WAVES 2025, a four-day summit with the tagline "Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries," is set to take place in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025. The event aims to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation by bringing together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world.
The summit will integrate various aspects of the Indian media and entertainment landscape, including films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech. This comprehensive showcase is designed to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding India's footprint in the global entertainment economy.
One of the key features of WAVES 2025 is the Global Media Dialogue (GMD), which will be hosted for the first time, with ministerial participation from 25 countries. This milestone marks a significant step in India's engagement with the global media and entertainment landscape.
The summit will also feature the WAVES Bazaar, a global e-marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers locally and globally, ensuring wide-reaching networking and business opportunities. Over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 projects are expected to participate in this initiative.
Prime Minister visited the Creatosphere and interacted with creators selected from the 32 Create in India Challenges launched nearly a year ago, which garnered over one lakh registrations. He will also visit the Bharat Pavilion during the summit.
WAVES 2025 is anticipated to attract participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups. The summit will feature 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses spanning diverse sectors of the Indian media and entertainment landscape.
The event is designed to connect creators with global storytellers, animators with global visionaries, and transform gamers into global champions. It aims to encourage international investors to invest in platforms and people, and invite Indian youth to share their one billion untold stories with the world.
In conclusion, WAVES 2025 promises to be a groundbreaking event that will shape India's position as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. The summit's diverse lineup of sessions, exhibits, and networking opportunities is expected to create a vibrant ecosystem that fosters collaboration and creativity among creators, startups, and industry leaders from around the world.