India Aims To Become The Next Hollywood With WAVES Summit 2025

India is stepping into the spotlight as a burgeoning global entertainment powerhouse with the upcoming WAVES Summit 2025, a groundbreaking event set to reimagine the future of media and entertainment. 

Scheduled for May 1-4 in Mumbai, the summit will be hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Maharashtra, and aims to position India as a central hub for storytelling and innovation on the world stage. Its designed to not only showcase Indias booming $50 billion entertainment industry but also forge new international partnerships and position the country as a global hub for content creation.

WAVES — short for World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit — will host more than 10,000 global attendees, including delegations from 60+ countries, 40 government ministers, and representatives from major media and tech companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google, Adobe, Epic Games, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, and more.

“We looked at this new world of creativity and technology and developed a concept where people from all over the world get a new platform — that is WAVES. A platform that is designed for new age creators, creators who use technology, and creators who come from any walk of life today,” said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. “From 1st May to 4th May in Mumbai, we are inviting some of the biggest names from the technology world and the biggest names from the media and entertainment world to participate in this new world, look for multiple new opportunities, and know that this is just the beginning.”

Highlights of WAVES 2025 include the Waves Bazaar, a marketplace featuring nearly 10,000 buyers and sellers, live screenings, and participation from global entities like Tribeca, BBC Studios, MUBI, and Shortstv. WaveX, meanwhile, is Indias answer to a media-tech startup accelerator, with 800 registered startups and 15 international VC firms.

The summit will also feature the “Creatosphere,” a creator and influencer hub hosting 100,000+ content creators, with immersive challenges, YouTube and Meta-led sessions, and the Grand Creators Awards.

The summit will focus on four core sectors: Broadcasting & Infotainment, Digital Media & Innovation, AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality), and Films & Streaming.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of “Create in India, Create for the World,” WAVES aims to amplify Indian creative talent while enabling international content creators and investors to tap into a digitally native audience of 1.4 billion people.

“WAVES 2025 is a testament to India’s growing influence in the global creative economy,” said Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. “It will be a platform where Mumbai and India will emerge as key players in the media and entertainment industry, inspiring new generations of creators and innovators.”