World Skills Café returns to IBC

Taking place on 10 September 2026 from 2pm to 5pm at the RAI Amsterdam, the World Skills Café will tackle workforce challenges – bringing together leaders from across the industry to drive practical solutions and collective accountability.

Shapiro will open the event with his data-led perspective on the structural shifts reshaping the workforce and the urgent need for change

“Let’s stop pretending this is a pipeline problem,” said Evan Shapiro. “The map of media has been completely redrawn by creators, platforms, and new economics. But our approach to talent hasn’t caught up. The World Skills Café is where the industry comes to face that truth and start doing something about it.”

Alongside the event, IAMT will publish a new report, ‘Talent Trends in MediaTech’, offering insight into how skills demands are shifting across the sector and where the most urgent gaps remain.

Carrie Wootten, Co-Founder of MTM, said: “The pace of change across our industry is only accelerating, but the way we attract and develop talent hasn’t kept up. The World Skills Café is about bringing the industry together to address that disconnect head-on. What makes this initiative powerful is its focus on action – ensuring that the ideas and commitments made translate into real progress year-on-year.”

Jo Mayer, Head of Marketing at IBC, added: “Talent and skills development are central to the future of the industry. The World Skills Café plays an important role in bringing these conversations into focus at IBC, creating a space where the industry can come together to address shared challenges and drive meaningful progress.”

The World Skills Café will once again feature a series of keynotes, panels, and expert-led discussions designed to move toward tangible commitments. According to the Media Talent Manifesto (MTM), attendees will collaborate to identify the most critical skills gaps, explore new pathways into the industry, and accelerate diversity and inclusion across all levels of the workforce.

For example, in the past, initiatives such as On Air, the world’s largest student-led global broadcast, have emerged directly from the collaboration and ideas generated through the World Skills Café. First launched in 2025 with more than 500 students participating worldwide, the initiative is expanding significantly in 2026 into a multi-channel global broadcast spanning news, sport, film, and culture, providing hands-on experience across the full media workflow.

Registration to attend the World Skills Café is now open here. The World Skills Café at IBC2026 is supported by sponsors including Amazon Web Services, Deluxe, DTG, IAMT, Platform Communications, and Vizrt.

According to research unveiled at the World Skills Café (WSC) at IBC2025, AI is front and centre of skills and training for the industry, with a clear opportunity for vendors to grasp. Discover more here.