Chiang Mai University has been named the Sustainable Cultural Event Winner as the host of the Creative Lanna Festival by the ACCL and the BAM Fest by the Faculty of Architecture at the Asia Pacific Responsible Event Awards, held during the 2nd Asia Pacific Summit of Event Leaders (APSEL) 2025. Mr. Piyachon Ounchanum, a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, received the award on behalf of the university in Bali, Indonesia on May 23, 2025.

The award-winning Creative Lanna Festival, a cornerstone of CMU's Creative Lanna Strategy, was organized by ACCL (the Center for the Promotion of Art Culture and Creative Lanna at CMU). Its aim was to enhance awareness and access to the creative space at the CMU Lanna House Museum, while fostering strong collaborations among the public, private, educational, and civic sectors. By utilizing spaces with the capacity to attract diverse creative partners, both domestic and international, the festival helps to drive a creative economy in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand built upon the rich Lanna culture.

Another significant achievement for Chiang Mai University at the Asia Pacific Responsible Event Awards was the recognition of the Faculty of Architecture's International Bamboo Architecture and Material Innovation Festival (BAM Fest). Held in partnership with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), BAM Fest showcased 10 innovative bamboo architectural projects. These projects were the result of collaboration between diverse domestic and international partners, including the CMU Faculty of Architecture, TCEB, the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), teachers from Lanna Wisdom School, the Lanna Heritage Foundation, as well as various educational institutions, architecture firms, designers, festival organizers, and public agencies at both the national and local levels. This festival was a testament to the joint effort of the faculty members and staff.

Both the Creative Lanna Festival and BAM Fest were meticulously organized in adherence to sustainability principles across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Their focus was on generating long-term value, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).