WAVES 2025: A Milestone for India's Creative Economy

WAVES 2025, held in Mumbai, has established India as a prominent global creative hub, attracting over 100,000 participants from 90 countries. The event featured a range of sectors including film, digital media, and broadcasting, with significant initiatives like the Create in India Challenge showcasing talent from around the world. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of creativity and global connectivity, inviting international investors to engage with India's vibrant creative ecosystem. With numerous startups presenting innovative ideas, WAVES 2025 has set the stage for India's future in the global creative economy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 31, 2025, 13:56 IST

WAVES 2025 Establishes India as a Global Creative Hub

Mumbai recently hosted the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025), a significant event that has firmly positioned India as a global creative hub. Held from May 1 to 4 at the Jio World Convention Centre, this grand summit attracted participants from over 90 countries. The event saw the participation of more than 10,000 delegates, over 1,000 creators, 300 companies, and more than 350 startups, culminating in a total attendance of around 100,000 individuals. The summit covered a wide range of sectors including broadcasting, infotainment, film, digital media, and AVGC-XR.

According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, WAVES 2025 is one of the most significant initiatives aimed at strengthening the media and entertainment sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event, describing it as more than just a gathering, but a "wave of culture, creativity, and global connectivity." He reiterated the vision of 'Create in India, Create for the World,' inviting investors and youth from around the globe to engage with India's creative ecosystem.

The event featured CreatoSphere, an innovation hub designed for creators in film, VFX, VR, animation, gaming, comics, music, broadcasting, and digital media to turn their ideas into reality. The participation of leading creative figures from both domestic and international backgrounds fostered partnerships, innovation, and showcased Indian talent on a global stage.

The Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1 was dubbed "India's largest creative talent movement," receiving over 100,000 entries from more than 60 countries across 33 categories. During WAVES, over 750 finalists were showcased in eight creative zones. Prime Minister Modi engaged directly with young creators, observed winning innovations, and highlighted India's emergence as a global content hub.

During the WAVES Creator Awards, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw honored over 150 creators. The WaveX initiative aims to support more than 200 startups. On this platform, over 30 startups presented their ideas to global giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Lumicai, while nearly 100 startups showcased their technological solutions.

From August to November 2025, a comprehensive outreach campaign will be conducted through WAVES Bazaar across four continents, featuring 12 international and four major domestic industry events, potentially generating investment and business opportunities worth ₹4,334 crores.

WAVES 2025 has elevated India's creative economy to new heights, providing a robust platform for Indian stories and innovations on a global scale. This event was not only a celebration of creativity but also laid the foundation for India's bright future.