Competition Guide

I. Competition Introduction

As one of the key‑cooperation mechanisms for China’s peripheral diplomacy, the Lancang‑Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism was jointly initiated by six countries: China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Built on three pillars — political‑security, economic and sustainable development, and social‑cultural exchanges — it represents a new‑type sub‑regional cooperation mechanism jointly discussed, built and shared by the six riparian nations.

Preparation for the LMC Design Competition commenced in 2020. Supported by LMC funds from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 2021 Lancang‑Mekong Cooperation International Poster Design Competition, co‑hosted by multiple institutions across China and Mekong countries, was a great success. It collected numerous outstanding works themed Green Lancang‑Mekong for ecological and environmental protection. In 2022, the competition expanded its scope by adding a Bamboo‑Rattan Weaving category to solicit entries from designers and enthusiasts worldwide. It aims to inspire creative passion among designers, interpret the noble vision of Lancang‑Mekong Cooperation through art and aesthetics, and boost design‑culture exchanges among LMC member states. In 2023, the organizing committee forged in‑depth partnerships with Chongqing Municipality to advance local‑level exchanges between Chongqing and Mekong nations.

Building on previous editions, the 5th Lancang‑Mekong Cooperation International Art & Design Competition in 2024 focused on green clean‑energy cooperation across LMC countries. It innovated event formats by launching an AI‑assisted poster‑design category, encouraging artists worldwide to deliver creative works and elevate Lancang‑Mekong cultural‑artistic exchanges. The launching ceremony was held in Beijing on 24 April 2024. Showcasing diverse artistic‑design charm of the six nations, the competition serves as a vital platform for cross‑cultural dialogue in the Lancang‑Mekong region. On 29 September 2025, the Lancang‑Mekong Youth Innovation Salon Beijing Session: Innovation Drives the Future was successfully hosted at the Manchu Museum of the Chinese National Museum in Beijing.

For 2026, Cambodia is designated as the Guest‑of‑Honour Country. Entries are open to creators from China, Cambodia and other Mekong nations, as well as global participants. Co‑organized by multiple LMC‑region institutions including China Foreign Languages Publications Distribution Center and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and supported by co‑organisers such as Beijing Foundation for the Protection of Ethnic Cultural Heritage and Beijing Zhongdao Public‑Welfare Foundation, the competition invites designers, teachers, students, design agencies and art lovers to tell compelling Lancang‑Mekong stories via art and design and foster people‑to‑people bonds.

II. Competition Theme

The 2026 theme is Cooperation Corridors. It echoes the two practical China‑Cambodia cooperation frameworks: the Industrial Development Corridor and the Fish‑Rice Corridor — activating development momentum through industrial connectivity and safeguarding people’s livelihoods via integrated rice‑fish farming. Participants may artistically visualise scenarios of riparian countries working hand‑in‑hand revolving around the two corridors. Three creative dimensions are defined:

  1. Industry & Connectivity Focus on infrastructure, production‑capacity cooperation and trade linkages to illustrate the dynamism of cross‑border industrial chains and regional coordination.
  2. Livelihood & Abundance Highlight rice‑fish symbiosis, food security, rural communities and people’s well‑being, depicting the prosperity and sustainable livelihoods of this riverine land of fish and rice.
  3. Symbiosis & Future Adopt a forward‑looking perspective to portray a regional blueprint of green development, connectivity, prosperity and people‑to‑people solidarity envisioned by the two corridors.

III. Competition Timeline

  • Call for Entries Opens: 26 October 2026
  • Submission Deadline: 24:00 Beijing Time, 30 November 2026
  • Jury Review, Shortlist Announcement & Exhibition: December 2026. A showcase of winning works is planned to be held at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

IV. Eligibility

Upholding the principles of fairness, impartiality and openness, the competition accepts individual‑ and team‑based entries from global designers, teachers, students, design studios and art enthusiasts.

V. Competition Category & Specifications

(1) Competition Category

This edition focuses on graphic poster design. Works shall closely respond to the theme Cooperation Corridors, rooted in the China‑Cambodia Industrial Development Corridor and Fish‑Rice Corridor. Creations should cover the three dimensions: Industry & Connectivity, Livelihood & Abundance, and Symbiosis & Future. Entries shall interpret Lancang‑Mekong Cooperation and the China‑Cambodia community of shared destiny through art and design.

(2) Technical Specifications

  • File Format: JPG, JPEG or PNG
  • Colour Mode: RGB
  • Resolution: 300 dpi
  • Canvas Size: A3 (297 × 420 mm)
  • Single poster or series (one series counts as one entry) are both accepted.

