On 23 April, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Thailand Foundation, held a press conference to invite nominations for Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2026 (TPDA2026). The event was led by Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Tharit Charungvat, Secretary-General of the Thailand Foundation.
Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thailand Foundation to honor individuals, groups, or organizations, of Thai or foreign nationality, whose distinguished achievements abroad have significantly enhanced Thailand’s global reputation through humanitarianism, public service, peace, human rights, culture, sports, mass media and digital media, the creative economy, innovation, and sustainable development, all of which significantly enhance Thailand’s reputation on the global stage. For the year 2026, one to three awards will be presented, with each laureate receiving a permanent inscription of their name on the “Goodwill” trophy and the Wall of Honor displayed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a personalized replica trophy, a certificate of honor, and a cash prize of 300,000 THB
Over the past four years, the award has been presented to a distinguished list of laureates. In 2022, the honor was granted to Dr. Soontorn Antarasena for his leadership of a mobile medical unit project spanning over 70 cities across 7 countries for more than 30 years. The following year, in 2023, the award was presented to Thai golf-champion siblings, Miss Moriya Jutanugarn and Miss Ariya Jutanugarn, who have built a global reputation in women’s professional golf and served as inspirations to Thai youth for over a decade. In 2024, three awards were presented: the first to the Venerable Phra Phrompacharayanmuni (Ajahn Jayasaro) for his 44 years of continuous dedication to spreading Thai Theravada Buddhism abroad; the second to the Siam Society under Royal Patronage for its 120-year pivotal role in promoting Thai arts, culture, archaeology, and history while strengthening international relations through cultural activities; and the third to National Artist Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul, who has spent over 50 years creating international classical music, authoring nearly 100 English books, and promoting Thai culture on the world stage. Most recently, the 2025 award was bestowed upon GMMTV Co., Ltd., an organization that has produced and distributed multilingual entertainment for over 30 years. GMMTV has been instrumental in promoting diverse aspects of Thai culture—including traditions, lifestyles, and modern values such as equality and human rights—reaching 520 million followers across global platforms, increasing international interest in learning the Thai language, and bringing Thai literature to a global audience through English translations and adaptations into manga and manhwa. Furthermore, the company has supported Thai tourism by showcasing all 77 provinces and organizing more than 400 events in 48 cities across 18 countries alongside international partners to promote Thailand in various dimensions.
The selection process for the Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2026 will be conducted by a ten-member Sub-committee comprising high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary-General of the Thailand Foundation, and representatives from academia, civil society, and the media. This Sub-committee is responsible for reviewing the achievements of all nominees and screening candidates for final decision by the Thailand Foundation Board, which serves as the ultimate deciding body. Members of the general public are invited to nominate individuals, groups, or organizations they deem worthy of the Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2026 by using the nomination form accessible via the provided QR code. Nominations are open from now until 25 July 2026, with the official results to be announced in September and the award ceremony scheduled for the end of the year.
For further details and the nomination form, please scan the QR code below. For more information, please contact the Thailand Foundation at
02-203-5000 ext. 11030-1, Email: [email protected], or visit our website at www.thailandfoundation.or.th.
