Mumbai: WAVES 2025, the first-ever World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit in India, is currently underway in Mumbai, marking a significant moment for the nation's media and entertainment (M&E) industry. This four-day global summit, which began today, May 1, 2025, and will continue until May 4, 2025, is set to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. Organized by the Government of India, the summit has attracted an impressive participation of over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, more than 300 companies, and over 350 startups from over 100 countries.
WAVES Summit 2025: Agenda
The summit's agenda is packed with a diverse range of sessions, including 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses. These sessions span across various sectors of the M&E industry, such as broadcasting, infotainment, animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, extended reality (AVGC-XR), films, and digital media. WAVES 2025 aims to foster global collaboration, attract investments into India's creative economy, and develop the media and entertainment ecosystem within the country. The event serves as a platform for industry giants, creators, investors, and technology pioneers to converge, collaborate, and explore the future of global entertainment.
WAVES 2025: Celebrities Attending Summit
The inaugural day of WAVES 2025 saw the presence of prominent figures from the Indian entertainment industry. The opening ceremony featured a stirring invocation by the Oscar-winning music composer M.M. Keeravaani and a 30-member orchestra, followed by 'Sutradhar Reinvented,' a sensory-rich journey into India's cinematic and storytelling heritage narrated by actor Sharad Kelkar. The day also included high-profile panel discussions. One such discussion, titled "Legends & Legacies: The Stories That Shaped India's Soul," featured veteran actors like Hema Malini, Mithun Chakraborty, Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, and Chiranjeevi, moderated by Akshay Kumar. Another engaging panel, "The New Mainstream: Breaking Borders, Building Legends," brought together S.S. Rajamouli, A.R. Rahman, Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, with Karan Johar as the moderator. Other notable speakers on the first day included Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Mukesh Ambani, and Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Inc.
WAVES Summit 2025: Aims
WAVES 2025 is not solely focused on discussions and panels. A significant highlight is the "Create in India Challenge," which saw over 85,000 participants, including 1,100 international entries, across 32 creative contests. The finalists are showcasing their work at the Creatosphere, a dedicated space featuring masterclasses, workshops, a gaming arena, and the grand finale of the challenge, culminating in the WAVES CIC Awards. The summit also features the WaveXcelerator, a platform connecting startups with investors and mentors, and the WAVES Bazaar, a marketplace for media professionals. The Bharat Pavilion offers immersive storytelling zones under the theme "Kala to Code," reflecting India's journey from traditional arts to digital creativity. Additionally, a Viewing Room Library is screening 100 films from eight countries.
With its extensive scale, influential exhibitors, and forward-looking vision, WAVES 2025 is poised to be a premier hub for global media convergence, where tradition and innovation come together to shape the future of storytelling, technology, and entertainment. The summit aims to project India as a global powerhouse in the M&E sector, fostering innovation, collaboration, and investment in the country's creative economy.
