In an era where creativity is the driving force behind economic and social development, the presence of a regional creative festival in Isaan, the Northeast region of Thailand, is more essential than ever. It goes beyond art, culture, and innovation; it serves as a vital platform that inspires Isaan natives who have moved to larger cities to return home, applying their potential, knowledge, and experience to uplift their hometowns.
Isaan Creative Festival 2025 (ISAANCF2025), now in its fifth year, is organised by the Creative Economy Agency (Public Organisation), or CEA. The festival opens its doors to those ready to reshape Isaan, offering a space for idea exchange, thought-provoking dialogue, and real-world implementation of bold projects across art, music, film, design, technology, crafts, food, community, and business.
This year’s theme, ISAAN SOUL PROUD, celebrates the region’s cultural identity and will run for nine days, from June 28 to July 6, in Khon Kaen. The festival embodies the spirit of local pride and supports sustainable urban development by unlocking the full potential of the people of Isaan.
Why must the Isaan Festival be Creative?: Igniting nationwide inspiration
ISAANCF2025 is not just a showcase of creativity; it’s a launchpad for creative business opportunities and a thriving ecosystem of innovation. It encourages Isaan natives and creatives across Thailand to return, reimagine, and revitalise their hometowns. It also aims to redefine perceptions of Isaan by showcasing pride in the region’s identity, not as a place in need, but rather a creative stage of the future, rich with potential and poised to become a vibrant hub of economic opportunity, culture, and creativity.
This year’s festival highlights the richness of the Isaan region across its natural resources, way of life, culinary heritage, and traditional culture. These unique identities are being reimagined and communicated in new ways, giving rise to creative businesses that generate local income and inspire a new generation to return home and redefine Isaan’s image.
Three creative industries × Must-see programmes in ISAANCF2025
The festival spotlights three key creative industries: Food, Entertainment & Content, and Craft, Art & Design, with curated programmes that turn culture into opportunity.
- Food Industry: From ‘Larb, Koi, and Pla Ra’ to a Bold Culinary Economy
Isaan food is more than just flavour, it is a heritage and wisdom passed down through generations. This year’s festival invites everyone to experience:
- Larb Koi Universe: An exhibition showcasing two iconic Isaan dishes, ‘Larb’ and ‘Koi,’ as cultural DNA reflecting the essence of Isaan people. It also explores fusion food trends, branding opportunities, and new food cultures.
Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- NEXT STATION Pla Ra: An interactive talk exploring Pla Ra (traditional Thai fermented fish) not merely as food, but as a cultural symbol and economic asset. The session will pave the way for the establishment of a Pla Ra Institute and showcase dishes that highlight Isaan’s soft power.
Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- Creative Wisdom Talk: A thought-leadership seminar designed to empower creative entrepreneurs with business insights. This activity equips creative entrepreneurs with strategies for success, featuring topics like Michelin-Starred Business for Isaan Cuisine by Nay-Witchupol Charoensupaya from NAWA (a 1-Michelin Star restaurant) and Customer-Centric Mindset”by Jo-Thana Thienachariya, Dean of H.O.W., among others.
Date: July 3 | Time: 10.00 to 18.30 | Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- Entertainment & Content Industry: The Energetic and Joyful Stage
The sounds of the khaen, morlam, and local music will revive traditional Isaan music with fresh vigour to empower regional music creators:
- Isaan Music Talent: A vibrant intergenerational stage that brings together both seasoned and up-and-coming Isaan musicians. This platform offers opportunities for emerging artists to showcase their talent and connect with broader audiences throughout the festival.
Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- Local Voice Panel (Hosted by Thai PBS): An authentic platform that reflects the voices of the local communities, this panel delves into the future of local music businesses and community-based music commerce. It will also explore the evolving landscape of homegrown music distribution and the sustainable growth of Isaan’s musical ecosystem.
Date: June 29 | Time: 17.00 to 19.00 | Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- Isaan Cinema House: A creative initiative transforms communities into film knowledge incubation centres, to support the work of Isaan filmmakers and directors through the Doc Club & Pub Isaan model. It focuses on building a film community and nurturing the film industry in Isaan.
Venue: Khontemporary, Columbo Creative District
- Content Lab 2025: Newcomers: A career-oriented session featuring insights from the Thai film and series industry invites filmmakers and those interested in behind-the-scenes work to exchange perspectives on the industry, such as Pimpaka Towira (producer, film director, international film festival organiser), Aticha Tanthanawigrai (film director and screenwriter), and Pairach Khumwan (film and advertising director), etc.
