The First Changsha Azalea Awards officially launched its call for entries on March 19, 2026. Themed "Bonds, Blossoms, Beyond," the awards invited creators, communicators, and practitioners from around the world to share stories about Changsha and introduce the city to the world.

On March 19, the launching ceremony of the First Changsha Azalea Awards kicked off. (Photo provided by the organizer)

The azalea was designated as the official flower of Changsha in 1985, symbolizing the city's spirit of openness, inclusivity, proactive attitude, and dedication to serving human beings. As a symbolic emblem for promoting Changsha's international image, the "Azalea Awards" aims to align Changsha with the pulse of global civilization, helping build the city into a leading hub for cultural communication with worldwide influence.

The solicitation seeks international communication works, activities, and figures that have emerged or taken place between September 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026. The submissions should have made significant contributions to showcasing Changsha's image and promoting exchanges between China and the rest of the world. The submission categories include International News Works, International Communication Products (Video/Audio/Photo/Publication), International Communication Events, and International Communication Figures (Individual/Group). Following a merit-based selection process, the jury will evaluate each category and award up to 10 annual "Azalea Awards" and 10 nomination awards for outstanding projects.

The award categories encompass international news reports, communication products, special events, and outstanding figures, comprehensively covering all fields and aspects of international communication. In terms of the selection criteria, the awards emphasize ideological depth, artistic merit, and communicative impact, valuing both the professional quality of the works and their reception and influence within the international community. Regarding submission and promotion, the awards are open to global submissions, employing innovative promotional methods to attract participation from a wider range of entities both domestically and internationally. These efforts aim to make the "Azalea Awards" a key window for the world to experience Changsha.

The "Azalea Awards" organizing committee has also invited Xiong Chao, winner of the Cannes Lions Gold Lion and visual effects director for the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony, to serve as visual director and create a bespoke brand visual identity (VI) system. Centered on the core concepts of "Bonds, Blossoms, Beyond," the system encompasses logo design, trophy design, and collateral materials, serving as a design model that seamlessly blends Eastern aesthetics with Western expression.

责编：黄思婷

一审：黄思婷

二审：王柯沣

三审：秦慧英

来源：中新网