BERLIN — The International News Media Association(INMA) said on March 26 that its 2026 World Congress of News Media in Berlin had sold out 39 days before opening, marking the first time in the organisation’s 96-year history that the annual gathering has reached full capacity ahead of the event. The congress will run from May 4 to May 8, and general registration has now moved to a waiting list because of venue limits.
The event will be held at the Axica Congress & Convention Center at Pariser Platz, near the Brandenburg Gate. INMA’s Berlin programme includes a media conference, six seminars, three study tours and the Global Media Awards unveiling, reflecting the broader format the organisation has built around its annual congress week.
The sell-out suggests that demand for face-to-face industry meetings remains firm despite the growth of virtual professional networks and online briefings. For publishers, the timing is notable: news organisations are under pressure to adjust subscription models, defend advertising revenue, integrate artificial intelligence into workflows and rethink product strategy as audience habits continue to shift.
INMA has framed this year’s Berlin congress around the theme, “From Walls to Bridges: News Media Reimagined.” According to the event programme, major discussion areas will include AI, subscriptions, advertising, product and technology, as well as newsroom transformation and the future of journalism.
Berlin is also being positioned as more than a host city. INMA’s event materials highlight Germany’s news industry as a focal point for international delegates, with study tours and programming intended to give visiting executives a closer look at local media strategy and operations.
Following the closure of general registration, INMA said it had begun directing members toward other in-person events later this year, including meetings in New Delhi in July, Madrid in September, San Francisco in October and New York in December. The association also said details of its 2027 World Congress in New York would be announced later.
INMA, founded in 1930, describes itself as a global association for news-media companies and professionals. Its materials say it connects more than 26,000 professionals across more than 100 countries through conferences, reports, webinars and shared industry case studies.
