The Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines (DMAP) has officially started the countdown to the launch of the Digital Young Creators (DYC) 2026, the biggest and most diverse DYC yet, sounding a cosmic rallying cry to the country’s brightest minds across the entire creative spectrum.
This year’s theme, “Intergalactic,” challenges the industry to break out of their professional silos and look toward a much larger creative horizon.
Calling All Shapes, Sizes, and Forms of Creators
In 2026, the definition of a “creator” has completely shifted. DYC 2026 is throwing its doors wide open to every single form of modern creator. Whether you are a traditional art director, a copywriter, a tech-obsessed programmer, a data analyst, a brand-side marketer, a client, or a content creator building an audience from a smartphone; everyone today is a creator producing different outputs. If you make things for the digital space, you have a home in this multiverse.
Because when all these different types of creators leave their own orbits and come together, we unlock completely new territories of creativity.
“The industry can no longer afford to operate in isolated solar systems,” says Peach Natividad, DMAP DYC 2026 Co-Chair. “Creativity today belongs to the techies just as much as the writers, and to the brand managers just as much as the influencers. ‘Intergalactic’ is about colliding these worlds to see what brilliant new stars we can form together.”
“Through this year’s program, we are building a true collaborative universe,” adds Ada Almendras-Lazaro, DMAP DYC 2026 Co-Chair. “We want to push our young talent past their comfort zones. By introducing them to new tools, new peers, and global stages, we are expanding the very definition of what Philippine digital creativity can achieve.”
The Flight Plan: Launchpads, Stations, and Battlezones
To prepare these creators for the deep unknown, DYC 2026 will guide participants through three major celestial phases:
- Learning Launchpads: Where ideas take off. Young talent will gain access to specialized learning sessions led by some of the most forward-thinking industry leaders and renowned content creators.
- Coaching Stations: Where mentors help you navigate. Participants will receive direct, hands-on coaching and masterclasses from celebrated industry mentors to sharpen their skills.
- Competition Battlezones: Where you test what you’re made of. The ultimate testing ground where creators face off for the highest honor; the chance to represent the Philippines and compete on the global stage.
Bridging the Multiverse: Teaching ‘Digital’ to Creatives, and ‘Creative’ to Tech
More than just a competition, DYC 2026 acts as a collaborative universe. This year’s core mission zeroes in on a vital cross-pollination of skills: teaching young digital-native professionals how to unleash deeper creativity, while simultaneously training traditional young creatives to master the digital frontier.
To bring this concept to life, DYC is introducing “Live Connects”—a high-energy, cross-category community discussion turned into content series; think Chicken Shop Date and First We Feast, each episode will feature a unique mashup format:
- The Setup: A younger digital specialist will interview two established creative leaders and one prominent brand marketer; or vice versa, a young creative will interview two digital leaders and a brand specialists like Dan Matutina of Plus63, Inka Magnaye of Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines, and Somatosonic, a pioneering multidisciplinary art unit.
- The Twist: Rather than a standard sit-down Q&A, the interview takes place in real-time while the entire group rolls up their sleeves to collaborate on a live digital creative activity together.
Watch the first episode here!
A Stellar Lineup of Partners
Powering this year’s voyage are some of the biggest names in the ecosystem. DMAP DYC 2026 is Co-Presented by YouTube and McDonald’s, and organized in partnership with SPACE at One Ayala and Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government aimed at accelerating women’s economic empowerment, supported by Co Studio, Sound Design, It’s Happening, Blogapalooza and Anymind.
With a lot more program components slated for reveal soon; including the Creatives Competition, Creators Competition, and the highly-anticipated Women Creators Accelerator Program tracks; DMAP is officially opening the floor for further alliances.
Join the DYC Community
DYC takes over of the DMAP YouTube Channel; where we stream live activities, drop behind-the-scenes content, and broadcast the sessions. New episodes dropping every FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH! 🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss a single collision of minds.
The DYC Community Day and competition briefing will also happen on September 14, 2026 at SPACE at One Ayala. Registration and competition mechanics will be announced soon. Follow DMAP on Instagram @dmap_ph to stay updated.
About DMAP and DYC
The Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines (DMAP) is the country’s leading authority in driving digital marketing excellence. The Digital Young Creators (DYC) program is its premier flagship initiative designed to discover, nurture, and elevate the next generation of digital-first leaders, sending top local winners to represent the Philippines on prestigious global stages.
