adfest turns 30 in 2027, and we’re looking for the next idea that changes everything.

adfest 2027, 30&BEYOND, is now open for program proposal submissions until 30 November 2026.

Whether you’re a creative, brand leader, platform specialist, creator, filmmaker, production expert, technologist, game creator, entrepreneur, innovator, educator, entertainer – or simply someone shaping the future of creativity and culture – we want to hear from you.

30&BEYOND is a testament to adfest’s commitment to connecting culture, craft, creativity, and technology. It celebrates the journey we’ve shared, the community that has made it possible, and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

30 years of ideas.

30 years of people.

30 years of connections.

30 years of technology pushing boundaries.

But turning 30 isn’t about looking back. It’s about looking ahead.

30 isn’t a finish line.

Because human creativity doesn’t have one.

Thirty years have taken us from the broadcast clock to an audience that responds, participates and creates in real time. Media has fragmented. Creators have become media owners. Technology is transforming how ideas are imagined, made and distributed. AI is changing creative possibilities at extraordinary speed.

Through these seismic shifts, one truth has remained constant: humanity and creativity create resonance.

The kind of creativity that moves hearts, shapes cultures and drives meaningful change will always require human courage, curiosity and conviction.

As adfest steps into its next decade, we are looking for original, inspiring, and relevant content for the adfest 2027 program – not simply to tell us what is happening now, but to explore what happens next.

We welcome ideas from advertising and marketing, but also from the wider worlds of culture, entertainment, technology, gaming, film, music, media, creators, design, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Possible content tracks to explore include, but are not limited to:

CREATIVITY & TECHNOLOGY

Explore how emerging tools, platforms and technologies are reshaping creativity – and what happens when technology becomes a creative collaborator rather than simply a tool.

EXPERIENCE & ENGAGEMENT

Explore how brands, creators and communities can earn attention, create participation and build meaningful connections in a world where audiences increasingly choose what – and who – they engage with.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY

Explore how creativity reflects, challenges and shapes culture, identity and social change. Bring us perspectives, behaviours and ideas from across Asia and beyond that the rest of the world should know about.

ETHICS & RESPONSIBILITY

Examine the responsibilities that come with greater creative power – from AI, data and intellectual property to representation, authenticity and trust.

FUTURES & POSSIBILITIES

Look beyond today and imagine what comes next. Challenge accepted wisdom. Explore new creative disciplines, business models, behaviours and possibilities that may reshape our industry – or create entirely new ones.

And don’t feel constrained by these tracks.

30&BEYOND is about discovering ideas we haven’t thought of yet.

We welcome different voices, different disciplines, different cultures and different ways of presenting ideas. Above all, we want content that makes people think, question, participate and connect.

As adfest celebrates its 30th year, Vinit Suraphongchai, Chairman of adfest, shares:

“For 30 years, adfest is proud to be a part of the creative community. A space where we come together to make lifelong friends, exchange ideas, and discover something new. I hope we never lose that curiosity. That hunger to learn and relearn. Whatever changes are beyond, adfest will always be a place for new voices and possibilities.”

For more details on proposal submissions, go through the Program Proposal Guide, and submit your proposal online here by 30 November 2026.

Submission does not guarantee selection, as program slots are strictly limited. Selected speakers will receive a complimentary pass to adfest 2027. Please note that adfest does not pay speaker fees or cover travel and accommodation.

For proposal submission enquiries, contact Sessions@adfest.com.

adfest 2027, 30&BEYOND, will take place from 18–20 March 2027 at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Pattaya, Thailand.

adfest is one of Asia’s leading international creative festivals, celebrating creativity, culture and innovation. Since 1998, it has brought together the creative community across Asia and beyond to recognise outstanding work, exchange ideas, nurture talent and celebrate the diverse cultures and perspectives that inspire creativity.

As a not-for-profit organisation, adfest is committed to nurturing and supporting the creative industries across Asia Pacific and MENA. It is one of only 7 regional creative festivals featured in the WARC Creative 100 Rankings, one of 12 awards included in the Campaign Brief Asia Rankings, and one of 22 awards recognised in The Drum World Creative Rankings.