ADFEST 2026 has released its second wave of Lotus finalists, spanning 11 more categories — Effective, Brand Experience, Direct, Sustainable, Print & Outdoor Craft, Digital & Social, Digital Craft, PR, Film Craft, Outdoor, and Press.
Japan indisputably dominates the second round of finalists with 33 finalist entries, followed by Australia and Thailand with 17 finalist entries each. India makes a significant jump with 15 entries, largely powered by Mumbai’s production houses dominating the Film Craft category.
The Philippines continues to impress with 11 entries across Effective, Digital & Social, Film Craft, and Outdoor. Agencies GIGIL and BBDO Guerrero lead the charge.
Sponsor
Dentsu Tokyo remains the most shortlisted agency across both waves of ADFEST 2026’s Lotus finalist reveals, demonstrating rare versatility across craft, strategy, sustainability, and innovation. Its entries span:
- Radio & Audio Lotus — Voice of Food (Use of Audio or Voice Technology, Breakthrough in Radio & Audio)
- Film Lotus — No Labels
- Design Lotus — No Labels (Brand Collateral & Publications), Peaceful Weapon, Playful Stamina (Poster), No Labels (Integrated Design Campaign), Waves of Will Powered by NTT (Innovative Design, Inclusive Design)
- Creative Strategy Lotus — Second Life Kura (Long-Term Strategy)
- Sustainable Lotus — The Stool Donation Platform “Cho-Musubi” (Health & Well-Being), Second Life Kura (Long-Term Brand Platform)
- Print & Outdoor Craft Lotus — Playful Stamina (Illustration), Peaceful Weapon, No Labels (Art Direction)
- Digital Craft Lotus — Waves of Will Powered by NTT (UI, Use of Technology)
- Film Craft Lotus — Fries Beat 2025 (Animation)
- Outdoor Lotus — Sleeping with Giant (Events, Guerrilla Marketing & Stunts)
- Press Lotus — Endangered Species AR Bird Watching Newspaper (Breakthrough in Print)
Check out the second batch of finalist entries below:
Effective Lotus
Products & Services
Corporate Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Honda Rest Area for Honda Oneheart by Tu7uh Creative Lab, Jakarta
- Garuda Rakshak for DSP Mutual Fund by Dentsu Creative Inc., Gurugram
- Come Back Home for Daangn by Innocean, Seoul
Public Services & Cause Appeals
- The Kita Initiative for Spark! Philippines by Havas Ortega, Manila
Campaign Excellence
Campaign Success
- Come Back Home for Daangn by Innocean, Seoul
Long-Term Creativity
- Active Journalism for Annahar by Impact BBDO, Dubai
Launch/Re-launch
- Kween Yasmin for Canva Pro by Gigil, Manila
Brand Experience Lotus
Products & Services
Consumer Goods
- GQ Pro Med Scrubs for GQ Apparel by Accenture Song (Thailand), Bangkok
Retail, Leisure & Entertainment
- Drop Cart Draw for Lotus’s by VML Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Finance, Business & Commercial Public Services
- Can’t Afford to Pause for KBank by Adqua, Seoul
Corporate Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Honda Rest Area for Honda Oneheart by Tu7uh Creative Lab, Jakarta
- Soil Stay for Tra Mongkut Fertilizer by VML Group Thailand, Bangkok
Public Services & Cause Appeals
- Australia’s Deadliest Predator for Transport Accident Commission by Thinkerbell, Melbourne
Use of Media
Live Experiences & Events
- Back to Kai Tak for Cathay by Publicis Groupe Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Use of Film & Audio
- The Yangzhou Qiao Bei Musical Suite for Yangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism, China by TBWA\China, Shanghai
- Praykinson for Vajira Hospital by Dentsu Creative Thailand, Bangkok
- Hearing 1945 for Korea’s Liberation Day by Innocean, Seoul
Use of Mobile & Devices
- Pass the Milk for Paxel by Dentsu Creative Inc., Jakarta
Use of Digital & Social Platforms
- The Great In-Game Wedding for Battlegrounds Mobile India by DDB Mudra Group, Mumbai
- Haven for Suncorp Insurance by Leo Australia, Sydney
Technology
Emerging Technology & Tech-led Brand Experience
- Garuda Rakshak for DSP Mutual Fund by Dentsu Creative Inc., Gurugram
- Hearing 1945 for Korea’s Liberation Day by Innocean, Seoul
Strategy
Launch/Re-Launch
- Dalah’s Spoiler Billboard for Netflix by VML Group Thailand, Bangkok
