The Creative Economy Agency (CEA) is advancing Thailand’s creative economy onto the global stage with the Creative Excellence Awards 2026, taking place on August 14, 2026. This year’s event highlights insights from the world-renowned “Made in Italy” model, positioning creativity as a strategic engine for sustainable economic, social, and environmental progress.
Dr. Chakrit Pichyangkul, Executive Director of CEA, stated that in an era where technology is standard, creativity provides the crucial edge for national competitiveness. Shifting from cost-based competition to value creation through design, identity, and cultural capital is urgent for Thailand. CEA aims to build a comprehensive creative ecosystem that transforms artistic ideas into tangible businesses, public policies, and urban development.
Elevating the Creative Excellence Awards to international standards serves as a benchmark for Thai creators. Proven success from the 2025 awardees includes securing three accolades at the Paris Design Awards 2026 in France and one at the Creative Tourism Awards in Spain.
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the Creative Excellence Awards 2026 features 15 categories across three main pillars:
- Creative City Awards (5 sub-categories) – Honoring cities or communities leveraging local identity and wisdom for sustainable economic growth: Creative City Festival, Creative City Branding, Creative City Policy, Creative City Regeneration, and Creative City Collaboration.
- Creative Business Awards (5 sub-categories) – Recognizing businesses integrating creativity into products and services while supporting environmental sustainability: Creative IP, Creative Transformation, Creative Data, Creative Campaign, and Creative Commerce.
- Creative Social Impact Awards (5 sub-categories) – Celebrating creative solutions that address social equality, well-being, education, and green initiatives: Creative Inclusivity, Creative Well-Being, Creative Equality, Creative Education, and Creative Green.
The forum also presents exclusive sessions with leading international and Thai experts:
- International Keynote Session: “Design as the Pillar of ‘Made in Italy’ Global Prestige” by Perla Gianni Falvo, Executive Board Member of the Association for Industrial Design (ADI), Italy. She will explore how strategic design transformed “Made in Italy” into a global symbol of quality, offering actionable lessons for Thailand’s creative assets.
- Panel Discussion: “From Thai Roots to Global Recognition” featuring past Thai awardees from the 2025 stage, sharing insights on converting cultural roots into international brand equity.
The Creative Excellence Awards 2026 ceremony will be held on August 14, 2026, from 17:30 to 19:30 hrs. at NEX Hall, 5th Floor, Siam Paragon. For more information, visit www.cea.or.th or Facebook: Creative Economy Agency.
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