The ASEAN Digital Awards 2026 will take place in January 2026 as Vietnam hosts the sixth ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) in Hanoi.

This marks the first time Vietnam will host the ASEAN Digital Awards (ADA) since the program was renamed from the ASEAN ICT Awards in 2021.

A Vietnamese enterprise’s product wins the silver award in the Final Round of the ASEAN Digital Awards held in January 2025 in Thailand. Photo courtesy of the organizing board

According to the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the annual ASEAN Digital Awards is regarded as one of the region’s most prestigious honors.

The Awards recognize innovative digital initiatives, products and solutions with strong practical value. It also encourages creativity, anticipates emerging technology trends and highlights the role of digital transformation in socio-economic development across ASEAN.

This year’s Awards feature six categories: digital products for the public sector, digital products for the private sector, community-focused digital products, digital content, digital startups and digital innovation.

By the September 15 submission deadline, the Awards received hundreds of entries from ASEAN member states.

All submissions go through three rounds: national selection, regional preliminary judging (online) and final judging (in person).

The regional experts panel will evaluate finalists before the winners are announced at ADGMIN 6. Each member state may nominate entries in multiple categories.

The Department of International Cooperation noted that ASEAN’s decision to choose Vietnam as the 2026 host reflects the region’s recognition of Vietnam’s digital transformation progress and its contributions to regional digital cooperation.

Hosting the final round and awards ceremony will also give Vietnamese tech firms valuable opportunities to network, showcase their solutions and connect with regional partners, helping to further spread a spirit of innovation.

Vietnam has consistently been among the top-performing countries at the awards, winning several gold and silver prizes in past years.

Many Make-in-Vietnam products, such as online learning platforms, digital agriculture applications and AI-driven health solutions, have been honored, strengthening Vietnam’s reputation as a rising technology hub in the region.