Direct Lotus
Products & Services
Finance, Business & Commercial Public Services
- Haven for Suncorp Insurance by Leo Australia, Sydney
Corporate Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Tilechalk for DBL Ceramics Limited by Pops Inc., Dhaka
Use of Direct
Print & Outdoor
- The Untaught History Edition for Annahar by Impact BBDO, Dubai
Ambient: Small Scale
- The Tape Trailer for Netflix by Jongluckdee, Bangkok
Digital
Online & Digital Platforms
- Pass the Milk for Paxel by Dentsu Creative Inc., Jakarta
Use of Social Media Platforms
- Vaseline Verified for Vaseline by Ogilvy Singapore, Singapore
Mobile & Devices
- Lux Reclaim Her Name for Lux by VML Singapore, Singapore
Real-time Response
- Drop Cart Draw for Lotus’s by VML Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
- Garuda Rakshak for DSP Mutual Fund by Dentsu Creative Inc., Gurugram
Data & Technology
Use of Data
- Haven for Suncorp Insurance by Leo Australia, Sydney
Strategy
Customer Acquisition & Retention
- Soil Stay for Tra Mongkut Fertilizer by VML Group Thailand, Bangkok
Launch/Re-Launch
- One Noodle for Haraku Ramen by BLKJ Havas, Singapore
Campaign Excellence
Resilience Through Creativity
- The Last Order for Just Eats Global – Menulog Australia by Thinkerbell, Melbourne
Sustainable Lotus
Social
Health & Well-Being
- The Life-Saving Receipt for Chorogusan for Children by Dminusone, Seoul
- The Stool Donation Platform “Cho-Musubi” for Metagen Therapeutics, Inc. by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
- Smart Eye Camera for OUI Inc. by TBWA\Hakuhodo Inc., Tokyo
Education
- Soil Stay for Tra Mongkut Fertilizer by VML Group Thailand, Bangkok
Gender Equality
- Saltanat Light for Citix by Gforce Grey, Almaty
Environment
Energy, Sanitation & Sustainable Communities
- Haven for Suncorp Insurance by Leo Australia, Sydney
Economic
Partnerships for the Goals
- Tilechalk for DBL Ceramics Limited by Pops Inc., Dhaka
Campaign Excellence
Long-Term Brand Platform
- Second Life Kura for The Bath & Bed Team by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
Print & Outdoor Craft Lotus
Photography
- Make Love Last for Viatris by Ogilvy Shanghai, Shanghai
Illustration
- My Own for Yokohama City Special Support School for the Visually Impaired by Frontage, Tokyo
- Playful Stamina for Hoshi Awards by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
- Craftman.Ships for Ships by Hakuhodo Gravity Inc., Tokyo
Art Direction
- Peaceful Weapon for The OneShow 2024 Exhibition in Japan by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
- No Labels for Nikka Whisky by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
- Traces of Trance for Shiseido by Shiseido Creative, Tokyo
Copywriting
- Inglish Dictionary for Air India Express by Juice (An Omnicom Group Company, and a Conflict Brand Within TBWA), New Delhi
Production Design
- Dalah’s Spoiler Billboard for Netflix by VML Group Thailand, Bangkok
Digital & Social Lotus
Products & Services
Consumer Goods
- Ride the Buldak High for Buldak by Innocean, Seoul
Automotive
- Timeless Reliable for Honda Beat by Dentsu Creative Inc., Jakarta
Retail, Leisure & Entertainment
- The Unfluencer for KFC Thailand by Brilliant & Million, Bangkok
Corporate Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Come Back Home for Daangn by Innocean, Seoul
Public Services & Cause Appeals
- Safe Sketch for Save the Children by Cheil Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Film & Series
Social Film
- Reza Rahadian Presents: Films Without Reza Rahadian for Netflix ID Blockbuster by Good People Network, Jakarta
- The Scent That Gives You the Scene for Mith Bangkok by Wolf BKK, Bangkok
- Amuk Emak for WE+ by Hybrid Hakuhodo, Jakarta
Social Film Series
- It Must Be Sting for Sting Thailand by Brilliant & Million, Bangkok
- Chicky for GrabMart by Gigil, Manila
Social Engagement
Real-time Response
- Come Back Home for Daangn by Innocean, Seoul
Brand Storytelling
- Safetynovela for Philippine Airlines by BBDO Guerrero, Manila
- The Unfluencer for KFC Thailand by Brilliant & Million, Bangkok
