A guitar note rings out, the lights come on, the beat fills the room – and technology turns into a live experience. These are the moments that define Prolight + Sound Bangkok 2026. From 30 September to 2 October, BITEC Bangkok will bring together not only Professional Audio, Lighting, AV and Entertainment Technology. The stage will also show what this technology can make possible.
Together with the Prart Music Group (PMG) and Overdrive, the first edition of the trade fair will bring live music into the halls. Young talents and professional musicians will take centre stage, alongside a musical tradition deeply rooted in Thailand. With Live Music Spotlight, Mor Lam Live and the interactive drum circle “Feel the Beat!”, Hall 100 will also become a live stage on all three days of the event.
There is a good reason why the Prart Music Group plays an important role in this. For more than two decades, PMG has been combining music education, talent development, music media and live entertainment in Thailand – bringing exactly the kind of experience needed to make music come alive at a technology trade fair.
From musician to supporter of Thailand’s music scene
The story of the Prart Music Group is closely linked to its founder, Prart Aroonrungsi. He grew up in a musical family, became interested in keyboards and guitar at an early age and developed a particular passion for rock, blues and jazz. He began teaching while still a young musician.
In the 1990s, Aroonrungsi released his own instrumental albums. From 1994 to 1996, he studied at the Guitar Institute of Technology at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. After returning to Thailand, his focus increasingly shifted from his own music to supporting and developing other musicians.
The Prart Music School was established in 1997. In the same year, Aroonrungsi produced “Prart Music Workshop”, a television format dedicated to music and music education. The Overdrive Guitar Magazine followed in 1998, and according to the company, the Prart Music Group was founded in 1999.
Over time, music education and media developed into a network supporting musicians at different stages of their careers.
Overdrive: From music magazine to platform
Overdrive is particularly closely associated with PMG. What began in 1998 as a specialist magazine for guitarists developed into a platform for musicians, young talents and Thailand’s music scene.
Workshops, concerts and competitions were soon added to its editorial activities. The first Overdrive Guitar Contest took place in 2000. Workshop and concert formats were later also held outside Bangkok, including in Phuket, Chonburi, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen.
Further competitions for instrumentalists, young bands and individual musicians followed. This created something that went beyond traditional music education: talents were able not only to learn and practise, but also to demonstrate their skills under real conditions in front of an audience.
This approach continues today. The former magazine has long since developed into a multimedia music platform that also follows music, musicians and live performances through digital channels.
A stage for international musicians
At the same time, the Prart Music Group also continued to expand its activities in professional live entertainment. Over the years, PMG has brought numerous international musicians and bands to stages in Thailand.
These include Eric Johnson, Dream Theater, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker Group, DragonForce and Megadeth. Musicians such as Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm and Jeff Berlin, as well as John Scofield and Joe Lovano, have also been part of concert activities supported by PMG.
The wide range of artists also shows how closely music education and the professional music scene are connected at PMG. Talent development, workshops, media activities and major live productions do not exist separately, but form different parts of the same musical world.
Three live formats, three different experiences
Live music can be experienced in many different ways at Prolight + Sound Bangkok 2026. Alongside instrumental performances by young musicians, the programme also brings Thai musical tradition and interactive formats to the stage. With Live Music Spotlight, Mor Lam Live and Feel the Beat!, the trade fair demonstrates the diversity of live entertainment – from focused stage performances to shared musical experiences.
Live Music Spotlight: Young musicians take the stage
The Live Music Spotlight puts young musicians and instrumental performances centre stage. It makes it possible to hear and see how musical talent, instruments and professional event technology come together to create a live performance.
Sessions will take place on all three days of the show:
- 30 September, 12:30–12:45: Live Music Spotlight – Instrumental Performance
- 1 October, 13:00–13:20: Live Music Spotlight – Instrumental Performance
- 2 October, 13:30–13:50: Live Music Spotlight – Instrumental Performance
Against the backdrop of PMG and Overdrive’s long-standing commitment to nurturing young talent, this format fits well with their shared history: young musicians are given a stage in the middle of a trade fair, where they also come into contact with professional technology and the people behind the entertainment industry.
Mor Lam Live: Thai musical culture meets modern stage technology
On the first day of the event, Mor Lam Live – The Power of Thai Sound & Stage adds another dimension to the programme.
Mor Lam is one of the defining musical traditions of north-eastern Thailand and combines singing and music with a strong live and performance culture. At Prolight + Sound Bangkok, this cultural tradition meets a modern stage and professional event production.
Mor Lam Live will be part of the stage programme on 30 September from 13:30 to 13:40.
Feel the Beat!: The audience becomes part of the performance
Live music is not only something to listen to. During the “Feel the Beat! – Interactive Drum Circle”, visitors can become part of the musical experience themselves.
The concept is deliberately interactive: instead of a traditional stage situation with musicians on one side and spectators on the other, a shared rhythm is created. Watching and listening therefore become active participation.
The drum circle will take place on all three days:
- 30 September, 15:40–16:20
- 1 October, 16:30–17:30
- 2 October, 12:30–13:15
This format in particular captures the idea behind Prolight + Sound Bangkok: not just to look, but to experience.
More than an exhibition for event technology
The live programme is part of a much broader trade fair experience.
More than 100 companies from around the world will present technologies and innovations from Professional Audio, Professional Lighting, Pro AV and Entertainment Technology at Prolight + Sound Bangkok. Product showcases and live demonstrations will make new solutions directly tangible.
The programme also includes more than 20 conference and workshop sessions. Topics range from the Future of Entertainment and XR and Artificial Intelligence to Immersive Technology, Pro AV and Live Entertainment.
Prolight + Sound Bangkok 2026 will take place from 30 September to 2 October 2026 in EH100 at BITEC Bangkok. The show will be open daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
And anyone who wants to know what Entertainment Technology feels like when it is actually put into action should make sure to do one thing in between: head to the stage and listen.
