The WOW Awards Asia, the region’s largest platform celebrating excellence in Experiential Marketing, MICE, Live Entertainment, and the Wedding Industry, is set to return for its 17th edition at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, on July 3-4, 2026.
The awards are now open for entries across 106 categories, spanning five distinct segments: Experiential Marketing Awards, Experiential Celebrations Awards, Experiential Tech Awards, Hotel & Venue Awards, and Live Quotient Awards.
Recognized for its credibility and rigorous evaluation process, WOW Awards Asia follows a comprehensive two-stage judging system conducted by an esteemed panel of industry leaders and independently validated by EY. Carefully selected from diverse sectors and disciplines, the jury ensures a fair, transparent, and merit-based assessment of the industry’s finest work.
As the industry prepares to showcase exceptional achievements across hospitality, venues, and live entertainment, the spotlight now turns to Group D and Group E — the Hotel & Venue Awards and Live Quotient Awards.
The Hotel & Venue Awards (Group D) celebrate excellence in hospitality and venue infrastructure across India and Asia. The category recognizes outstanding MICE destinations, convention centres, luxury hotels, wedding venues, and event spaces that consistently deliver world-class experiences. From intimate celebrations and luxury lifestyle events to large-scale conventions and destination weddings, Group D honours venues that set new benchmarks in service, innovation, and guest experience.
The Live Quotient Awards (Group E) celebrate the artists, performers, entertainers, and live acts that bring events to life. Since its inception, this category has recognized the most dynamic and sought-after talent in the live entertainment industry, honouring individuals and groups who captivate audiences through exceptional performances, creativity, and stagecraft. From music and comedy to specialty acts and immersive entertainment, Group E shines a spotlight on the talent that creates unforgettable moments and elevates live experiences.
Together, Groups D and E recognize two of the most critical pillars of the experiential ecosystem exceptional venues and extraordinary talent both of which play a defining role in shaping memorable experiences and setting new standards for the industry.
The esteemed Jury of LQ and Experiential Venues Group are:
Aarti Matoo – Founder Partner, Momentums Experiences & Events
Aarti Mattoo is a luxury events and experiential marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in creating bespoke celebrations, corporate events, and immersive brand experiences. As the Managing Director of Momentum Experiences & Events, she is known for her innovative approach to event design, creative excellence, and delivering award-winning experiences that blend luxury, entertainment, and world-class hospitality.
Arpita Gandhi – Co-Founder & Director, WeddingLine Events & Hospitality
Arpita Gandhi is the Co-Founder & Director of Weddingline Events & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., with over two decades of experience in the events and wedding industry. Having held leadership roles at renowned organizations such as Showtime and Wizcraft, she has been instrumental in transforming Weddingline into one of India’s leading luxury wedding companies, known for delivering bespoke celebrations and end-to-end event solutions.
Deepak Pawar – Founder & MD, Midas Next Media
Deepak Pawar is the Director of Midas Events LLC and a veteran experiential marketing professional with over 31 years of experience in events, brand activations, and technology-led consumer engagement. Known for creating immersive brand experiences, he combines creative storytelling with innovative event technologies to deliver impactful campaigns, virtual experiences, and audience engagement solutions across global markets.
Kavita Bisht – Marketing and Communication Advisor, Deepali Designs & Exhibits
Kavita is a distinguished experiential strategist and marketing professional with over 22 years of experience across brand building, integrated communications, and audience engagement. Known for blending creativity, culture, and technology, she has led transformative campaigns and marquee initiatives for leading brands, government bodies, and global organizations, while championing immersive storytelling and cultural integration.
Oum Pradutt – Founder & Managing Director, Phase1 Events & Entertainment Pvt Ltd
Oum Pradutt is a veteran entrepreneur and live entertainment leader with over 30 years of experience in the experiential industry. As the Founder & Managing Director of Phase 1 World, he is known for creating transformative experiences that blend storytelling, innovation, and technology, while continuing to shape the future of India’s entertainment landscape.
Pramod Gaikwad – CEO & Founding Partner, ICE Global
Pramod Gaikwad is a distinguished experiential communication and event industry leader with nearly three decades of experience in creating impactful brand experiences. As the Co-Founder of Ice Global, he is known for blending creativity, technology, and storytelling to deliver innovative experiential campaigns while mentoring future talent and shaping the evolution of the events industry.
Prerana Saxena – Founder, Theme Weavers
Prerana Saxena is a luxury wedding and events entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience in the industry. As the Co-Founder of Theme Weavers Designs and Founder of WedEase, she is known for driving innovation, operational excellence, and technology-led solutions while shaping the future of India’s wedding ecosystem through industry leadership and advocacy.
Priyal Mehta – Founder, Niché Events
Priyal Mehta is the Founder of Niché Events, a luxury wedding and event planning company renowned for curating bespoke celebrations and refined guest experiences. Known for her impeccable attention to detail, elegant aesthetic, and seamless execution, she has built a strong reputation for delivering personalized weddings and social events that blend creativity, sophistication, and memorable storytelling.
Purva Patel – Founder, Pristine Paige Weddings & Events
Purva Patel is a luxury wedding and event planner with over two decades of experience in creating bespoke celebrations and exceptional guest experiences. As the driving force behind Pristine Paige Events and Weddings, she is known for her contemporary design sensibility, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to craft unique, flawlessly executed events that blend creativity, elegance, and personalization.
Rajat Sogani – Co-Founder, 7X Weddings
Rajat Sogani is the Co-Founder of 7X Weddings and a leading name in India’s luxury and destination wedding industry, with over 15 years of experience crafting bespoke celebrations across India and international destinations. Known for blending innovation, design excellence, and storytelling, he has built a reputation for creating immersive wedding experiences that combine creativity, precision, and flawless execution.
Rajeev Jain – Founder & Director, Rashi Entertainment
Rajeev Jain is a visionary entrepreneur and industry leader with over 27 years of experience at the helm of Rashi Entertainment. Renowned for creating extraordinary weddings, corporate forums, government events, and large-scale entertainment experiences, he is known for building strong industry partnerships and delivering memorable, high-impact events through innovation, creativity, and flawless execution.
Rajesh Varma – Founder & Director, CRI Events
Rajesh Varma is an experiential industry veteran with over 28 years of experience in corporate events, exhibitions, conferences, destination programmes, and large-format productions. As the driving force behind CRI Events, he is known for combining creative vision with execution excellence, while actively contributing to the growth of the global events industry through leadership roles with EEMA, ICWF, and WXO.
