The annual Audio and Radio Futures Forum brings together professionals working in innovation across the EBU. This community of radio geeks and audio nerds — in the best possible sense — explores and creates the future together.
The Forum blends a traditional conference with an 'unconference', offering open spaces for deeper conversations around trending topics, and greater flexibility for networking and learning.
Register now for an exciting two-day event diving into radio and audio innovation.
The EBU Audio and Radio Futures Forum is a productive and inspiring meeting point for anyone passionate about radio and audio innovation.
ARD will kindly host the 2026 edition at the new SWR Media Center in Baden-Baden, Germany.
To help you plan your trip, please find the venue address and a list of recommended hotels below.
Wednesday 14 October: Afternoon featuring an inspiring keynote and a spotlight on audio platforms, followed by a guided tour of the SWR Media Center and a networking barbecue to wrap up Day 1.
Thursday 15 October: Full day of unconference sessions, workshops, and innovation showcases.
Friday 16 October: Breakfast and a Futures Forum retrospective walk in the Black Forest.
The Audio and Radio Futures Forum combines traditional conference sessions with unconference discussions, creating space for inspiring presentations, in-depth conversations, brainstorming, and networking. Participants are also invited to propose ideas, projects, or experiments they’d like to share or explore with others.
What is unconference?
Find out more and start brainstorming! Check out reports from previous editions and propose your own unconference topics on the workspace!
Hans-Bredow-Straße
76530 Baden-Baden
Germany
Here are some hotel suggestions from our host, SWR, where you can book your stay in Baden-Baden:
Leonardo Royal Hotel Baden-Baden
Senior Consultant, ARD/BR (Germany)
Head of Radio, EBU
Schedule Overview
Members Only
The EBU New Radio Day is the annual meeting point for colleagues working in radio innovation, coming together to share projects, describe best practice, and learn from each other. It brings together programme-makers and technology experts, linking great content with attractive presentation and delivery. In this period of change, learning from each other is more vital than ever.
The Agenda will include keynotes from James Purnell, the BBC Director of Radio & Education, and Matt Lieber from Spotify. In addition, we will cover DAB in the light of forthcoming European legislation; the BBC entry to the voice arena through beeb, and explore how Google Automotive may change on-the-move distribution. A panel of senior leaders from across EBU Members will also reflect on the year and set out their priorities. At the end of the day, we have a virtual coffee break, together with the presentation of some new projects from Sandbox.
We hope that this virtual meeting will involve more colleagues than those who would normally travel. The Chair of the EBU New Radio Group, Michael Reichert, and myself are looking forward to seeing you on our screens in October and coming together as the EBU radio community.
9:30 - Opening Keynote: James Purnell, Director Radio & Education, BBC followed by Q&A
10:00 - Looking Forward: What is your innovation priority?
10:30 - Short Reports
11:30 - DAB: how are we doing in Europe? - Jacqueline Bierhorst, Digital Radio Netherlands
11:55 - What European legislation means for radio stations, market, cars and listeners - Helwin Lesch, BR/ARD
12:15 - DAB Research - David Fernández Quijada, EBU
12:35 Google Automotive
14:00 - Keynote: Matt Lieber, Spotify follow by Q&A
14:35 - BBC and Voice – ‘beeb’ - Mukul Devichand, BBC
15:00 - New Horizons - Lucy Kueng, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford
Conclusions: Michael Reichert (ARD), Graham Dixon (EBU)
16:00 - 17:00 VRT Future Media Hub Presentations
