AGP Executive Report

Himalayan Art: USC Pacific Asia Museum is bringing Bhutanese and other Himalayan traditions to California in a new exhibition, alongside a companion show drawn from the museum’s collection. Arts Education: Bhutan and Japan are marking 40 years of ties with plans to expand teacher exchanges and arts-based learning in Bhutanese schools. Bhutanese Cinema: “Tunnel 26” is opening new possibilities for local filmmaking and raising expectations for Bhutanese cinema. Heritage Tourism: Bhutan won 11 honours at the 2026 South Asian Travel Awards, retaining Best Leading Heritage Destination for a second year.

Tourism & Heritage: Bhutan won 11 honours at the 2026 South Asian Travel Awards, retaining Best Leading Heritage Destination for a second year; seven local hotels and tourism representatives also received awards. Arts Education: Bhutan and Japan are expanding community ties as they mark 40 years of diplomatic relations, with a new focus on arts education in Bhutanese schools and teacher exchanges. Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26 is being hailed as opening new possibilities for Bhutanese filmmaking.

Tourism & Heritage: Bhutan won 11 honours at the 2026 South Asian Travel Awards, retaining Best Leading Heritage Destination for a second year. Seven Bhutanese hospitality businesses and representatives collected 10 more awards for design, location, food, environmental practices and leadership. Arts Education: As Bhutan and Japan mark 40 years of diplomatic ties, representatives in Thimphu discussed expanding community partnerships, including art-based education and exchanges between teachers. Bhutanese Cinema: “Tunnel 26” is being hailed as a new milestone for local filmmaking, with coverage saying the film raises the bar and opens fresh possibilities for Bhutanese cinema.

Arts Education: Bhutan and Japan are partnering to promote arts education in schools, bringing creative learning into the classroom. Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26 is opening new possibilities for Bhutanese filmmakers and raising the bar for local cinema. Digital Entertainment: Crunchyroll Manga’s expansion into South Asia gives regional readers access to more titles.

Arts Education: Bhutan and Japan are partnering to promote arts education in schools, bringing new focus to creative learning. Bhutanese Cinema: “Tunnel 26” is drawing attention as a film that could open new possibilities for Bhutanese cinema and raise expectations for local filmmaking. Digital Entertainment: Crunchyroll Manga has expanded into South Asia, giving readers in the region access to hundreds of titles.

Cultural Gathering: Gelephu is preparing for an estimated 100,000 visitors for the November 1 raising of 108 Jangchub Chortens, with 84,000 people registered by October 8. Digital Entertainment: Crunchyroll Manga has expanded to Bhutan, bringing readers more than 250 English-language titles, including popular series such as The Apothecary Diaries and Delicious in Dungeon. Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26 is being hailed as a film that raises the bar for Bhutanese cinema and opens new possibilities for local filmmakers. Sports: A cricket coaching programme is expanding to monastic institutions, bringing more opportunities to learn the game.

Digital Manga: Crunchyroll Manga has expanded to Bhutan, offering more than 250 English-language titles through its app and website, including popular series such as The Apothecary Diaries and Bocchi the Rock! Regional Music: Bangladesh’s Beatmosphere and Mongolia’s Beck are set for the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia in Bangkok this November. Bhutan Broadcasting Service is among 11 broadcasters that have expressed interest in taking part. Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26 has opened new possibilities for local filmmaking, with reports describing it as a step forward for Bhutanese cinema.

Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26 is drawing attention for pushing new boundaries in Bhutanese filmmaking and opening fresh possibilities for local cinema. Manga Access: Crunchyroll Manga has expanded to Bhutan, bringing more than 250 English-language titles to fans through its app and website. Eurovision Asia: Bhutan’s BBS is among 11 broadcasters interested in the inaugural contest, set for Bangkok in November; no Bhutanese act has been announced yet.

Digital Manga: Crunchyroll Manga has launched in Bhutan, giving readers access to more than 250 English-language titles on mobile and web. Regional Music: Bhutan Broadcasting Service is among 11 broadcasters listed for Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026, set for Bangkok in November. Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26 is drawing attention as a sign of growing ambition in local filmmaking. Folk Arts: Bhutanese artists are set to join international performers at Rajasthan’s folk festival in Jodhpur, running October 22–26.

Manga: Crunchyroll Manga has launched in Bhutan, offering more than 250 English-language titles, including The Apothecary Diaries and Bocchi the Rock! Eurovision Asia: Bhutan Broadcasting Service is among 11 broadcasters expressing interest in the contest’s debut this November. Thailand’s Mang & Daou and Bangladesh’s Beatmosphere have been chosen to represent their countries. Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26 is drawing attention as a new benchmark for local filmmaking. Folk Music: Bhutanese artists will join an international lineup at Rajasthan’s folk festival in Jodhpur, running October 22–26.

Manga Access: Crunchyroll Manga has launched in Bhutan, with more than 250 English-language titles available through its app and website, including The Apothecary Diaries and Bocchi the Rock! Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26: The Curse Beneath the Mountain, a Bhutan–Nepal horror collaboration, premiered in both countries and showcases a more ambitious, technology-driven approach to filmmaking. Folk Music: Bhutanese artists are among the international performers set to join Rajasthan’s folk festival at Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, from October 22–26.

