Media Tasting to focus on AI, streaming and media resilience at Stuttgart conference
July 6, 2026 09.56 Europe/London By Broadband TV News Correspondent

The Media Tasting conference will return to Stuttgart on 15 July 2026 for its 11th edition, bringing together executives, policymakers and industry experts to discuss artificial intelligence, streaming, media resilience and the future of the media sector.

The annual conference will be held for the first time at the MHP Arena, marking a new venue for the event. This year’s programme will focus on the impact of AI, streaming and audio on the media landscape, while also examining how media organisations can strengthen resilience in the face of disinformation, technological transformation and wider societal change. Other key themes include media regulation, digital sovereignty and the future of federal state Baden-Württemberg as a hub for the media, film and creative industries.

The speaker line-up includes Dr Rainer Esser, Executive Advisor at publishing house Holtzbrinck and Supervisory Board member of newspaper Die Zeit; Professor Dr Kai Gniffke, Director-General of public broadcaster SWR; Wiebke Wiesner, the new Managing Director of MFG Baden-Württemberg; Dr Wolfgang Kreißig, President of media regulator LFK; and Rudi Hoogvliet, State Secretary for Media Policy and Baden-Württemberg’s Representative to the German Federal Government. The conference will be hosted by Stephanie Haiber, presenter at SWR.

According to Frank Apfel, Managing Director of Apfel Programm Marketing and host of Media Tasting, the relocation to the MHP Arena represents an important milestone for the event: “With the move to the MHP Arena, we are opening a new chapter for Media Tasting. The new venue offers ideal conditions for exchange, networking and discussion. Our goal remains unchanged: to bring together people from different parts of the media industry and discuss the topics shaping our sector.”

The conference will conclude with an evening networking event on the rooftop terrace of the MHP Arena, including a wine tasting featuring award-winning wines recognised by MUNDUS VINI.

Media Tasting is supported by partners from across the media industry, public sector and trade associations, including MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg and media regulator LFK, alongside additional companies and organisations from the media and communications sectors.

Held annually in Stuttgart, Media Tasting positions itself as a cross-industry forum for executives from media, technology, communications, politics and the creative industries. In addition to examining current market developments, the conference aims to provide strategic perspectives on the future of media markets, streaming, audio, artificial intelligence, platform strategies, media policy and digital innovation.

Further information on the programme, speakers and ticketing is available at the event website.