ADFEST 2026 culminated in the announcement of the Lotus Special Awards at PEACH, Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, Thailand.
A new Special Award has been added to the lineup this year, with Independent Network of the Year joining the lineup.
ADFEST 2026 Special Awards
Network of the Year
Dentsu retains its Network of the Year title at this year’s ADFEST. A coalition of 11 offices competing under the Dentsu banner in the Lotus Awards made the victory possible.
- Dentsu Inc., Tokyo
- Dentsu Creative, Gurugram
- Dentsu Creative Thailand, Bangkok
- Dentsu Creative Taiwan, Taipei
- Dentsu Digital Inc., Tokyo
- Frontage Inc., Tokyo
- Dentsu Creative Philippines, Manila
- Dentsu Indonesia, Jakarta
- Dentsu Live Inc., Tokyo
- Dentsu East Japan Inc., Tokyo
- Dentsu Creative Manila, Manila
Runners up:
- Leo
- Hakuhodo
- Ogilvy
Independent Network of the Year
- Innocean – WINNER
- GIGIL
- Good People Network
- Edelman
- Special Group
- FSN
Agency of the Year
- Dentsu Tokyo – WINNER
- Dentsu Creative Gurugram
- Leo Australia
- Ogilvy Singapore
- Shiseido Creative Tokyo
Independent Agency of the Year
- Shiseido Creative Tokyo – WINNER
- Fundamental Mumbai
- Studio Eeksaurus Productions Mumbai
- Choojai and Friends Bangkok
- DMINUSONE Seoul
Digital Agency of the Year
- Ogilvy Singapore – WINNER
- BBDO Guerrero
- Leo Australia
- GIGIL Manila
- Good People Jakarta
Media Agency of the Year
- Dentsu Creative Gurugram and Starcom Malaysia Kuala Lumpur – WINNER
- Hakuhodo DY One Tokyo
- Innocean Seoul
- H+ Jakarta
- Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc. Tokyo
- Initiative Thailand Bangkok
- Starcom Taiwan Taipei
PR Agency of the Year
- MSL Philippines – WINNER
- Brilliant & Million Bangkok
- Material Inc. Tokyo
- Ogilvy Singapore
- PR Consulting Dentsu Inc. Tokyo
- SOUR Bangkok
- Verve Bangkok
Production Agency of the Year
- Chrome Pictures Mumbai, Crastos Studios Mumbai – WINNER
- Studio Eeksauraus Productions, Mumbai
- Canaries Post Sound Mumbai
- Canaries Post Sound Mumbai
- Ducktape Studios Mumbai
Advertiser of the Year
- DSP Mutual Fund – WINNER
- Unilever
- Suncorp Group
- Centre for Pastoralism
- McDonald’s
Regional Agency of the Year
Regional Agency of the Year is now a part of ADFEST Special Awards line-up. The award is given to the Agency with the highest score from East Asia, Middle East, Oceania, South Asia and South East Asia.
East Asia Agency of the Year
- Dentsu Tokyo – WINNER
- Shiseido CreativeTokyo
- Innocean Seoul
- Hakuhodo Inc, Tokyo
- Leo Hong Kong
Middle East Agency of the Year: Impact BBDO Dubai
Oceania Agency of the Year: Leo Australia
South Asia Agency of the Year
- Dentsu Creative Gurugram – WINNER
- Fundamental Mumbai
- Studio Eeksaurus Productions Mumbai
- DDB Mudra Group Mumbai
Southeast Asia Agency of the Year
- Ogilvy Singapore – WINNER
- VML Thailand
- BLKJ Havas
- Wolf BKK
- Choojai and Friends
Lotus Grande for Humanity
The Lotus Grande for Humanity recognizes creative excellence in the Public Services & Cause Appeals categories. Gold Lotus winners in Brand Experience, Commerce, Creative Strategy, Design, Digital & Social, Direct, Effective, Entertainment, Film, Media, Mobile, Outdoor, PR, Press, Radio & Audio (Except Audio Craft Lotus sub-categories), Sustainable, INNOVA and Lotus Roots are eligible for the Lotus Grande for Humanity.
The Grande of Humanity was not awarded this year. Yasuharu Sasaki, Global Chief Creative Officer for dentsu Tokyo, was Grand Jury President for Creative Strategy, Effective, Sustainable Lotus, Lotus Roots, and Grande for Humanity Awards.
He explained, “Unfortunately, we were unable to select a Grande winner in this category this year. While each nominee was a wonderful Gold-winning entry, we believe there must be even more creativity out there that truly embodies the “Human+” is applicable worldwide, and represents the APAC region. We look forward to next year’s submissions.”
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of ADFEST 2026.
