A Thai photographer won two first prizes in the contest "ASEAN News Photo 2026" and the contest "Thailand Tourism Photo 2026"
On 22 June 2026, reporters reported that the Thai Journalists Association held its 46th anniversary event alongside an award ceremony for the "ASEAN News Photo 2026" contest and the "Thailand Tourism Photo 2026" contest. The event took place at SCBX NEXT TECH, 4th floor, Siam Paragon, Bangkok. Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakun, Minister of Tourism and Sports, assigned Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaiboon, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to represent him as the award ceremony’s chairperson.
Also present as witnesses were Mr. Nakorn Weeraprawat, Chairman of the Thai Journalists Association; Ms. Mayuree Chaipahromprasert, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Relations and Communications at Siam Piwat Company Limited; and Mr. Thepchai Yong, Chairman of the ASEAN News Photo 2026 competition committee.
Regarding the contest results, "Thailand Tourism Photo 2026", the first prize was awarded to the photo titled "Fun Splash in the Ancient Capital," depicting people playing water splashing during Songkran with a trained elephant at the World Heritage city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. It was taken by Mr. Taweechai Chantawong from PPTV Online. The first runner-up prize went to the photo "Pa Weni New Year Festival in Chiang Mai," showing the procession of the Phra Singh Buddha and important Buddha statues during Chiang Mai’s Songkran festival, shot by Mr. Pitchayawat Prungsak from Daily News newspaper. The second runner-up prize was "Lan Rocket Festival," showing the rocket launching during the Lan Rocket Festival at Ban Kut Wa, Kuchinarai District, Kalasin Province, photographed by Mr. Thiti Wannamonta from Nation Online.
The special prize "Favorite of the Minister of Tourism and Sports" was awarded to the photo "Traditional Land Boat Race," depicting a land boat race during the Bun Duean Sip tradition "Gilding Luang Por Pan, Land Boat Race, and Tasting Fried Corn" at Ban Noen Kum, Bang Krathum District, Phitsanulok Province, taken by Mr. Thanet Anudit from Phitsanulok Hot News website.
Meanwhile, the "Favorite of the TAT Governor" prize went to the photo titled "Magnificent Khon Performance over the Chao Phraya," showing a drone display of 1,000 drones forming the image of Hanuman during the Vichit Chao Phraya 2025 event, taken by Mr. Thanachai Pramarnpanich from TNN Online news agency.
Additionally, there were five special appreciation awards: 1. "Firecracker Ignition" by Mr. Thiti Wannamonta from Nation Online; 2. "Stream of Merit Tak Bat Thewo" by Ms. Apinya Phuangmanee from Thai Post news agency; 3. "Alms Offering in Front of the Castle" by Mr. Sophon Susena from Nation Online; 4. "Draping the Great Pagoda" by Mr. Thanet Anudit from Phitsanulok Hot News website; and 5. "The Power of Faith: Spectacular Thousand Lanterns" by Mr. Thanachai Pramarnpanich from TNN Online.
Regarding the "ASEAN News Photo 2026" contest, Mr. Thepchai Yong, Chairman of the competition committee, stated that this year photos from ASEAN countries that reached the final round came from five countries: the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
As for the results of the contest, "ASEAN News Photo 2026", the first prize was awarded to the photo titled "Fun Splash in the Ancient Capital," taken by Mr. Taweechai Chantawong from PPTV Online, Thailand, who also won the first prize in the "Thailand Tourism Photo 2026" contest. The first runner-up was the photo "Lan Rocket Festival," taken by Mr. Thiti Wannamonta from Nation Online, Thailand, who had also won second runner-up in the "Thailand Tourism Photo 2026" contest. The second runner-up prize went to the photo "Senakulo Performance," showing the Senakulo, a traditional portrayal of the suffering of Jesus Christ by villagers of Paete, Laguna, Philippines, taken by Mr. John Ryan Baldemor from The Philippine Star, Philippines.
This year, the judges also awarded three consolation prizes to encourage the many photographers who submitted entries. Consolation prize 1 was "Sinulog," by Mr. Juan Carlo De Vela from Sun Star newspaper, Philippines; consolation prize 2 was "Birthday Celebration of the Deity," by Mr. Tran Tang Chang from Vietnam Pictorial, Vietnam; and consolation prize 3 was "Tian Joining Hearts," by a photographer using the pseudonym "Kai Fotografi" from Laos Journey, Lao PDR.
Mr. Nakorn expressed gratitude for the organization of the "ASEAN News Photo 2026" and "Thailand Tourism Photo 2026" contests, thanking the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Siam Paragon Shopping Center, and SCBX NEXT TECH as main sponsors. Other sponsors included Viriyah Insurance Public Company Limited, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, TRUE, SCG, Boon Rawd Brewery Company Limited (Singha Drinking Water), BCPG, Government Savings Bank, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), CP All Public Company Limited, AIS, SCB, Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited, AirAsia, CPRAM, Krispy Kreme, and Asia Hotel.