Thailand's Creative Economy Agency (CEA) is launching the Bangkok International Content Market 2026, taking place July 20-22 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. This event, the first of its kind for the country, aims to position Thailand as Asia's leading content hub.
Government Collaboration and Goals
The market is a collaborative effort between the CEA and the Department of International Trade Promotion. It aims to attract more than 80 international investors and streaming services, underscoring Thailand's ambition to convert its growing screen sector into a robust export business. This initiative is part of the broader Content Thailand strategy, a government-backed soft-power drive.
CEA’s Executive Director, Chakrit Pichyangkul, stated, “Bangkok International Content Market 2026 marks a significant step in systematically elevating Thailand’s content marketplace to the international level.” He emphasized the agency's goal to transform Thai content into sustainable economic value, citing 2020 data that showed every baht invested in content yields about 1.8 baht in economic return.
Regional Market Competition
Thailand is entering a competitive regional landscape that includes established markets like Hong Kong’s Filmart, Singapore’s Asia TV Forum, Tokyo’s TIFFCOM, and Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Notably, Netflix has already spent approximately $200 million on Thai content from 2021 to 2024, and the international popularity of Thailand's Y-series, focusing on boys’ love dramas, exemplifies the country's burgeoning media influence.
Event Highlights and Participation
BICM2026 will feature a pitching competition spotlighting Asian and Thai storytelling, with more than 55 projects vying for prizes of at least $20,000. Over 500 exhibitor booths will be available, alongside an industry forum with talks and panels. The larger Thailand Content Market encompasses 12 creative sectors, including games, animation, art toys, and books, aiming to draw over 300 international buyers and 10,000 attendees.
Organizers expect strong participation from global streamers and studios, driven by the program’s government support. The market’s success is viewed as a crucial step in Thailand's efforts to amplify its cultural exports and economic impact within the creative industries.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/thailand-bangkok-international-content-market-1236614431/
