ADFEST 2026 day 2 bridges human intuition and global innovation

The second day of ADFEST 2026 sustained its momentum with sessions exploring the industry’s uncertain future, culturally resonant ideas across Asian markets, and how deep cultural understanding can transform campaigns.

Since the festival commenced on March 19, the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel has welcomed 770 delegates from 56 cities, including young creatives, marketers, filmmakers, and more. 

Alongside the live sessions, the festival also featured seven interactive workshops, the Production Hut hub, and an exhibition showcasing all entries submitted to the Lotus Awards.

Check out our recap of ADFEST’s second day below:

The Uncomfortable Truth About the Future of Creativity

The day began with one big question: What will creativity look like tomorrow? Ted Lim of DIFF Creative Consultants and Andreas Moellman of FUTURE INC explored how agencies consolidate while AI accelerates in the session “The Uncomfortable Truth About the Future of Creativity.”

How Creativity Can Spark Real-World Connections 

Stephan Schwarz of LePub Singapore and SJ Heng of Heineken Asia-Pacific took the stage to discuss how deep cultural understanding can transform brand campaigns into platforms for social interaction in the segment “How Creativity Can Spark Real-World Connections.”

Designing Inclusive Futures: Uniting Technology and Creativity to Move Brands and Society 

Naoki Tanaka of Dentsu Lab discussed how brainwave-driven performance art can expand participation and accessibility. He underscored the role of technology in shaping culture in his talk, “Designing Inclusive Futures: Uniting Technology and Creativity to Move Brands and Society.”

Short Films for ADFEST 2026 by the Fabulous Five 

The panel “Short Films for ADFEST 2026 by the Fabulous Five,” featured new directors Ariyaporn Boondeepathum, Irvine Prisilia, Karin Nogami, Lisa Aoki, and Nagi Tajima. Attendees screened the films before a discussion moderated by Michael Ahmadzadeh of electriclimeº.

TIGER and DRAGON: When Giants Unite

Global brands and a major agency shared the stage for “TIGER and DRAGON: When Giants Unite.” In this session, Kenichi Yagi of Toyota Mobility Foundation, Hideaki Takaishi of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Prompohn Supataravanich of Hakuhodo First Co., Ltd,  and Koji Suzuki Hakuhodo Inc. delivered a compelling message: when giants collaborate, they drive meaningful global change.

A Global Brand’s Challenge Beyond Borders

Joohee Lee of Cheil Korea explored how tech companies can move beyond technical specs and stereotypes to create emotionally resonant ideas that travel across 200 markets in her keynote, “A Global Brand’s Challenge Beyond Borders.”

When People Become the Brief Again 

Warunyo “Big” Sorasetsakoon of BBDO Bangkok reminded conference attendees to reinstate humanity at the center of creative work in the segment “When People Become the Brief Again,” reaffirming that human connection remains the most vital source of inspiration.

GUT Instinct: Intuition vs. Algorithm

When Jessica Davey and Meyvi Wedella of GUT Singapore presented “GUT Instinct: Intuition vs. Algorithm,” they revealed how trusting one’s intuition can unlock braver, more culturally resonant creativity across Asian markets.

Grandma Famous vs. Croisette Famous: A Clarification of Creative Excellence

Eric Monnet of WPP explored how excellence has evolved beyond winning trophies to define the industry’s highest standards of craft in the final session, “Grandma Famous vs. Croisette Famous: A Clarification of Creative Excellence.”

Apart from holding a series of insightful talks on Day 2, ADFEST 2026 also announced the first set of Lotus Awards winners. You can find the full list here.

The second day of ADFEST 2026 delivered a powerful reminder: while technology and algorithms continue to push the industry forward, its true strength lies in human intuition, cultural depth, and the collaborative spirit that transforms “giants” into catalysts for global change.

adobo Magazine is an official media partner of ADFEST 2026.

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