The culmination of ADFEST 2026 is the announcement of Lotus Special Awards at PEACH, Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, Thailand. ADFEST is pleased to announce the winners below.
A new Special Award has been added to the line-up this year with Independent Network of the Year joining the line-up.
ADFEST 2026 Special AwardsNetwork of the Year
Dentsu has retained its title as Network of the Year at ADFEST 2026. The win was powered by a coalition of 11 offices competing under the Dentsu banner in the Lotus Awards:
Dentsu Inc., TokyoDentsu Creative, GurugramDentsu Creative Thailand, BangkokDentsu Creative Taiwan, TaipeiDentsu Digital Inc., TokyoFrontage Inc., TokyoDentsu Creative Philippines, ManilaDentsu Indonesia, JakartaDentsu Live Inc., TokyoDentsu East Japan Inc., TokyoDentsu Creative Manila, Manila
Runners up:
LeoHakuhodoOgilvyIndependent Network of the YearInnocean – WINNERGIGILGood People NetworkEdelmanSpecial GroupFSNAgency of the YearDentsu Tokyo – WINNERDentsu Creative GurugramLeo AustraliaOgilvy SingaporeShiseido Creative TokyoIndependent Agency of the YearShiseido Creative Tokyo – WINNERFundamental MumbaiStudio Eeksaurus Productions MumbaiChoojai and Friends BangkokDMINUSONE SeoulDigital Agency of the YearOgilvy Singapore – WINNERBBDO GuerreroLeo AustraliaGIGIL ManilaGood People JakartaMedia Agency of the YearDentsu Creative Gurugram and Starcom Malaysia Kuala Lumpur – WINNERHakuhodo DY One TokyoInnocean SeoulH+ JakartaHakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc. TokyoInitiative Thailand BangkokStarcom Taiwan TaipeiPR Agency of the YearMSL Philippines – WINNERBrilliant & Million BangkokMaterial Inc. TokyoOgilvy SingaporePR Consulting Dentsu Inc. TokyoSOUR BangkokVerve BangkokProduction Agency of the YearChrome Pictures Mumbai, Crastos Studios Mumbai – WINNERStudio Eeksauraus Productions, MumbaiCanaries Post Sound MumbaiCanaries Post Sound MumbaiDucktape Studios MumbaiAdvertiser of the YearDSP Mutual Fund – WINNERUnileverSuncorp GroupWhatsappCentre for PastoralismMcDonald’sRegional 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 YearDentsu Tokyo – WINNERShiseido CreativeTokyoInnocean SeoulHakuhodo Inc, TokyoLeo Hong KongMiddle East Agency of the Year: Impact BBDO DubaiOceania Agency of the Year: Leo AustraliaSouth Asia Agency of the YearDentsu Creative Gurugram – WINNERFundamental MumbaiStudio Eeksaurus Productions MumbaiDDB Mudra Group MumbaiSoutheast Asia Agency of the YearOgilvy Singapore – WINNERVML ThailandBLKJ HavasWolf BKKChoojai and FriendsLotus 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 to win 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.
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