Date: June 29 | Venue: Bayasita Hotel
- Craft, Art & Design Industry: Where Craftsmanship Defines Style and Identity Drives Brands
- “Back to Isaan!” Pavilion [The Answer for Homecomers Is Here]:
This exhibition compiles stories of Isaan homecomers who are building their futures through branding, creative studios, social initiatives, and small businesses rooted in cultural capital. This showcases how coming home can be a forward-thinking strategy for urban and regional development.
Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- ISAAN MU-NIVERSE: An exhibition reimagines Isaan crafts in a new context, linking mutelu (belief in superstition) with contemporary design. It harnesses the skills of over 300,000 artisans and a vast community network to position crafts within the mutelu market as a new economic driver.
Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- “ISAAN SOUL PROUD” fashion show: This runway event brings together top Isaan designers and AI technology to present a unique fashion experience that blends tradition with innovation, offering a fresh perspective on regional design.
Date: June 28 | Time: 17.30 to 18.15 | Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- Isaan showcase: Explore a curated selection of distinctive handicrafts, artworks, and design pieces from 30 talented creatives. This showcase highlights the potential in Isaan’s craft sector and equips local entrepreneurs stepping into the creative economy. As part of its broader mission, selected participants will have the opportunity to join the ISAAN MICE Expo 2025 — an international trade exhibition that serves as a gateway to expanded business opportunities and greater market exposure.
Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
- ISAANCF x Kupper Art Festival 2025: Under the theme “Sky Limitless,” this dynamic art platform invites audiences to discover the depth and diversity of Isaan through a wide range of artistic expressions.
Venue: Pullman Khon Kaen Hotel
- Creative market (D-KAK Market): A vibrant marketplace featuring creative talents, artists, and local entrepreneurs. The market is divided into two zones: D-KAK D-Craft, which showcases handcrafted products by local makers and community enterprises, and the Creative Food Market, a culinary hotspot offering regional delicacies. Designed to foster business connections, idea exchange, and new partnerships.
Venue: TCDC Khon Kaen
In addition, ISAANCF2025 will host the Isaan Creativity and Innovation Summit 2025, the first international academic forum dedicated to advancing design and innovation in the region. Organised by Khon Kaen University, the Mekong Institute (MI), and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the summit will take place on July 5 to 6, at Khon Kaen University Science Park.
Showcasing opportunities from Isaan’s regional potential
ISAANCF2025 also shines a spotlight on the spatial and cultural potential of Isaan across provincial, urban, district, and community levels. The festival underscores Isaan’s appeal as a region abundant in lifestyle, investment opportunity, tourism value, and multi-dimensional promise. Four key venues in Khon Kaen have been selected to vividly represent Isaan Style through the creative lens of local visionaries:
- TCDC Khon Kaen (Kangsadan District) – A dynamic hub for emerging thinkers and creators, serving as an incubator for ideas and a testbed for creative economy and future lifestyle innovations.
- Pullman Khon Kaen Hotel – A regional centre for conferences, seminars, and cultural festivals in this MICE City, driving significant economic impact across the city.
- Columbo Creative District – A vibrant craft village where daily life and creativity intertwine. With over 20 various studios, this area is being transformed into a model creative district powered by collective creativity.
- Sawathi Community – Proudly upholding traditional Isaan ways of life, passed down through generations. At its heart is Wat Chai Sri, home to over 100-year-old mural paintings, or ‘Hoop Taem Sinsai.’ This community leverages its cultural capital, lifestyle, and local wisdom to develop learning centres, arts, and traditions, creating new opportunities for the community and accommodating tourists, evolving into the ‘Sawathi Creative Cultural Community Model.’
ISAANCF2025 is poised to elevate regional pride and reaffirm Isaan’s readiness to become a true city of opportunity. The festival aims to attract the next generations and bolster confidence in the region’s potential on both national and international stages.
Join the ISAAN SOUL PROUD movement and help shape the future through every dimension of culture while supporting the region’s growing business expansion. With more than 200 diverse activities across seven types of programmes — Creative Academic Programme, Creative Business Platform, Showcase & Exhibition, Talk & Workshop, Event & Entertainment Programme, D-KAK Market, and Creative District Project from June 28 to July 6, in Khon Kaen. ISAANCF2025 is proudly set to inspire cultural pride and drive creativity across the region.
You can follow them for more updates:
Website: www.isancreativefestival.com
Facebook/Instagram: @IsanCreativeFestival
Press Release
The story Why ‘Isaan’ must be ‘Creative’: Transforming regional pride into economic power get ready for unmissable programme highlights as seen on Thaiger News.
