Goafest 2025 has introduced ‘Advertising Plays’ – a sports and wellness IP to bring agency professionals together in a fun and informal setting. Making its debut at GoaFest 2025, Advertising Plays aims to elevate the festival experience by offering delegates a refreshing break from the traditional format and play across new, energised spaces.
Havas Play is managing Advertising Plays, which will feature organized inter-agency competitions in sports like table tennis and pickleball, as well as spontaneous games including chess, carrom, darts, net cricket, and arm wrestling.
Commenting on the initiative, Mohit Joshi, co-chair of the Goafest 2025 Organising Committee and CEO of Havas Media Network India, said, “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.”
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. Advertising Plays is a unique sports and wellness program created to celebrate camaraderie and community across agencies nationwide. Featuring a mix of light-hearted yet competitive, gender-neutral games such as Chess, Carrom, Darts, Net Cricket and Arm Wrestling, the event aims to channel the joy of play and the thrill of challenge. Modern, high-energy sports like Pickleball and Table Tennis add a competitive edge, encouraging participants to push boundaries and embrace teamwork. Meanwhile, curated wellness activities—such as Yoga by the Beach and the Beach Walkathon—offer delegates a chance to recharge, reconnect, and realign with their inner selves. Let’s Play. Let’s Connect. Let’s Celebrate.”
Alongside the sporting competitions, daily wellness activities will be available: Yoga by the Bay delivers guided morning sessions, and the Beach Walkathon invites the community to a scenic daybreak stroll.
The 18th edition of South Asia’s largest creative festival, Goafest 2025, will take place from May 21st to 23rd at the Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage and Horizon, Goa. Goafest is co-hosted by The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club.
