MAD STARS 2026 festival begins in Busan

The MAD STARS 2026 festival has commenced in Busan, South Korea, featuring international judging and creative competitions. The event includes the Young Stars and New Stars MAD Competitions, which challenge university students and junior marketing professionals to develop comprehensive advertising campaigns under strict time constraints.

This year’s competition theme, ‘Rethinking How We Protect Our Oceans,’ tasks participants with creating campaigns to drive behavioral changes regarding marine pollution and microplastics. Competitors are required to utilize at least one AI tool during their creative process, submitting specific prompts to maintain transparency.

More than 40 international judges are participating in the festival, led by jury presidents from major organizations including TikTok, Google, MONKS India, Mastercard, and AKQA. The festival, held at venues such as SIGNIEL BUSAN, includes conference sessions, an awards show, and networking events running through August 28.