Media leaders and tech firms convene to address industry evolution.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has released the speaker lineup and session agenda for the 2026 NAB Show, scheduled for April 18–22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The program focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence, the expansion of the creator economy, and shifting distribution models across streaming and traditional broadcast sectors.
According to registration data provided by NAB Show, there has been a 200 percent increase in attendees identifying as content creators, influencers, or podcasters compared to 2025. To address this demographic, the event will feature an expanded Creator Lab, supported by Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) and Blackmagic Design. Sessions within this track will cover technical and business topics, including “Are We Nervous Yet: A Creator’s Guide to AI” and “Beyond Views: Measuring Creator Impact.”
The 2026 event introduces a second AI Pavilion to accommodate the rapid transition of machine learning from experimental phases to operational media workflows. Technical sessions include “Powering Intelligent Media,” featuring Silvia Candiani, vice president of Telecommunications, Media and Gaming at Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and a discussion on supercharging creativity with Anil Jain of Google Cloud and Márcia Mayer of Google DeepMind (NASDAQ: GOOGL).
“The 2026 NAB Show lineup reflects a powerful mix of emerging creators and world-class storytellers alongside the technologies shaping how content is made and delivered,” said Karen Chupka, executive vice president of Global Connections and Events at NAB.
In the filmmaking sector, CineCentral will host cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins and collaborator James Deakins to discuss insights from their book, Reflections: On Cinematography. Additional technical sessions will explore high-resolution imaging, such as the Big Sky camera system used by Sphere Entertainment (NYSE: SPHR), presented by Andrew Shulkind and Rich Welsh, president of SMPTE.
The business of media distribution remains a central theme. The Media and Entertainment Theater, in partnership with The Ankler, will host sessions on the economics of platform distribution. Notable participants include Matt Schnaars of NBCUniversal (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Tedd Cittadine of Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU). Furthermore, the Streaming Summit will feature a keynote by Robert Schildhouse, CEO of Direct-to-Consumer at BBC Studios, focusing on the growth of services like BritBox.
News and journalism safety will be addressed in a session moderated by CNN (NASDAQ: WBD) anchor John Berman, titled “The Cost of Bearing Witness,” which examines the risks faced by journalists in polarized environments. Other news executives from Nexstar Media Group Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), Hearst Television, and Gray Media (NYSE: GTN) will discuss the evolving paradigm of broadcast news and cross-platform relevance.
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