UPDATE AS OF MARCH 21, 2025: PATTAYA, THAILAND – Japan surpasses Thailand in the number of finalist entries after ADFEST 2025 announced the shortlists for the Sustainability, Creative Strategy, Innova, and Lotus Roots categories.
Out of 328 entries across all 22 categories, including Sustainability, Creative Strategy, Innova, and Lotus Roots, adobo Magazine analyzed the results. Japan now leads with 49 shortlisted works, reinforcing its strong presence in the region’s creative scene.
See our updated breakdown per country below:
| Ranking | Country | No. of Finalist Entries |
| 1 | Japan | 49 |
| 2 | Thailand | 46 |
| 3 | Singapore | 42 |
| 3 | India | 42 |
| 4 | Philippines | 28 |
| 5 | China | 23 |
| 6 | Australia | 22 |
| 7 | South Korea | 19 |
| 8 | Indonesia | 12 |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | 11 |
| 10 | Taiwan | 10 |
| 11 | Vietnam | 7 |
| 11 | Malaysia | 7 |
| 12 | United Arab Emirates | 5 |
| 13 | Hongkong | 3 |
| 14 | Sri Lanka | 1 |
In the newly added categories, there were seven entries that made it to the finals on the Innova Lotus category, with Singapore leading with three, while Japan and India both securing three spots each.
The Sustainability Lotus category saw 15 finalist entries — four from India, three from Japan, two from Singapore and Philippines, and one each from China, Australia, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, in the Lotus Roots category India and Thailand tied with three finalist entries each, leading with three entries, Japan and Philippines also tied with two each, while Singapore, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Hongkong all secured one finalist spot each.
Lastly, the Creative Strategy Lotus category, a newly added category this year, yielded 27 finalist entries. India clinched nine finalist entries, Japan had five, Philippines had four, Thailand had three, Singapore had two, and China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia all had one spot each.
To know which entries made the cut, check the official ADFEST results per Lotus category below:
- Brand Experience
- Commerce
- Design
- Digital & Social
- Digital Craft
- Direct
- Effective
- Entertainment
- Film
- Film Craft
- Media
- Mobile
- New Director
- Outdoor
- PR
- Press
- Print & Outdoor Craft
- Radio & Audio
- Innova New
- Lotus Roots New
- Sustainability New
- Creative Strategy New
ADFEST 2025 is being held from March 20 to March 22, 2025 at the Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH), Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Pattaya, Thailand.
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of ADFEST 2025.
