the public for service planning rather than allowing unannounced closures.
However, the announcement did not specify how long the closure will last, as the exact duration depends on procurement procedures and contractor appointment. The Bureau of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is currently managing this process. Once completed and the contractors take over management, the museums will reopen and the public will be informed accordingly.