🛒 Bangkok to Host Its First International Content Market

The event will take place from July 20 to 22 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, drawing over 80 of the world’s largest investors and streaming platforms.

The new market is set to become a cornerstone of the massive state-backed soft power strategy under the Content Thailand brand. In recent years, the international profile of Thai cinema has expanded rapidly; Netflix alone invested approximately $200 million in local content between 2021 and 2024, while Thai drama series (Y-series) have built a massive, dedicated global fanbase.

The launch of BICM 2026 allows Thailand to position itself as a direct competitor to established regional players, such as Hong Kong’s Filmart, Singapore’s Asia TV Forum, and Tokyo’s TIFFCOM. According to Chakrit Pichyangkul, Executive Director of the CEA, investments in media production demonstrate high returns, with every baht invested in content yielding approximately 1.8 baht back into the country’s economy.

The centerpiece of BICM 2026 will be a pitching session showcasing over 55 promising film and animation projects from Thailand and across Asia, alongside a prize pool of at least $20,000 for the completed screenplay competition. The exhibition floor will host over 500 booths spanning 12 creative sectors, including the video game industry, animation, art toys, and book publishing.

In total, the organizers expect to welcome over 300 international content buyers and around 10,000 visitors to the unified trade forum.