Uncover queer stories, zines and poetry at Thailand’s first queer book fair on October 24

If your bedside table already wobbles under a pile of Thai BL (boys’ love) paperbacks, you’re well ahead of us. For everyone else, the Thai Queer Book Fair (TQBF) is the place to start. The one-day event takes over TK Park, the public library inside centralwOrld, on Saturday October 24. Its message is straightforward. Queer writing is for anyone who enjoys a good read, whatever their gender.

Expect long tables laden with romance novels, erotic short stories, poetry and fantasy, plus non-fiction on human rights and a generous spread of zines, prints and handmade publications. Independent publishers, small presses and printmakers run the stalls, so you’ll spot plenty of titles that rarely reach the big chain bookshops. Bring a tote bag. You’ll need one.

Browsing is only half of it. Panel talks, book clubs and writing workshops fill the afternoon, and queer artists take the stage. You can also chat face to face with the authors and illustrators behind the work, which is usually how we end up going home with three more books than planned.

The timing makes sense. Same-sex marriage became legal in Thailand in January 2025, and local BL and GL (girls’ love) series, many of them adapted from web novels, now draw fans across Asia. This fair shifts attention to the people who dream up those stories, and Thai writers get top billing.

From BTS Chit Lom, follow the skywalk straight to the mall and take the lift to the eighth floor. Arrive early for first pick of the limited runs.

The Thai Queer Book Fair takes place at TK Park, eighth floor, centralwOrld on Sat Oct 24, midday-6pm.