PRESS & EDITORIAL: Happy New Year 2026 — Resilience, Solidarity and Hope

The year 2025 will very likely remain etched in the collective memory of Cambodia as an intense and difficult period: tariff barriers imposed by the United States, border clashes and a disrupted global economic context have severely tested the country.

These factors placed pressure on key sectors: the textile industry — the largest employer and pillar of exports; agriculture; and also tourism, which has struggled to regain its former shine despite growing interest in Southeast Asia. The government and businesses have had to show great caution while seeking to diversify their partners and approach to growth.

Yet at the heart of these challenges, the resilience of the Cambodian people has once again asserted itself. This capacity to bounce back recalls the darkest hours of recent history — the civil war and genocide — during which solidarity, community networks and daily mutual aid made it possible not only to survive but also to be reborn.

In 2025, this spirit was embodied in an enterprising youth, connected by social networks and digital platforms. Local initiatives multiplied: incredible solidarity for refugees, innovative initiatives, startups, educational programs, and many others in rural provinces.

Also, citizen and artistic mobilizations played an essential role. Musicians, painters and chroniclers not only created: they testified to social realities, brought communities together around common causes and refused to remain silent in the face of adversity. Their solidarity — an echo of the voices of resistance of yesterday and today — fuels the hope of a more just and peaceful Cambodia.

Today, peace remains a precious but fragile achievement. Regional tensions, revived by terrible border incidents or economic rivalries, remind us that stability is never guaranteed.

However, several advances inspire confidence: constructive bilateral dialogues, strengthened trade agreements, growing recognition of the cultural role of artists in soft diplomacy and “regional” solidarity in the face of global shocks. These offer Cambodia strong reasons to believe in a peaceful future, even if vigilance remains necessary.

At the dawn of 2026, Cambodge Mag expresses its deep gratitude to its loyal sponsors — whose financial and strategic support remains essential — to its passionate contributors — journalists, photographers, experts — who enrich our pages with their expertise, and to our readership, ever more numerous, witnessing a thirst for reliable and nuanced information about contemporary Cambodia. Your trust honors and motivates us.

We reaffirm our commitment: to continue our mission as a magazine at the crossroads of news and discovery. Expect original topics on the green economy and innovation, inspiring portraits, lesser-known destinations — from forgotten temples to emerging beaches — immersive photo reports capturing the soul of the country, exclusive interviews with decision-makers and creators, as well as analyses on regional geopolitics, new technologies and unprecedented audiovisual content. All of this makes up our uniqueness: an original perspective, passionate and forward-looking.

May 2026 be the year of consolidation — lasting peace, shared prosperity, artistic flourishing and strengthened social cohesion. Let us believe in the power of dialogue, the strength of creativity and the collective capacity of Cambodia to rise with dignity. 

Happy New Year 2026 to all! 

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— Christophe Gargiulo (New Caledonia) is a filmmaker, photographer, musician and journalist based in Cambodia since 2005. He has produced many films, TV programs and documentaries on cultural and ecological issues, including for NGOs and international media.