NATPE Global 2026 kicks off on February 2, bringing together international executives, creators, and buyers to explore the evolving global content landscape.
Spanning several days, NATPE Global 2026 focuses on how the television and streaming industries are responding to shifting audience habits, economic pressure, and changing distribution models.
NATPE Global 2026 Key Events
Unscripted Trends Briefing: Emerging Opportunities in Non-Fiction (Feb. 2, 1:45-2:15 pm)
K7 Media offers a sharp snapshot of where the global unscripted and non-fiction market is heading. The session explores emerging format trends, the rise of multinational collaboration, and evolving financing models, from shared IP structures to brand-funded content. With a strong focus on commercial sustainability, the briefing highlights how producers can tap into new creative and revenue opportunities in an increasingly globalized marketplace.
Speakers:
K7 Media Ltd. Trends and Intelligence Executive Madeleine Coogan
K7 Media Non-Executive Director Clare Thompson
Keynote Conversation: Anais Baker, Amazon MGM Studios (Feb. 2, 4:30-5:00 pm)
Anais Baker discusses how Amazon MGM Studios identifies, develops, and scales formats with global potential. Drawing on franchises such as LOL: Last One Laughing, Luxe Listings, and Wild & Free, Baker shares insights into localization, international growth strategies, and the elements that help IP travel across markets while retaining local relevance.
Speaker: Amazon MGM Studios Head of International Formats Anais Baker
Keynote Conversation: Michael Thorn, FOX Television Network (Feb. 3, 10:00-10:30 am)
Michael Thorn outlines Fox’s vision for the future of unscripted television. From Gordon Ramsay staples like Hell’s Kitchen and Next Level Chef to game-show reinventions such as The Floor, Thorn discusses innovation, format longevity, and how unscripted content can successfully cross platforms while staying audience-driven.
Speaker: FOX Entertainment Studios President Michael Thorn
Transforming for now: Creator Economy For TV Producers (Feb. 3, 3:30-4:00 pm)
Media analyst Evan Shapiro breaks down how traditional TV producers can adapt to the creator economy. Arguing that creators are no longer adjacent to the industry but central to its future, Shapiro offers a practical roadmap for producers seeking relevance and growth in an era defined by fragmentation, platforms, and direct-to-audience models.
Speaker: ESHAP Producer, Owner, Media Cartographer Evan Shapiro
Keynote Conversation: Dhar Mann Studios (Feb. 4, 9:30–10:00am)
Dhar Mann and Sean Atkins explore how Dhar Mann Studios has built one of the world’s largest creator-driven brands. The conversation focuses on community building, audience trust, and how creator-led studios are redefining production, distribution, and scale; offering lessons for traditional media players navigating the creatorsphere.
Speakers:
Dhar Mann Studios Founder Dhar Mann
Dhar Mann Studios CEO Sean Atkins
The NATPE HONORS series – Keynote Conversation: Sean Cohan (Feb. 4, 10:00–10:30am)
Bell Media President Sean Cohan shares how Canada’s largest media company is reshaping itself for global competition. From growing Crave into a leading streamer to balancing local storytelling with international ambition, Cohan discusses transformation, partnerships, and the evolving role of legacy media in a global content ecosystem.
Speakers: Bell Media President Sean Cohan
Unlocking Imagionation: How Amazon MGM Studios is Empowering Filmmakers with AI (Feb 4, 10:40–11:10am)
This session examines Amazon MGM Studios’ human-centric approach to AI, focusing on tools designed to support, not replace, creative vision. Drawing from real productions, the conversation highlights how AI can streamline workflows, protect IP, and help filmmakers realize ambitious projects more efficiently and responsibly.
Speakers:
Amazon MGM Studios Head of AI Studios Albert Cheng
Wonder Project Founder & Chief Content Officer Jon Erwin
Where the money went and where it’s going: the new rules of media investment, M&A and survival (Feb. 4, 2:15-3:00 pm)
As traditional TV economics are reshaped by creators, platforms, and AI, this panel delivers a candid look at shifting capital flows. Investors and advisors discuss which models remain viable, where consolidation is accelerating, and how production companies and studios must evolve their M&A strategies to survive and grow in a rapidly changing market.
Speakers:
Oak Tree Capital management Managing Director Jared Frandle
Alignment Growth Co-Founder and Managing Partner Alex Iosilevich
XKE Capital CEO & General Partner Xavier Kochhar
Keynote Conversation: Luis Fernandez (NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises) (Feb. 5, 10:30-11:00 am)
Luis Fernandez offers a close look at Telemundo’s continued rise as the leading Spanish-language network across both linear television and streaming. The conversation focuses on NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises’ long-term strategy, from bold investment in culturally resonant content to its expansion into live sports and exclusive coverage of major global events, including the FIFA World Cup. Fernandez also touches on how Telemundo is strengthening its position with audiences by combining scale, innovation, and relevance in an increasingly competitive market.
Speaker: NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises Chairman Luis Fernandez
Micro-Content: Big stories in small doses (Feb. 5, 11:15-12:00)
As audiences increasingly gravitate toward shorter, more digestible storytelling, this session examines the rapid growth of micro-content and short-form scripted series. Industry leaders discuss how bite-sized narratives are driving engagement, building fandoms, and reshaping viewing habits across platforms. The panel explores how producers and distributors are monetizing short-form storytelling while unlocking new creative and commercial opportunities in a fast-moving content landscape.
Speakers:
Holywater CEO & Co-Founder Bogdan Nesvit
Cineverse/MicroCo President Erick Opeka
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprise Chief Content Officer & Head of Telemundo Studios Javier Pons
TelevisaUnivision General Director of Content and Production Damian Villar
Looking ahead, NATPE Global 2026 is set to remain a key marketplace for international content deals, co-productions and creative partnerships, as distributors, broadcasters, and streamers continue to navigate a rapidly evolving global TV landscape. With its strong focus on cross-border collaboration and premium storytelling, NATPE Global 2026 is expected to play an increasingly influential role in shaping the future of international television.
