Mumbai: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has initiated preparations for the second edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), with senior ministry officials meeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to chart the roadmap for the event, which is scheduled to be held in Mumbai in 2027.
The high-level meeting, led by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar, marks the first formal coordination between the Centre and the Maharashtra government as planning gathers pace for what the government envisions as its flagship global platform for the media and entertainment sector.
During the meeting, Kumar briefed the Chief Minister on the progress of preparations and outlined key initiatives being planned for the 2027 edition of the summit.
Fadnavis emphasised the need for close collaboration between the Centre and the state government to build on the momentum generated by the inaugural edition of WAVES, which was held in Mumbai in May 2025. He said the next edition should further elevate the summit’s stature as a global forum showcasing India’s strengths across films, broadcasting, music, gaming, animation and storytelling.
Ahead of the meeting with the Chief Minister, the I&B Secretary conducted an internal review with senior ministry officials to assess the progress of planning. He also visited the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, the venue that hosted the inaugural summit and is proposed to host the 2027 edition as well.
The review reflects the Centre’s efforts to build on the success of the first WAVES summit, which brought together broadcasters, OTT platforms, film studios, gaming companies, content creators, technology firms and policymakers from India and overseas. The initiative has emerged as a key element of the government’s strategy to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment and digital content.
Senior officials attending the review meeting included Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Managing Director Prakash Magdum, senior officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and other representatives from the state government.
