Da Nang has once again been nominated in the category of “Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination 2026” at the World Travel Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in the global tourism industry.
The World Travel Awards was established to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. The year 2026 marks the 33rd annual edition of the World Travel Awards, bringing together outstanding destinations, brands and tourism organizations from around the world.
In the category of “Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination 2026”, Da Nang is nominated alongside many major cities in the region, including Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City.
This is not the first time Da Nang has been recognized in this category. The city was previously named “Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination” by the World Travel Awards in 2016 and 2022. Its continued presence on the nomination list in 2026 reflects Da Nang’s steady position on the regional festival and event tourism map, while also highlighting the growing appeal of a destination that continuously creates new experiences for visitors in every season.
What makes Da Nang stand out in this category?
Da Nang has a distinctive advantage: its festivals and events are not only held in conventional venues, but are also set against the emotionally rich backdrop of the city itself — along the Han River, on expansive beaches, at seaside squares, amid a youthful urban rhythm and within the heritage landscapes of Hoi An and My Son. The harmony between nature, culture, tourism infrastructure and community life allows each programme in Da Nang to go beyond a single event to attend, becoming part of a broader destination experience.
Da Nang’s appeal also comes from its year-round festival rhythm. From fireworks, cinema, music, cuisine, sports and coastal culture to nightlife experiences, the city constantly offers new points of interest for visitors to discover. This reflects the spirit of a “four-season festival city” — where the festive atmosphere continues from one season to the next, allowing visitors to encounter a fresher and more vibrant side of Da Nang each time they return.
Notably, many events in Da Nang are increasingly being developed as distinctive tourism products, with strong appeal to both domestic and international visitors through professional organization, improving service quality, effective destination communications and active community participation. Together, these elements create a festive atmosphere that is modern, welcoming and emotionally engaging — true to the spirit of a city that always knows how to renew itself.
Events contributing to Da Nang’s festival appeal in 2026
In 2026, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival – DIFF 2026 continues to be one of the city’s signature events. Taking place from May 30 to July 11, 2026, DIFF brings together 10 fireworks teams from various countries and territories, presenting a series of large-scale performances along the Han River. More than a competition of light, DIFF creates a vibrant festival season, strongly stimulating summer visitor flows and spreading a lively atmosphere to accommodation establishments, restaurants, attractions, shopping centres and tourism spaces across the city.
Prior to DIFF, the Da Nang Food Tour Festival 2026, held from May 20 to May 24, 2026, opened the summer season with a rich culinary journey at East Sea Park, Tam Thanh Beach Square and various locations throughout the city. Through cooking demonstrations, food tasting activities, local cultural experiences and community interactions, the festival highlighted Da Nang as a youthful and creative culinary destination, where visitors can experience the city through flavours, local stories and everyday rhythms.
In addition, the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival – DANAFF IV, taking place from June 28 to July 4, 2026, carries the message “DANAFF – A bridge from Asia to the world.” The event helps expand Da Nang’s image from a beach and resort destination to a cultural, creative and cinematic meeting point in the region.
In July, the Enjoy Da Nang Festival 2026 continues to showcase the spirit of a summer by the sea, with a series of activities at East Sea Park, tourist beaches and various experiential spaces across the city. Music, cuisine, lighting, check-in activities, community programmes and nighttime beach experiences all contribute to shaping a youthful, dynamic and inspiring Da Nang.
Together with sports, cultural and artistic activities, community-based tourism and night-time economy products, the 2026 event calendar shows that Da Nang is developing as a destination with a diverse range of events, strong appeal to different visitor segments and year-round experiences.
Da Nang – a festival destination with its own identity
Da Nang’s competitiveness lies not only in the scale of its events, but also in the way the city integrates events into the overall destination experience. Visitors to Da Nang do not simply watch fireworks, attend festivals or take part in cultural programmes; they can also enjoy the beach, explore local cuisine, stroll through the city, experience the sea at night, visit heritage spaces, enjoy quality accommodation services and feel the friendly rhythm of local life.
It is this combination of festivals, beaches, urban life, culture, cuisine and people that creates Da Nang’s distinctive identity. This foundation helps the city continue to be recognized at international tourism awards and maintain its image as a dynamic, open and ever-evolving destination through each event season.
Notably, in addition to the “Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination 2026” category, the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also been nominated for “Asia’s Leading Local Tourist Board 2026.” This category recognizes the role of local tourism authorities in destination management, development orientation, tourism promotion, business engagement and enhancing the competitiveness of the tourism sector. The nomination reflects Da Nang’s comprehensive efforts to build the image of a professional, friendly, creative destination that is well adapted to new tourism trends.
According to information from the World Travel Awards, voting for the Asia region in 2026 will close on August 7, 2026. The Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026 will take place in the Maldives on September 27, 2026.
DANANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
