Dish TV India, in partnership with C21Media, is set to host Content India 2026, a three-day industry summit that will bring together leaders from across the entertainment ecosystem to discuss the evolving future of content in India. The event will be held from March 16 to 18 in Mumbai and is expected to attract broadcasters, streaming platforms, studios, production houses and digital-first companies from India and abroad.

According to a press release, the summit aims to serve as a collaborative platform for the entertainment industry to explore emerging trends, partnerships and strategies shaping the future of content creation and distribution. The event will feature high-level discussions on commissioning, production, monetisation, technology adoption, cross-border collaborations and the growing importance of intellectual property in the global entertainment marketplace.

Manoj Dobhal, CEO and Executive Director of Dish TV India, highlighted the growing global momentum around Indian storytelling and emphasised the importance of strategic conversations within the industry. He noted that Indian content has reached a critical point in the international market, where creators, studios and platforms are increasingly focused on building stronger intellectual properties and forging global partnerships. According to him, Content India 2026 will bring together key voices from across the ecosystem to help define the next phase of industry growth.

One of the key sessions at the summit, titled State of the Indian Entertainment Nation, will examine the major trends, opportunities and challenges shaping the country’s content landscape. The discussion will feature industry leaders including Shilangi Mukherji, Director and Head of SVOD Business at Prime Video; Anuj Gandhi, Chief Business Officer of Digital Entertainment Service at Reliance Jio; Deepak Dhar, Founder and Group CEO of Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine Asia; and Ashish Sehgal, CEO of Times TV Network.

Another key segment, the Content India Co-Pro Pitch, will provide a platform for early-stage scripted and unscripted projects seeking global co-production partnerships. Two winning projects — one scripted and one unscripted — will receive a £10,000 marketing prize. The panel of judges includes Frank Spotnitz, CEO and Founder of Big Light Productions; Fiona Campbell, Director of Factual at BBC Content; Rashmi Bajpai, EVP Asia at Banijay Rights; Bal Samra, Chairman of Big Deal Films; and Rachel Glaister, EVP International Brands and Press at All3Media International.

The event will also host a session titled Content Strategies: What Indian Commissioners and Buyers Want, featuring industry professionals 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, Head of Factual Entertainment at Warner Bros. Discovery South Asia; and Vishnu Mohta, Co-founder of Hoichoi.

Another panel discussion titled Current Trends in Indian Production: Getting Your Show on Air will focus on development strategies, financing models and international collaboration opportunities. Speakers for the session include Sunder Aaron, Managing Partner at Locomotive Global; Parveen Dusanj-Bedi, Founder and Managing Director of CreativeNation; Roopak Saluja, Founder of BANG BANG TV; Tarun Sawhney, President APAC at Shorts TV; and filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.

Technology will also play a central role in the discussions, with a session titled Using AI to Supercharge Your Shows in the New Content Economy examining how generative AI is transforming production processes. Speakers include Dipankar Mukherjee, CEO and Co-founder of Studio Blo; Prateek Arora, VP of Development at BANG BANG TV; Anshul Vikram Pandey, Founder and Chairman of PanScience Group; Saiteja Alampally, Founder and CEO of One Immersive; and Vipul Agrawal, Founder and CEO of Mugafi.

The summit will also feature a fireside chat with Sameer Nair, Managing Director of Applause Entertainment, where he will discuss the evolution of Indian storytelling, intellectual property development and the role of AI in shaping the future of content creation.

Speaking about the upcoming summit, Ashish Sehgal said he is looking forward to engaging with industry leaders, creators and technology partners to discuss the rapid evolution of discovery, distribution and monetisation models in the content business. Similarly, Anuj Gandhi emphasised that industry platforms like Content India 2026 play a crucial role in fostering collaboration and aligning stakeholders to unlock the next phase of growth in India’s expanding content economy.

With its focus on actionable insights, industry collaboration and global partnerships, Content India 2026 aims to position itself as a key hub for strategic conversations shaping the future of the Indian entertainment sector.