The Creative Economy Promotion Office (Public Organization) or CEA is moving forward with the initiative to promote creative festivals across the country. This includes international festivals such as the Isan Creative Festival 2026 and Chiang Mai Design Week 2026, regional festivals like the Creative Nakhon Festival 7/2026 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani Decoded 2026 in Pattani, and microWAVE FILM FEASTival 2026 in Chanthaburi, as well as local creative festivals in Chiang Rai, Tak, Songkhla, Pattani, and Si Sa Ket. The aim is to harness the power of creativity as a key mechanism for urban development, economic growth, and improving the quality of life for local residents throughout July - December 2026.

CEA's drive to organize creative festivals nationwide, from local to international levels, embodies the concept of 'Festival as a City Platform', using festivals as a tool to create urban identity, stimulate the creative economy, and foster community engagement through a variety of activities including art, music, film, design, contemporary culture, and community connection events.

1. International Festivals

  • Isan Creative Festival 2026 showcases the cultural assets of 20 provinces in the northeastern region, themed “Northeast Modern: Ready | Adapt | Joyful Friends.” It highlights the potential of “people, cities, businesses, and technology” as it steps into the new era through various activities such as exhibitions, events, discussions, music, workshops, etc., scheduled from July 11 - 19, 2026, in Khon Kaen.
  • Chiang Mai Design Week 2026 presents the theme “Local Thunders Global Transformation,” gathering design works from local power in the region, including design, crafts, wellness, food, music, and international pavilions to elevate the festival to an international creative festival, taking place from December 5 - 13, 2026, in Chiang Mai.

2. Regional Festivals

  • Creative Nakhon Festival 7/2026 seeks to explore the potential of assets and culture, looking for possibilities amid crises to revitalize and rejuvenate people, neighborhoods, and cities under the theme “Sacred Secret,” scheduled from July 2 - 6, 2026, in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
  • Pattani Decoded 2026 interprets the city of Pattani through design that connects faith, people, assets, culture, and adaptation to the future under the theme “RIVER-SATION: Conversations Through Water, Where Water is the Chronicle of Life,” taking place from July 11 - 19, 2026, in Pattani.

3. Local Festivals

  • microWAVE FILM FEASTival 2026 presents the concept “Cinema in All Forms: FILM . FOOD . FASHION . FOTO” to transform Chanthaburi into a storytelling space through film, food, fashion, and contemporary culture, aiming to create a network of new filmmakers while expanding the role of film as a cultural and creative economy platform. This event is scheduled from August 25 - 30, 2026, in Chanthaburi.
  • FESTIVAL CREATOR 2026 is a project aimed at developing festival drivers to elevate local festivals into creative economy platforms through training, workshops, consulting, and real festival trials. The project aims to enhance the capabilities of festival creators nationwide while creating New Signature Activities for six pilot festivals, including:
  • Tolong Menolong 2026 on July 4 - 5, 2026, in Pattani.
  • TAK: Nature Reimagined on July 18 - 19, 2026, in Tak.
  • เทศกาลป๊ะกาด from July 24 - August 2, 2026, in Chiang Rai.
  • เทศกาล HugHeartYai from July 29 - August 2, 2026, in Songkhla.
  • เทศกาลซิงกอรามา อาร์ต เฟส หรือ SINGORAMA ART FEST from July 24 - 26, 2026, in Songkhla.
  • ไทบ้านแลนด์ มิวสิคเฟสติวัล on July 25 - 26, 2026, in Si Sa Ket.

CEA believes that “Creative Festivals” are not just cultural activities but are essential tools for urban development, creating economic opportunities, and providing spaces for the new generation while connecting creative networks at both local and international levels to sustainably push Thailand towards becoming a Creative Nation.