(3) Creation Tools

There is no separate grouping for human‑created versus AI‑aided works. Judging is based solely on artistic quality regardless of production workflows. Hand‑drawn art, digital painting, AI‑assisted generation and hybrid workflows compete on equal footing. Creators are encouraged to adopt whatever methods best convey their ideas.

To guarantee fairness and originality, participants must complete the Entry Information Form with the following declarations:

  1. Truthfully state creation‑tool types (hand‑drawn, digital, AI‑assisted or hybrid); commit that the work is original by the participant / team and does not infringe third‑party intellectual‑property rights.
  2. Ensure legal availability of all AI models and source materials used, free of copyright disputes.

Important Note: These declarations serve only for copyright verification and exhibition labelling. They will not affect scoring and carry no bonus or penalty points.

VI. Submission Requirements

Download the 2026 Entry Information Form from the Downloads section of the official website (www.lmcda.org.cn). Fill it out completely, package the form together with your work into one ZIP archive. Name the archive as Name‑Work Title, and send it as an email attachment to the organising committee mailbox: lmcda2026@163.com.

  • A maximum of 3 entries per individual / team. Incomplete or untruthfully completed Entry Information Forms will result in invalid submissions.
  • No personal identifiers including participant names (or Pinyin abbreviations) and institutional affiliations shall appear within poster artwork or work titles. All personal information must be entered only on the Entry Information Form.
  • This competition charges no entry fees. The committee never authorises third‑party agencies or individuals to collect fees on its behalf. Please contact the organising committee promptly if you encounter fraudulent fee‑charging attempts.

2. Originality and Intellectual‑Property Statement

All submitted works must be original. As of 30 November 2026, entries must not have been previously published in print or digital media, submitted to other contests, commercially released, or produced for profit‑making purposes.

Participants warrant that they hold full intellectual‑property rights to their submissions, that works comply with applicable laws and regulations, and that no third‑party rights are violated. Participants bear full liability for any copyright‑related issues arising from their content.

Should plagiarism or other infringements be discovered for shortlisted or awarded works, the organiser reserves the right to revoke awards, reclaim prizes and certificates. All resultant legal liabilities rest solely with the author.

Participants retain copyright of their submitted works. By completing a valid submission, each participant grants the organiser, its affiliates and partners an irrevocable, royalty‑free, non‑exclusive global licence for promotional purposes. This includes, without limitation: right of communication through information networks, reproduction, distribution, public display, public projection, revision, adaptation and compilation. The organising committee may make reasonable edits, annotations and modifications to entries without additional consent from authors.

Participants shall preserve creation records (sketches, work‑in‑progress drafts, AI prompts and iteration logs, etc.) for originality verification. Failure to provide such materials may lead to disqualification from awards.

VII. Awards and Exhibition Participation

Award winners will be announced simultaneously on the competition official website and official WeChat public account, with official certificates issued.

Outstanding graphic‑poster entries will be archived in the Lancang‑Mekong Cooperation International Art & Design Competition database. Works may be reproduced for cultural‑exchange events among the six riparian nations including sister‑city exhibitions, youth‑focused international showcases, as well as public‑welfare environmental‑protection and cultural‑heritage promotion materials.

In December 2026, an in‑person exhibition of selected works will be staged in Cambodia, complemented by an online showcase. Authors whose works are selected for the Cambodia show will receive an exhibition‑participation certificate.

VIII. Organisers

Host Organisations

China Foreign Languages Publications Distribution Center Central Academy of Fine Arts Yunnan Center for South‑Asian and Southeast‑Asian Communications Bangkok University (Thailand) National University of Laos Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia) Cambodia‑China Relations Development Institute Myanmar Fuqing School

Co‑organisers

Beijing Foundation for the Protection of Ethnic Cultural Heritage Beijing Zhongdao Public‑Welfare Foundation INTERNI Design Times (Chinese‑language edition, initiator of Milan Design Week)

IX. Jury Panel

The jury is composed of distinguished experts and scholars nominated by host institutions from China and Mekong‑region countries. Panel membership will be announced in due course.

X. Contact Information

Office of the 2026 Lancang‑Mekong Cooperation International Art & Design Competition Organising Committee Address: Room 450, No. 24 Baiwanzhuang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037, P.R.China Official Website: www.lmcda.org.cn Telephone: +86‑10‑88333632; +86‑10‑68995930 E‑mail: lmcda2026@163.com

Final interpretation of this event rests with the host organisations.