Vietnam Creative Awards 2026: When Dreams Blossom Beyond Borders

Every beautiful journey begins with a dream. For the inaugural Vietnam Creative Awards 2026, that dream was born from a simple belief: every talent deserves to be seen, every voice deserves to be heard, and every dream deserves wings to fly.

On Friday, 16 October, beneath the golden lights of Hôtel des Arts Saigon, MGallery Collection, Vietnam Creative Awards reached its most memorable chapter, celebrating the imagination, courage and passion of those who dared to turn their dreams into reality.

Under the theme Creative Voices Beyond Borders, the ceremony honoured 19 Winners receiving 20 awards and 13 Highly Commended recipients, presenting 33 distinctions across eight award categories. Beyond the honours, the evening paid tribute to the stories behind every creation and the extraordinary power of art to transcend borders and bring people together.

CELEBRATING THE ARTISTS AND THEIR DREAMS 

The 13 Highly Commended distinctions recognised Ivan Shenevsky, Claire Binkley, Mathilde Granveau, Karine Guillermin, Thơm Nguyễn, Thảo Phạm, Trương Huyền My, Quỳnh Anh, John Perthuis, Arnaud Guibert, Quinn Ryan Mattingly, Harmony Necklaces and Lâm Minh Hoàng.

Behind every recognition lay a personal story of perseverance, imagination and the courage to transform a creative dream into something meaningful.

BEYOND AWARDS, A JOURNEY OF HUMAN CONNECTIONS 

From the Shortlist Exhibition at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, featuring 120 artworks representing 12 nationalities, to the Finalist Exhibition at Hôtel des Arts Saigon, the journey became far more than a celebration of artistic excellence. 

The Breakfast with the Artists Art Talk Series brought together artists, collectors and cultural professionals for inspiring conversations on artistic identity, creativity and patronage.

Meanwhile, Beyond the Frame, Charity Dinner & Art Auction, held at The Albion by Kirk Westaway in support of Breast Cancer Network Vietnam, demonstrated how creativity can inspire compassion, generosity and a shared sense of purpose. 

Across these encounters, cultures embraced, strangers became friends, and creativity wove invisible threads between people, places and hearts.

PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR A CREATIVE FUTURE 

“Vietnam Creative Awards began with a simple dream: to give artists a place to be seen, a voice to be heard, and a dream to have wings,” shared Ms Jade Huỳnh, Founder of Vietnam Creative Awards and Oriental Media Vietnam.

“What touches me most is not simply the beauty of the artworks or the awards presented, but the friendships we have nurtured, the bridges we have built and the dreams we have awakened. We planted a little seed of hope, and today it has begun to blossom into a beautiful garden of creativity, where every flower carries its own colours, its own story and its own promise.”

The organisers extend their heartfelt gratitude to the judging and advisory panels, including Ms Angeline Gong, Lou Anmella, Michele Wee, Catherine Nguyen, Angelia Lee, Jenny Zhu Hui Min, Mr Steffen Billhardt, Philippe Dejean, Phạm Cao Đông and Jacques Blanchard, whose expertise, thoughtful perspectives and dedication helped guide this inaugural edition.

Special appreciation goes to Mr Philippe de Bourhis, General Manager of Hôtel des Arts Saigon, and his team for their gracious hospitality and commitment to bringing art into the heart of the hotel.

Sincere thanks also go to the generous sponsors and partners, Alfredo de la Casa, The Dalmore, Kaluga Queen by Caviar Royal and Lady Triệu Gin, whose support and shared appreciation for art, culture and creativity helped bring this vision to life.

Our deepest appreciation goes to the dedicated Oriental Media Vietnam team, particularly Ms Elmy Nguyễn, Awards Manager, and Ms Mathilde Granveau, Community Manager, and above all, to every artist who entrusted the platform with their creativity, shared their dreams and gave this journey its soul.

As the inaugural edition concludes, Vietnam Creative Awards looks towards nurturing a lasting community where artistic voices can flourish beyond geographical and cultural boundaries.

The lights have dimmed and the applause has faded, but the friendships we have nurtured, the bridges we have built and the dreams we have awakened will continue to flourish.

For art knows no borders, creativity speaks every language, and when we give dreams the wings to fly, there is no telling how far they may travel. One beautiful chapter has come to a close. A thousand more stories are waiting to bloom.

Creative Voices Beyond Borders, where every dream deserves a place to grow.