Content & Influencers
User Generated Content
- Have a Positive Break for Black Thunder by Dentsu Digital Inc., Tokyo
Content Placement
- Gamifries for McDonald’s by BBH Singapore, Singapore
Use of Influencer
- Say It Prond for Speak by Dentsu Creative Taiwan, Taipei
- Reza Rahadian Presents: Films Without Reza Rahadian for Netflix ID Blockbuster by Good People Network, Jakarta
- Vaseline Verified for Vaseline by Ogilvy Singapore, Singapore
- Kween Yasmin for Canva Pro by Gigil, Manila
Organic Reach & Influence
- Kween Yasmin for Canva Pro by Gigil, Manila
Mobile & Portable Devices
Use of Mobile
- Safe Sketch for Save the Children by Cheil Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Mogu Mogu Town for Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
Application & Utility
- Safe Sketch for Save the Children by Cheil Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Campaign Excellence
Use of Platform
- Suzuki-San’s Heart Story on Line Apple Watch for Apple Watch by TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Tokyo
Digital Craft Lotus
Design
User Interface (UI)
- Waves of Will Powered by NTT for NTT Human Informatics Laboratories by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
Video & Moving Image
- Project: Memory Card for PlayStation by Six Inc., Tokyo
Music & Sound Design
- Play the Dew for Mountain Dew by BBDO Guerrero, Manila
- Hearing 1945 for Korea’s Liberation Day by Innocean, Seoul
Data & Technology
Use of Data
- Haven for Suncorp Insurance by Leo Australia, Sydney
Use of Technology
- IOWN×Perfume for IOWN by Geek Pictures Inc., Tokyo
- Waves of Will Powered by NTT for NTT Human Informatics Laboratories by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
Use of AI
- The Last Order for Just Eats Global – Menulog Australia by Thinkerbell, Melbourne
PR Lotus
Implementation
Corporate Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Soil Stay for Tra Mongkut Fertilizer by VML Group Thailand, Bangkok
Use of Media Relations
- Tsugiki: Coffee Reborn for Tully’s Coffee by PR Consulting Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
Use of Guerrilla Marketing & Stunts
- MK Mongkol IMC for MK Restaurant by Sour Bangkok, Bangkok
- Gamifries for McDonald’s by BBH Singapore, Singapore
- Acronym Hack for McDonald’s by Publicis Groupe Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Launch/Re-launch
- Oreo Milky Way Dunk for Oreo by Leo Indonesia, Jakarta
- One Noodle for Haraku Ramen by BLKJ Havas, Singapore
Brand Voice & Strategic Storytelling
- The Great In-Game Wedding for Battlegrounds Mobile India by DDB Mudra Group, Mumbai
- Meet Me at the Coke Sign for Coca-Cola by Ogilvy, Sydney
Digital & Social
Use of Social
- Vaseline Huh? for Vaseline by Brilliant & Million, Bangkok
- Vaseline Verified for Vaseline by Ogilvy Singapore, Singapore
Campaign Excellence
Breakthrough on a Budget
- Gamifries for McDonald’s by BBH Singapore, Singapore
Breakthrough in PR
- One Noodle for Haraku Ramen by BLKJ Havas, Singapore
- Cheer Signs for Tokyo Metropolitan Government by TBWA\Hakuhodo Inc., Tokyo
Film Craft Lotus
Production
Directing
- WhatsApp Baatan Hi Baatan Mein (Love in a Few Words) for WhatsApp by Fundamental, Mumbai
- Super.Money ‘Jonty Rodes’ for Super.Money by Bang Bang Mediacorp, Mumbai
- The M Ssing Piece for KFC Thailand by Brilliant & Million, Bangkok
- Steadfast – Dirty Money for Steadfast Stationery by Ducktape Studios, Mumbai
- The Missing Egg for Edufarmers by Migunani Creative Cult, Jakarta
- Flight of the Finch for Allianz by Finch, Sydney
- Shot on iPhone – Last Scene for iPhone by TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Tokyo
Script
- Kapal Kertas for The Kancil Awards and Creative Festival by Denhouse Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur
Cinematography
- Space for Lexus by Six Inc., Tokyo
- Let Go for Samsung by Finch, Sydney
- Make Love Last for Viatris by Ogilvy Shanghai, Shanghai
- Genesis GV60 Take Your Wonder Further for Genesis by Innocean, Seoul
Production Design
- Desi Oon for Centre for Pastoralism by Studio Eeksaurus Productions Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
