India to host first 'WAVES summit' in Mumbai: Game-changer for global entertainment
Announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the WAVES Summit 2025 will bring together global media CEOs, entertainment icons, and creative leaders, aiming to establish India as a global creative powerhouse.
India is set to host the inaugural World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai from May 1-4, positioning it as the Davos of the entertainment sector.
India’s answer to Davos for entertainment
The World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) is being positioned as India's flagship global event for the entertainment industry, akin to how Davos is for the economic sector.
Announcing the summit,Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated:
"This summit will unify entertainment, creativity, and culture like never before."
The event will focus on:
Regional & mainstream cinema
Animation, gaming, & VFX Entertainment technology innovations
Global collaborations in media & entertainment
PM Modi’s vision for WAVES
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired an Advisory Board meeting for the summit, emphasized India's goal of becoming a creative powerhouse. During an interactive session on Friday, Modi engaged with top industry figures, including
business leaders Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, bollywood icons like Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor,South Indian superstars Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal and music maestro AR Rahman The PM highlighted WAVES in his Mann Ki Baat address, comparing it to the World Economic Forum at Davos.
A platform for India’s creative Economy
The WAVES summit aims to:
Strengthen India’s entertainment sector globally
Foster cross-industry collaborations
Boost India's leadership in animation, gaming, and digital entertainment with a lineup of influential personalities and Mumbai as the host city,WAVES 2025 is set to be a landmark event for India's entertainment and creative industries.