Digital Manga: Crunchyroll’s Manga app has expanded to Bhutan and other South Asian markets, giving local readers a new way to access its catalogue. Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26: The Curse Beneath the Mountain, a Bhutan-Nepal co-production, premiered in both countries this week. Its horror-survival story and use of visual effects mark a more ambitious step for Bhutanese filmmaking. Live Music: Bhutanese artists are among the international performers at Rajasthan’s October folk festival, where they’ll share stages with regional folk musicians and global acts. Cricket: A new coaching programme is training monks and nuns from 28 monastic institutions to lead regular sessions for their students.

Bhutanese Cinema: Tunnel 26: The Curse Beneath the Mountain premiered in Bhutan and Nepal, pairing filmmakers from both countries in a horror story about people trapped underground. Its ambitious production and visual effects aim to showcase the growing capabilities of Bhutanese cinema. Cricket: A Thimphu coaching programme is training 50 monks and nuns from 28 monastic institutions to lead regular sessions, building a lasting grassroots cricket network. Archery: A tournament in Trashigang is putting entry fees back into community funding, linking Bhutan’s traditional sport with local support.

Bhutanese Cinema: “Tunnel 26,” directed by DD Kinley, is set to push Bhutanese horror-survival storytelling further with a mixed cast including Bhutanese actors Sangay Tsheltrim, Phuntshok Dhoden and Deki Lhamo, plus Nepali and Indian talent. Wildlife & Environment: A new ScienceDirect meta-analysis flags rising microplastic risks across the Hindu Kush Himalayas, with pollutants found in glaciers, snow, rivers and soils—raising concerns for downstream water for nearly two billion people. Local Culture & Community Sports: Bhutan Cricket Council’s train-the-trainer programme is bringing cricket coaching into monasteries, with about 50 monks and nuns from 22 monasteries learning to run sessions back home. National Service Milestone: Gyalsung’s 2026 passing-out parade saw the largest cohort yet—2,847 young Bhutanese—bringing completed trainees to 12,707 nationwide. Thimphu Civic Life: Thimphu’s “like a local” day guide spotlights Buddha Point yoga, Changangkha Lhakhang walks, local food and a relaxed evening. Public Debate Online: An Indian woman’s video comparing traffic, honking, cleanliness and women’s safety in India vs Bhutan has sparked a lively online discussion about civic sense and road discipline. Energy & Industry: Adani Power and DGPC have signed on a 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydropower project, with construction expected to start in 2027.

Bhutan Creative & Media: Bhutan climbed to 74th in the Global Innovation Index 2026, with officials pointing to standout strengths in filmmaking and low-carbon energy—but warning the real challenge is turning creativity into businesses and exportable services. Thimphu Culture & Community: Thimphu Police recovered sacred relics stolen from 35 chortens and lhakhangs, spanning cases reported between 2023 and 2026. Sport & Youth Development: The Bhutan Cricket Council is training 50 monks and nuns from 22 monasteries and six nunneries in Thimphu through a train-the-trainer programme, aiming for sustainable coaching inside monastic schools. National Service Milestone: Gyalsung passing-out ceremonies marked the completion of training for the 2026 Batch (Cohort 2), with 12,707 young Bhutanese now having completed national service. Local Sports Fundraiser: Trashigang’s Mega 7 Star archery tournament is underway, with entry fees helping build the Moenlam Chenmo Tshokhang community hall. Regional Tech & Governance: South Korea’s procurement agency shared AI-powered e-procurement ideas at a Bhutan-hosted Asia-Pacific conference in Thimphu with the ADB. Hydropower Deal Watch: Adani Power and DGPC signed for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydropower project in Thimphu, targeting construction to start in early 2027.

Bhutan Creative Spotlight: Bhutan climbed to 74th in the Global Innovation Index 2026, with officials pointing to standout strengths in filmmaking and low-carbon energy—but warning the real task now is turning creativity into businesses and exportable media value. National Service Milestone: Gyalsung passing-out parades marked a major moment as 12,707 Bhutanese completed training across four academies, with the King calling it an “extraordinary achievement.” Local Culture & Shopping Buzz: Thimphu’s tshechu season is back, and with it the annual “tshechu sale” culture—street stalls, big discounts, and a city-wide shopping rush. Sports With Community Payoff: Trashigang’s Mega 7 Star archery tournament is drawing 36 teams and turning entry fees into community support, with funds aimed at finishing the Moenlam Chenmo Tshokhang hall. Bhutan on the Global Stage (Energy): Adani Power and DGPC signed for the 770 MW Chamkharchhu-I hydropower project, a 49:51 partnership under a 30-year BOOT model, with construction expected to start in 2027. Film & Media Industry Watch: A Bhutan-focused cinema story highlights how Tunnel 26 is pushing new boundaries for Bhutanese filmmaking.