- Safetynovela for Philippine Airlines by Arcade Film Factory, Manila
Casting
- WhatsApp Baatan Hi Baatan Mein (Love in a Few Words) for WhatsApp by Fundamental, Mumbai
- Flipkart ‘Sa Sa Le Le’ for Flipkart by Bang Bang Mediacorp, Mumbai
- Steadfast – Dirty Money for Steadfast Stationery by Ducktape Studios, Mumbai
- The Missing Egg for Edufarmers by Migunani Creative Cult, Jakarta
Use of Talent/Celebrity
- Say It Prond for Speak by Dentsu Creative Taiwan, Taipei
- Super.Money ‘Jontyrodes’ for Super.Money by Bang Bang Mediacorp, Mumbai
- Can’t Do That If You’re Driving for Uber Australia by Finch, Sydney
Post-Production
Editing
- Lessons for Apple by TBWA\Media Arts Lab ISEA, Singapore
Special Effects: In-Camera
- Space for Lexus by Six Inc., Tokyo
- The Adventures of Ampy for Ampol by Sedona Productions, Sydney
Special Effects: Digital Visual Effects
- Go! GR Supra Safety Car! for Gazoo Racing by Six Inc., Tokyo
- Mirror Mirror for Telstra by Alt.VFX, Brisbane
- Flight of the Finch for Allianz by Alt.VFX, Brisbane
Animation (In-Camera or Digital)
- Desi Oon for Centre for Pastoralism by Studio Eeksaurus Productions Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
- Fries Beat 2025 for McDonald’s by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
- Craftman.Ships for Ships by Hakuhodo Gravity Inc., Tokyo
- Project: Memory Card for PlayStation by Six Inc., Tokyo
- Flight of the Finch for Allianz by Alt.VFX, Brisbane
Music & Sound
Original Music
- Desi Oon for Centre for Pastoralism by Studio Eeksaurus Productions Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
- Echoes of Korea – Jeolla for Korea Tourism Organization by HSAD, Seoul
- Flipkart ‘Sa Sa Le Le’ for Flipkart by Bang Bang Mediacorp, Mumbai
- Go Mongolia for Government of Mongolia by Made by Ikigai, Singapore
Sound Design
- Umi Nori Collection VII for Umi Nori by Rumble Studios, Sydney
- Toyota Safety for Toyota by Rumble Studios, Sydney
Innovation
Breakthrough in Production
- Space for Lexus by Six Inc., Tokyo
- Sounds Human for Japan Philharmonic Orchestra by Hakuhodo Inc., Tokyo
Outdoor Lotus
Use of Outdoor
Traditional Poster
- Extra Finger Lickin’ Good for KFC by Havas Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Traditional Billboard
- Extra Finger Lickin’ Good for KFC by Havas Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Transit
- Sumo Stops for PlayStation 5 by Atali, Inc., Tokyo
Ambient: Small Scale
- Gamifries for McDonald’s by Leo Manila, Manila
- What the Fruit for Smirnoff by Youngster BKK, Bangkok
Ambient: Exhibition & Installation
- Young-Hee Freezes Bangkok for Netflix by Jongluckdee, Bangkok
Ambient: Special Build
- Saltanat Light for Citix by Gforce Grey, Almaty
- Bangkok Jumps for Netflix by Jongluckdee, Bangkok
- Wednesday Canal of Tears for Netflix by Gigil, Manila
Events, Guerrilla Marketing & Stunts
- Sleeping with Giant for Nell by Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
- Oreo Milky Way Dunk for Oreo by Leo Indonesia, Jakarta
- Back to Kai Tak for Cathay by Publicis Groupe Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- The Air Pollution Jersey for Lamphun Warriors F.C. and Northern Thailand Breathe Council by Flash Bomber, Bangkok
Campaign Excellence
Breakthrough in Outdoor
- The Sync Ad for Tokucha by Hakuhodo Inc., Tokyo
- Sumo Stops for PlayStation 5 by Atali, Inc., Tokyo
- Dalah’s Spoiler Billboard for Netflix by VML Group Thailand, Bangkok
Integrated Outdoor Campaign
- Middle Boss Hero for Craft Boss by TYO Inc., Tokyo
Press Lotus
Printed Publications
Books & Publications
- The Untaught History Edition for Annahar by Impact BBDO, Dubai
Campaign Excellence
Breakthrough in Print
- Endangered Species AR Bird Watching Newspaper for Chunichi Shimbun Co., Ltd. by Dentsu Inc. Chubu, Nagoya
The first batch of winners of the Lotus Awards will be announced on Friday, March 20.
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of ADFEST 2026.
READ MORE:
Japan leads as ADFEST reveals first wave of 2026 Lotus Awards finalists across eight categories
