Content India 2026 is set to emerge as a major platform for conversations around the future of India’s entertainment industry, bringing together leading broadcasters, streaming platforms, studios and creators from across the world. The three-day event will be held from March 16 to 18 in Mumbai.

According to a press release, the summit is being organised by Dish TV India in partnership with C21Media. The event is expected to host industry leaders, content creators and technology experts for discussions on evolving trends, partnerships and the future of the entertainment ecosystem.

The gathering aims to provide a collaborative platform for broadcasters, streaming services, production houses and digital-first companies to exchange ideas and explore new opportunities in a rapidly changing content landscape. With Indian entertainment gaining global recognition, the summit will focus on the next phase of growth for the industry.

Speaking about the event, Manoj Dobhal, CEO and Executive Director of Dish TV India, said Indian content has reached a pivotal moment in the global market. He noted that as creators, platforms and studios work towards building stronger intellectual properties and forming international partnerships, the need for meaningful and results-driven dialogue has become more important than ever. According to him, Content India 2026 will bring together diverse voices from across the industry to shape the next stage of its development.

Over the course of three days, the event will explore key themes including commissioning, production, monetisation strategies, cross-border collaborations, emerging technologies and intellectual property development. Several sessions are designed to highlight how innovation is transforming the Indian entertainment sector.

One of the key discussions, titled ‘State of the Indian Entertainment Nation’, will examine the opportunities and challenges shaping India’s content ecosystem. Speakers scheduled to participate include Shilangi Mukherji, Director and Head of SVOD Business at Prime Video, Anuj Gandhi, Chief Business Officer – Digital Entertainment Service at Reliance Jio, Deepak Dhar, Founder and Group CEO of Banijay Asia and Ashish Sehgal, CEO of Times TV Network.

Another important segment, ‘Content India Co-Pro Pitch’, will showcase early-stage scripted and unscripted projects seeking global partnerships. The initiative will award two winning projects — one scripted and one unscripted — with a £10,000 marketing prize. The judging panel will include Frank Spotnitz of Big Light Productions, Fiona Campbell from BBC Content, Rashmi Bajpai of Banijay Rights, Bal Samra of Big Deal Films and Rachel Glaister from All3Media International.

The event will also feature discussions on commissioning strategies, with industry leaders such as Sahira Nair, Head of Hindi Scripted Series at Prime Video India, Rajaraman Sundaram, Chief Content Officer South at Sony Pictures Networks India, Sai Abishek from Warner Bros. Discovery, and Vishnu Mohta, Co-founder of Hoichoi sharing insights on evolving content demand.

Another session will focus on current trends in production and the process of bringing shows to market. Speakers include Sunder Aaron of Locomotive Global, Parveen Dusanj-Bedi of CreativeNation, Roopak Saluja from BANG BANG TV, Tarun Sawhney of ShortsTV, and filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.

The impact of artificial intelligence on content creation will also be explored in a session on generative AI and its role in transforming production workflows. Participants will include Dipankar Mukherjee of Studio Blo, Prateek Arora, Anshul Vikram Pandey of PanScience Group, Saiteja Alampally of One Immersive, and Vipul Agrawal from Mugafi.

In addition, a fireside conversation with Sameer Nair, Managing Director of Applause Entertainment, will examine the evolution of Indian storytelling, intellectual property and the role of AI-driven content creation.

Ashish Sehgal, CEO of Times TV Network and CGO Times Entertainment, said he looks forward to engaging with creators, studios, investors and technology partners at the event. He emphasised that while content remains the central currency of the industry, the real opportunity lies in building stronger partnerships and scalable models that support the next phase of growth.

Echoing similar sentiments, Anuj Gandhi of Reliance Jio said Content India 2026 comes at a crucial time for the industry. As content creation, distribution and consumption continue to evolve at scale, he noted that platforms like these play a vital role in aligning the ecosystem, fostering collaboration and unlocking the next wave of growth for India’s content economy.

With a focus on collaboration, innovation and international partnerships, Content India 2026 aims to serve as a strategic hub for the industry. The summit is expected to play a key role in shaping discussions around commissioning decisions, cross-border collaborations and the broader direction of the Indian entertainment sector in the coming years.