Thai Martial Arts Heritage Showcased at IMF and World Bank Meetings in Bangkok

Key summary

Traditional Thai combat skills, including sword fighting, war drums, and competitive Muay Thai, were presented to international delegates at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Bangkok. The event, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, highlighted martial arts beyond Muay Thai as part of Thailand's soft power following its return as host after 35 years. Performances combined precise movements with contemporary staging to introduce rare arts like krabi krabong to global audiences familiar primarily with boxing.