MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN 2025
Motto & First Speakers Announced
For the 39th time, Munich will become the meeting point for the national and international media industry. MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN 2025 will take place from 22 to 24 October at the House of Communication and the surrounding Werksviertel district. Under the motto “WTFuture?!”, #MTM25 will explore the future of media amid rapid transformation, innovation, and geopolitical upheaval. The 2025 speaker line-up includes former CNN President Jeff Zucker, POLITICO CEO Goli Sheikholeslami, and Germany’s Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Dr Wolfram Weimer.
How do we shape the future of media?
“Our industry is changing at breakneck speed. It’s not just AI that is setting the pace. Digital platforms are redefining the rules overnight, democratic values are under pressure worldwide, and facts are in danger of becoming meaningless in the battle of opinions. In this situation, media must find strategies to deal with the unpredictable,” says Stefan Sutor, Managing Director of Medien.Bayern GmbH and organiser of MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN. “This is exactly where the #MTM25 motto comes in. ‘WTFuture?!’ explicitly questions the future, but also reflects the sense of bewilderment many of us feel in light of recent developments.”
Dr Thorsten Schmiege, President of the BLM and Chair of the Shareholders’ Assembly of Medien.Bayern: “Rarely has it been as exciting and important as it is now to talk about the future of media. It is being shaped above all by new power dynamics in the media market and by emerging technologies such as AI. We now need to seize opportunities, tackle challenges head-on, and act responsibly – especially with regard to fair competition, which is particularly relevant for the major platforms. MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN 2025, under the motto ‘WTFuture’, offers the ideal stage for this.”
First Highlight Speakers Confirmed
The three-day specialist conference will focus on both new technologies and AI-driven transformation, as well as global political crises and their impact on media and society. As in previous years, the opening of MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN – the MEDIENTAGE Summit – will be hosted by journalist and presenter Eva Schulz, known for her podcast Deutschland3000 – ’ne gute Stunde mit Eva Schulz on NDR.
Confirmed speakers also include Stephan Schmitter (CEO, RTL Deutschland), author and publicist Jagoda Marinić, media cartographer Evan Shapiro, Jeff Zucker (CEO, RedBird IMI), Goli Sheikholeslami (CEO, POLITICO), BR Director General Dr. Katja Wildermuth, Dr. Wolfram Weimer (Minister of State for Culture and the Media), Elke Walthelm (COO, Sky Deutschland), Su Holder (Managing Director, BosePark Productions), and Dr. Christoph Schneider (Country Director, Prime Video Germany).
In total, the conference will feature more than 300 speakers across over 100 panels, talks, masterclasses, and side events. As in previous years, the House of Communication by the Serviceplan Group will serve as the main venue for #MTM25, offering five stages and an accompanying expo. The free careers fair MEDIA FOR YOU, aimed at pupils and students, will complement the exhibitor and stage programme. The “Umadum” Ferris wheel in the Werksviertel will become an elevated event venue with the “Riesenrad Talks”.
MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN will also provide the backdrop for various media events and awards ceremonies. These include the “Blauer Panther – TV & Streaming Award”, which will take place alongside the “Nacht der Medien” on 22 October at BMW Welt in Munich. Additionally, the Eyes & Ears Awards will be held as part of MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN 2025, with the awards ceremony taking place on 20 October at the ASTOR Film Lounge at ARRI.
About MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN
MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN is one of Europe’s leading media industry conferences, discussing trends, innovations, and current challenges facing the media sector. It is organised by Medien.Bayern GmbH (Managing Directors: Stefan Sutor (Chair), Annette Kümmel). MEDIENTAGE MÜNCHEN is supported by the Bavarian State Chancellery and the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM).