Royal Textile Academy Thimphu: New Exhibitions Until 30 November

By Best of Bhutan Research Desk · October 15, 2026 · 8 min read

The Royal Textile Academy in Thimphu has opened two new exhibitions, and both stay open to the public until 30 November 2026. BBS reported on 14 October that Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, the Queen Mother and the Academy's royal patron, attended the opening. Daily Bhutan confirmed the closing date the following day.

The two shows are very different. Beyond the Weave is a solo exhibition of contemporary textile art by Bhutanese designer Sangay Choden. Yabsay is a set of paintings by students and the art teacher of Druk School in Thimphu, each one interpreting the life and legacy of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

In short: if you are in Thimphu between now and the end of November, the Royal Textile Academy now has two temporary shows on top of its permanent textile displays. It is an easy addition to a standard day of sightseeing in the capital.

Key Facts at a Glance

DetailWhat has been announced
VenueRoyal Textile Academy (RTA), Thimphu
ExhibitionsBeyond the Weave; Yabsay
Open until30 November 2026
Opened byHer Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck attended the opening (BBS, 14 October)
Beyond the WeaveContemporary textile art by designer Sangay Choden: weaving, felting, hand stitching
YabsayPaintings on the Fourth Druk Gyalpo by Druk School students and their art teacher
SupportThe Academy and the Textile Museum, under the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development
Opening hours and feesNot given in the reports; confirm with the Academy or your guide

What Is On Show

Beyond the Weave

Sangay Choden is a textile designer and artist with close to twenty years of experience, according to both BBS and Daily Bhutan. She is not the same person as the Queen Mother, who shares the name. Her exhibition takes three traditional skills (weaving, felting and hand stitching) and uses them to make contemporary art and design pieces, rather than the kira, gho and ceremonial textiles visitors usually see.

She told BBS she wants to link Bhutanese designers and weavers with buyers abroad: "Going into the international market is also one of my goals." For visitors, this means the show is a look at where Bhutanese textiles may be heading, set against the historic pieces elsewhere in the building.

Yabsay

The second exhibition is a set of paintings by students at Druk School in Thimphu, guided by their art teacher Chorten Norbu, who also contributed work. Each painting is the artist's own take on the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, who reigned from 1972 until he abdicated in 2006. BBS reported that the teacher described the paintings as reflecting how the students themselves see His Majesty.

Daily Bhutan notes that Yabsay complements an earlier exhibition at the Academy marking the Fourth King's 70th birth anniversary. The Academy's own site describes that earlier show, The Visionary Monarch, which opened on 2 June 2026 with photographs, textiles, artefacts, archival material and multimedia displays on his reign. The same ceremony consecrated a Guru Tshengye thongdrol commissioned by the Academy in 2024, with Guru Rinpoche's robes worked in handwoven Kushuthara and natural plant dyes. We have not found a published closing date for The Visionary Monarch, so ask before you go if you want to see it.

For background on the Fourth King's reign and the move to constitutional monarchy, see our Bhutan history timeline.

Explore Five Kira Patterns

Before you visit, try reading a kira yourself. The five girls in the photo below each wear a different handwoven pattern. Pick one to compare the real cloth with a pattern we redrew from it, using colours sampled straight from the photograph. You can drag the divider, change the scale, recolour the pattern or download it.

The redrawn patterns are simplified. A real kira has slight irregularities from hand weaving, and the Academy's galleries are the place to see how complex the finest pieces get.

Why the Royal Textile Academy Matters

Weaving is one of the most visible parts of Bhutanese culture. The kira and gho worn every day in offices, schools and dzongs are woven cloth, and the most prized pieces, such as Kushuthara brocade from Lhuentse, are still made by hand on backstrap looms.

The Royal Textile Academy is a non-profit set up under the patronage of the Queen Mother to keep that skill alive. Atlas Obscura describes it as founded in 2005, with a training programme for weavers, a conservation centre that restores textiles from monasteries around the country, and a museum with rotating textile exhibitions. Wikipedia notes that its conservation work has covered pieces from several dzongs and monasteries.

For a traveller, that means three things in one building:

What It Means for Travellers

Timing. The exhibitions close on 30 November. October and November are peak season in Bhutan, with clear skies and dry trails, so many visitors will already be in Thimphu during the run. Our month-by-month guide covers weather and crowds for both months.

Fitting it in. The Academy is in central Thimphu and works well on the same day as the Memorial Chorten, Tashichho Dzong and the Folk Heritage Museum. Allow 60 to 90 minutes if you want to see the permanent galleries and both new shows. Our Thimphu destination page lists the other main sights.

Opening hours and tickets. Neither BBS nor Daily Bhutan published hours or entry fees for these exhibitions. Atlas Obscura lists the Academy as open 9am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, but older official notices for past exhibitions give different hours. Treat any published hours as unconfirmed and ask your guide to check on the day. Entry costs, if any, are separate from the daily Sustainable Development Fee; check whether your tour package covers museum tickets.

Photography. Rules vary between exhibitions and many Bhutanese museums restrict photography in galleries. Ask staff before taking pictures, especially of the royal garments and religious pieces.

Buying textiles. If the exhibitions spark an interest in buying a piece, ask the Academy or your guide where to find authenticated handwoven work. Machine-made copies of traditional patterns are common in tourist shops and are priced well below genuine handwoven cloth.

Plan a Textile-Focused Trip

If weaving is a real interest, Thimphu is only the start:

If your autumn trip also takes you south, note that Gelephu will be very busy around 1 November for Project 108, with road closures from 30 October to 4 November. Thimphu is not affected by those closures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exhibitions are on at the Royal Textile Academy in Thimphu?

Two temporary exhibitions opened in October 2026: Beyond the Weave, contemporary textile art by designer Sangay Choden, and Yabsay, paintings of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo by Druk School students and their art teacher.

How long are the Royal Textile Academy exhibitions open?

Both exhibitions are open to the public until 30 November 2026, according to BBS and Daily Bhutan.

What are the Royal Textile Academy opening hours?

The news reports did not give hours or fees. Atlas Obscura lists 9am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, but this is not confirmed for the current exhibitions. Check with the Academy or your guide before you go.

Is the Royal Textile Academy the same as the National Textile Museum?

They are closely linked. The Textile Museum operates under the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development and, according to BBS, helped fund these two exhibitions with the Academy. Ask your guide which galleries are open on the day you visit.

Can tourists visit the Royal Textile Academy?

Yes. It is a regular stop on Thimphu sightseeing days and is included in many guided cultural tours of Bhutan.

Sources

Exhibition details can change. If you have updated information from the Royal Textile Academy, please get in touch.

Planning a cultural trip to Bhutan this autumn? Talk to us about building the Royal Textile Academy, Khoma village or a festival into your itinerary.