Mumbai: Nepal has made a strong statement at the Flame Awards Asia 2026, with Outreach Nepal, along with its activation and digital agencies Lemon and DigitalIn, securing 17 awards at the awards ceremony held on 7 August at Taj Vivanta, Dwarka, New Delhi. The winning tally includes 13 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze, recognising campaigns created for brands including Vaseline, Samsung, Mountain Dew, Ncell, Mero Khukri, Gorkha and Zyn, among others.
Flame Awards Asia instituted by the Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI), has evolved into a benchmark for excellence across India and Asia’s Emerging Markets. The platform recognises work that creates impact through insight led strategy, innovation, execution, technology, community participation, last-mile engagement and measurable results.
The 2026 edition was particularly significant for Nepal with five agencies from the country securing recognition. Alongside Outreach, Lemon and DigitalIn, Storm Communication Nepal and D20 Labs also won awards, demonstrating the growing quality, ambition and diversity of marketing communications work emerging from Nepal. The achievement becomes even more noteworthy considering the strong regional competition with leading Indian agencies and organisations such as Impact Communications, Insights India Network, Mindwave Media, Publicis Media, Goosebumps Network, McCann, Posterscope India, VML India and others among the recognised names. From Bangladesh, bKash was also recognised for its outstanding emerging market works.
The awards were evaluated by a jury comprising senior professionals from across Asia, with Santosh Desai, Founder & Director, Think9 Consumer Technologies, serving as Jury Chair. The 2026 jury included professionals from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Ernst & Young (EY) served as the tabulation partner supporting transparency and accuracy in the awards process.
Ujaya Shakya, First Vice President, Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN), Founder, Outreach Nepal, and author of Brandsutra (2015) and Brandsutra 2.0 (2026), said: This is a proud moment for Nepal. To see 5 agencies from Nepal perform well at the Flame Awards Asia 2026 is a strong indication of the talents and potential within our marketing communications industry. We may come from a relatively smaller market with smaller budgets compared to many regional markets but we have never been short of ideas, ambition or creativity. Huge thank you to our clients and brand teams who continue to trust us, believe in the power of brand marketing and give us the confidence and courage to pursue strong ideas. What makes these awards truly special is the partnership between brands and agencies: The courage to pursue an idea, the willingness to take risks and the commitment to execute it well. Every award represents the collective effort of many people working together at every level.
Shakya added: Emerging markets are often described by what they lack. We believe they should increasingly be recognised for what they create: Powerful consumer insights, cultural richness and the ability to innovate with limited resources. Nepal has creative talents and platforms like Flame give us an opportunity to demonstrate that ideas born in Nepal can compete with the best works in the region.
He also expressed appreciation to RMAI and the Flame Awards Asia team for creating a platform that gives emerging markets a larger regional voice.
For Outreach Group, the recognition reinforces its ambition to create works from Nepal that can travel beyond the country’s borders.
“We have always believed that local insights can create universal impact,” said Shakya. “Our responsibility is not simply to win awards but to continue raising the quality of our works and create ideas that deliver real value for brands, consumers and communities.”
“I am especially grateful to my team, the younger generation of talents that is bringing fresh energy, new thinking and a fearless approach to the industry. I also thank our clients, brand teams and extended partners who have trusted us and worked with us as one strong team. Together we are helping build an ecosystem where better brand marketing, stronger ideas and greater ambition can thrive in Nepal.”
17 Awards. 13 Gold. 3 Silver. 1 Bronze.
A proud moment for Nepal. And a strong signal that Nepali ideas can shine.
(Views are personal)
