The 2026 Digital Content Creation Festival, themed "Live Vibrantly", aims to honor outstanding individuals and encourage KOLs and content creators to live positively, inspire the community, and contribute to national development in a growing era. The third season's judging panel comprises 11 influential figures from diverse fields, including the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, the Department of Performing Arts (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), entrepreneurs, journalists, and content creators.

A representative from the organizing committee stated that with extensive experience and credibility, the judges will be impartial, professional, and creative, ensuring the selection of exceptional individuals to be honored at the Vietnam iContent Awards 2026 gala.

Le Quang Tu Do, director general of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, represents regulatory agencies on the panel. Born in 1978, he holds a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and a master's in journalism from the US. He served in the military for a long period before dedicating himself to youth union activities. Le Quang Tu Do has been a key driver of Vietnam iContent since 2024, aiming to connect content creators, regulatory bodies, digital platforms, and brands. He advocates for digital content creation to become a recognized profession with official industry codes, formal training, and societal recognition in the near future.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, deputy director general of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, also joins the panel. She possesses over 25 years of management experience in media and journalism. Throughout her career, she has helped foster a healthy digital environment, combat misinformation and harmful content, and remove policy barriers to facilitate the growth of domestic digital technology businesses.

Meritorious Artist Xuan Bac, director general of the Department of Performing Arts, brings a wealth of artistic experience, having made his mark in numerous stage productions, films, and television programs. As a member of the Vietnam iContent judging panel, Xuan Bac offers insights into cultural depth and human values in the digital age, guiding young creators to produce content that is both trendy and positive, spreading Vietnamese cultural identity to the community.

Pham Kim Dung, CEO of Sen Vang Entertainment Joint Stock Company, is making her debut as a judge for the Vietnam iContent Awards. She currently chairs Miss World Vietnam, Mr World Vietnam, Miss Grand Vietnam, Miss International Vietnam, and Miss Intercontinental Vietnam. She also represented the host organization for the 73rd Miss World pageant, which was held for the first time in Vietnam and concluded on 5/9.

Tran Viet Bao Hoang returns as a judge, continuing his role from the previous season. He is currently the CEO of Unimedia Vietnam Joint Stock Company (Unimedia) and head of the Miss Cosmo organizing committee. He also manages the Cosmo+ ecosystem and founded Cosmo Academy, an institution that trains young people in soft skills and personal development.

Also joining the Vietnam iContent Awards 2026 judging panel is Le Dang Khoa, a prominent young entrepreneur known for his innovative mindset and contributions to various startups, particularly in agriculture, education, and technology. Over the years, he has consistently supported community activities, promoted sports movements, and disseminated human values. He frequently shares his startup experiences, inspiring students and young people with entrepreneurial aspirations.

Entrepreneur Bui Quang Minh (Minh Beta), chairman of Beta Group, holds an MBA from Harvard. He operates in multiple sectors, including film production, distribution, cinema operation, franchising, and startup investment. He is also a musician, having composed the song "Viet Nam Oi", which received a National Award for Foreign Information during the Covid-19 period. At the 80th anniversary celebration of the Cultural Sector (28/8/1945-28/8/2025), he was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for his positive contributions to the industry.

Hoi dong giam khao Vietnam iContent Awards 2026. Hang mot tu phai sang: nha bao Cao Xuan Tan, nha bao Huong Giang, dien gia Nguyen Huu Tri. Hang hai tu phai sang: doanh nhan Le Dang Khoa, dao dien Tran Thanh Trung, CEO Kim Dung CEO Bao Hoang va doanh nhan Bui Quang Minh. Hang ba tu trai sang: ba Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, ong Le Quang Tu Do, NSND Xuan Bac. Anh: Ban to chuc

Another judge is Nguyen Huu Tri, a speaker and founder of Awaken Your Power (AYP) skills academy. He has over 16 years of coaching experience, guiding hundreds of thousands of students through training programs, workshops, and digital platforms. With over one million followers on YouTube and 2.5 million on TikTok, he shares hundreds of videos on mindset, personal development, and career orientation. Beyond his expertise, audiences often refer to him as "Teacher Queo" due to his approachable, humorous, yet profound sharing style.

Tran Thanh Trung, a director, producer, and founder of T Production and Ganga Studios, has been behind many programs and projects, including Gala Nhac Viet, Love Songs, The New Mentor, Chi dep dap gio re song, and Anh trai vuot ngan chong gai. He also spearheaded VietNamLove, a community art project that gained significant recognition last year. With his experience in production, artist management, and keeping up with creative trends, he will evaluate submissions based on quality, uniqueness, and community value.

VnExpress is represented by two journalists who will serve as judges: Nguyen Thi Huong Giang from the Ngoi Sao desk and Cao Xuan Tan from the Entertainment desk.

The Vietnam iContent Awards is an annual awards ceremony directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and co-organized by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, FPT Online, and VnExpress. With the theme "Live Vibrantly", this year's program features four categories and 13 awards, targeting Vietnamese individuals, creative groups, businesses, organizations, and media agencies operating legally in the domestic market with notable activities, products, or communication campaigns up to the nomination deadline.

Specifically, the Digital Creator category includes five awards: Digital Creator of the Year, Digital Content Organization of the Year, Promising Digital Creator, Inspiring Digital Creator, and Most Loved Digital Creator.

The Digital Product category is divided into five awards: Inspiring Music, Inspiring Video, Inspiring Program, Digital Entertainment Program of the Year, and Viral Short Video of the Year.

The Community Impact category comprises two awards: Organization for Community Impact and Individual for Community Impact.

A new addition this year is the MCN of the Year category, which honors Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) – units or businesses that manage and develop content creators registered and operating legally in the Vietnamese market.

The organizing committee will accept nominations from 7-30/9, with the voting round taking place from 8-29/10, the finals from 9-23/11, and the awards gala scheduled for 11/12 in TP HCM.

Individuals, creative groups, entities, or platforms that meet the criteria for each category can self-nominate through the Vietnam iContent 2026 information portal. Candidates may participate in multiple categories simultaneously. The organizing committee has also published scoring regulations, rules, and requirements for easy reference and compliance.

Last year, the organizing committee received 120 nominations across three categories. Submissions spanned various fields, including digital creation, podcasts, online videos, television programs, film scores, social media, and Fanpages. Over two months, the program recorded a total of 500,000 votes. After the preliminary round, 72 candidates advanced to the finals, most of whom were familiar to the public.

At the awards night, the organizing committee announced 14 titles instead of the initially published 11 awards. Among these were three new awards: Special Event of the Year, Special Song of the Year, and Breakthrough Creator. Khoai Lang Thang set a record by winning Digital Creator of the Year – the event's most significant title – for two consecutive times.

Thien Ha