Established in 1995, the annual National Lam Festival is preceded by week-long regional competitions in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Champassak, and culminates in performances by selected groups, leading to the award of prizes. The National Khene Competition, staged annually by the Foundation for Cultural Promotion, is similar in format.

Though they could not strictly be defined as festivals, the Sinxay National Writing Competition, run by Vannasin Magazine, and the National Short Story Writing Competition, run by the Department of Publishing, Printing, Distribution and Libraries of the Ministry of Information and Culture, are the closest thing to literature festivals in Laos.

Handicrafts are showcased at the Lao Handicraft Festival, the Lao Industry and Handicrafts Products Trade Fair, the Lao National Textile Festival and the Lao Northern Handicraft Exhibition.

For useful information on the logistics of presenting overseas work in Laos please see the International cultural exchange section.