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Schbang, India's largest independent Creative, Media, Technology Transformation company, has secured two shortlists at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 - the Asia-Pacific region's premier emerging creative talent competition. Four young Schbangers will now travel to Cairns, Australia, to compete live at the Cairns Crocodiles festival from 12–14 May 2026.
The finalists are:
- Digital category - Priyanka Gohil & Aman Aragonda
- Publishing category - Beverly Coutinho & Sneiden D'souza
Out of 30 teams shortlisted from across the Asia-Pacific - from Australia, Japan, and India - two are from the same homegrown Indian independent agency. No global network behind them. No multinational backing. Just the strength of their ideas.
In Cairns, they will compete on a live brief from the United Nations Foundation, revealed on stage by the UN Foundation's CMO David Ohana, with just 24 hours to create their response. Flights and accommodation for all 60 finalists are covered by the festival.
Not Cannes. Cairns. And India is in the room.
For decades, the global creative calendar has revolved around one city on the French Riviera. But the rise of Cairns Crocodiles - now in its second year as Asia-Pacific's flagship creativity festival - is rewriting that map. And this year, four young creatives from Mumbai aren't just watching the shift happen. They're part of it.
What makes this moment remarkable isn't just that Schbang has two teams in the finals. It's that four young creatives from India earned their place at Asia-Pacific's biggest creative table - backed not by a legacy global network, but by an agency that was born in Mumbai just a decade ago.
Dipshika Ravi, National Creative Director, Schbang, said: "We are thrilled and excited to see our young Schbangers representing us at prestigious global events such as the Cairns Crocodile Awards. This completely aligns with Schbang’s goal of taking India to the global stage. When I saw the ideas, I knew they had merit and the potential to take them places. I am glad that not one, but four people from Schbang will get to experience the adrenaline-pumping energy of the industry, connect with some great minds, and showcase their talent to the world while working on the 48-hour brief. Kudos to them, and here’s wishing them all the very best.”
Priyanka Gohil & Aman Aragonda (Digital finalists) said: "We believed in our work and seeing it stand tall on its own has been incredible. Representing India at a stage this big, on a brief from the United Nations Foundation, is something we never imagined when we started our careers. We're ready for Cairns."
Beverly Coutinho & Sneiden D'souza (Publishing finalists) said: “Publishing is often overlooked for the role it plays in big brand campaigns, shaping how stories are understood and remembered. With our idea leading the way, the opportunity to fly to Australia and work on a live UN brief in 24 hours - that's the kind of creative pressure we thrive on. Here we come, with one eye on the brief, and one on the crocs!"
View the official shortlist announcement here - Link
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