Goafest 2025 levels up with 'Advertising Plays' to spark camaraderie through sport and wellness

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Goafest 2025 levels up with 'Advertising Plays' to spark camaraderie through sport and wellness

Havas Play’s new IP brings chess, cricket, pickleball and yoga to south Asia’s biggest ad festival

Goafest

MUMBAI: Goafest 2025 is serving up more than awards and panels. The festival’s latest initiative, 'Advertising Plays', will bring delegates out of boardrooms and onto courts, beaches and walking trails for inter-agency competitions and wellness experiences designed to build industry bonds through play.

Conceptualised as a people-first property and curated by Havas Play, 'Advertising Plays' will debut this year as part of the revamped Goafest Village format. The programme features gender-neutral games including Chess, Carrom, Darts, Arm Wrestling and Net Cricket, alongside high-energy matchups in Pickleball and Table Tennis. Wellness activities like Yoga by the Bay and the Beach Walkathon will help delegates start their day with clarity and calm.

"The connections that move our industry forward aren’t always made in boardrooms or at award ceremonies. Advertising Plays offers a space for professionals to engage beyond the usual format. It’s a people first initiative which will enable our industry to build more connections and collaborate in the longer run”, said Goafest 2025 Organising Committee co-chair and Havas Media Network India CEO Mohit Joshi.

Havas Play India COO R. Venkatasubramanian added, "Goafest has long been a premier platform that unites the brightest minds in the world of advertising. In 2025, it takes a bold new leap by introducing Advertising Plays—a dynamic initiative designed to elevate the spirit of friendly competition among industry professionals".

Inter-agency contests will run throughout the festival, culminating in awards for performance and team spirit. Winners will take home trophies and year-long bragging rights. The initiative aims to encourage participation across all fitness levels, offering spontaneous play zones and community-led wellness formats.

The 18 edition of Goafest will take place from 21-23 May 2025 at the Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage and Horizon. The festival is co-hosted by The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club (TAC).