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Brace yourself, because from 6 September to 15 October 2025, Bangkok’s Cultural Centre Main Hall transforms into a dazzling global stage. The 27th International Festival of Dance & Music promises 14 headline‑grabbing performances hailing from more than 10 countries. It’s art, it’s power, it’s drama—with enough variety to satisfy both the classical purist and the thrill‑seeking festivalgoer.

🎤 A Once‑in‑a‑Lifetime: Plácido Domingo in Thailand

It’s official—Plácido Domingo, one third of the legendary Three Tenors, is touring Thailand… for the first and only time. Now, that’s not just a concert; that’s history unfolding before your eyes. Domingo’s career is mammoth—150 operatic roles across 4,000 performances, crowned with 12 Grammys—and he’ll share the spotlight with American soprano Monica Conesa and Italian conductor Beatrice Venezi, lauded as one of classical music’s most “powerful women”.

If opera is about grandeur, this is the summit. It’s not just about vocal fireworks—it’s about witnessing the legend himself crafting musical history live.

India’s Epic Takes Centre Stage: Mahabharata: 18 Days, Dusk of an Era

Next stop on this globe‑spinning tour of culture: India’s grandest story retold. Prabhat Arts International, a company steeped in history since 1946, brings its magnum opus, Mahabharata: 18 Days, Dusk of an Era. Think more than 50 cast members, levitation, aerial stunts, martial‑arts choreography, lush costumes, and a cosmic clash of dharma vs adharma.

You’ll feel every clash, every betrayal, every blow. It’s an ancient epic made visceral for a modern audience. It’s myth—on steroids, live.

Ballet Brilliance from Beijing: A Dream of Red Mansions

From India to China, the heart of legend courses on stage. The National Ballet of China adapts 18th‑century author Cao Xueqin’s masterpiece A Dream of Red Mansions, one of Chinese literature’s “Four Great Classical Novels”. Over eighty dancers, six containers of sets and costumes from Beijing, and a Western ballet lens aimed at traditional Chinese storytelling.

Love. Loss. Decline. This is ballet packed with subtlety, heartbreak and historical nuance. And when endless silk skirts swirl under an intimate spotlight? You don’t just watch—you feel.

Russian Grandeur: Four Productions from Samara

Hold onto your seat—you haven’t experienced opulence till you see Russia’s Samara Opera & Ballet Theatre. Headlining with Tosca and Aida, two operatic titans telling stories of passion, power and ultimate sacrifice. They’ll also premiere a bespoke Nutcracker especially for Thailand, plus the emotionally sharp and modern Three Masks of the King—a theatrical interrogation of power and identity.

Four productions, 250‑strong casts, and a slice of Russian scale that would make any director weep with delight.

Adrenaline, Acrobatics & Avant‑Garde Dance

The festival’s not all silk and sonnets—there’s whiplash‑fast spectacle on the way. Meet China National Acrobatic Troupe, celebrating 50 years of Thai‑Chinese diplomacy, with over 50 acrobats and 74 international gold medals between them. Think gravity‑defying feats that leave jaws on the floor.

Then brace for Pixel, a French fusion of street, hip‑hop, roller‑blading and high‑tech visuals—complete with 3D graphics, projection‑mapping and interactive special effects. It’s dance, it’s tech, it’s tomorrow—all rolled into one.

Global Snapshots: Rhythms from Cuba, Spain & Prague

The festival also boasts an alphabet‑defying array of global art:

Cuba Vibra! – a whirlwind through Cuban dance heritage
Nocturna – Spanish flamenco, alive with fire and torque
NINA – a Gatsby‑style dance‑drama celebrating female strength
Energy ∞ Infinite – percussion and movement collide in rhythmic bravura
Prague Philharmonia – Grammy‑winning orchestral lushness with guest American pianist George Li, aged just 29, straight from the LA Philharmonic

It’s the world on one map—Bangkok as the nexus of culture, passion and global artistry.

Business & Backing: Partners in Passion

This is not a one‑man show; it’s brought to you by heavyweights. Supporters include AXA Insurance, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm, BMW Thailand, Indorama Ventures, Singha, Supalai, Swissôtel Bangkok Ratchada, Thai Union Group, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, with the Ministry of Culture driving the push.

They’re not just sponsors—they’re custodians of a shared vision: elevating Thailand as a global culture beacon.

Platinum Packages & Early‑Bird Bonanza

Eager to see global legends at premium—without the wait? Platinum Packages deliver:

10% discount per show on selected performances (non‑combinable)
Priority, reserved seating
Limited‑edition keepsake

And there’s more: Bangkok Bank cardholders get up to 20% off during the early‑bird window (14 June–14 July). Early bird doesn’t just chirp—it sings.

Booking & Details

Tickets will be available at Thai Ticket Major outlets and www.thaiticketmajor.com from June 14 and will be available until July 14. If you want every drop of art, wonder, pace and performance, now’s the moment to pounce. Online at www.bangkokfestivals.com, you can browse complete programs, showtimes, special packages, and maybe even book your seat at history‑in‑the‑making.

Why It Matters: More Than Just a Show

You don’t need to be an arts purist to feel this festival’s pulse. It’s Thailand on the world stage, a cultural handshake across continents. From Spanish flamenco to Indian mythology, from Chinese ballet to French high‑tech dance, it’s a reminder that art knows no borders.

It’s history, innovation, heart, and investment. Sponsors see value in culture, not just commerce, which tells you something about Thailand’s place in the global narrative.

Oh, and let’s not forget you. If you’re drawn to that rare whiff of something greater than yourself—a night where music, story and spectacle converge—you’ll find it here.

The Final Word

So here’s the pitch—Bangkok’s 27th International Festival isn’t just big, it’s epic. With Plácido Domingo’s debut, mind‑blowing epic theatre, world‑class ballet, top‑tier opera, relentless acrobatics and genre‑bending dance, it’s a festival that doesn’t whisper—it roars.

Take two steps back. The world is watching. You can too.