IBC

IBC, the International Broadcasting Convention, is the annual convention for the broadcast, media and entertainment technology industry, held at the RAI Amsterdam each September. It pairs an exhibition of more than 1,300 companies across 14 halls with a paid conference, a technical papers programme and a start-up area. Founded in 1967, IBC ran first in London and then Brighton before settling in Amsterdam in 1992.

IBC2027 runs 10–13 September 2027; its daily schedule had not been published as of 26 October 2026. In 2026 they did not share the same days, and the difference decided how long a visit needed to be. The IBC2026 exhibition was open all four days, 11 to 14 September 2026: 10:30 to 18:00 on the opening day, 09:30 to 18:00 on 12 and 13 September, 09:30 to 16:00 on 14 September. The 2026 conference and technical papers programme ran only from 11 to 13 September, so a delegate arriving on 14 September found the floor open and the conference already finished.

The venue for IBC2027 had not been confirmed as of 26 October 2026. IBC2026 took place at RAI Amsterdam, Europaplein 24, 1078 GZ Amsterdam. Direct trains reach it in roughly ten minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and from Amsterdam Centraal; it sits beside the A10 at exit S109 and is served by metro, tram and bus. Every IBC2026 badge carries a GVB QR code valid on Amsterdam trams, buses and metro for the show days.

Two populations. Buyers: technical leadership of broadcasters, platforms and streaming services, engineering and operations staff, production and post facilities, rights holders. Suppliers: camera, audio, graphics, playout, cloud, IP, AI and connectivity vendors. IBC declares more than 44,000 visitors from over 170 countries and 1,300+ exhibitors on its homepage, while the pass types page states over 1,250 exhibiting companies in 14 halls. Both are organiser figures published as current-scale claims, with no reference year stated and no attendance audit.

IBC is owned by a partnership of six industry bodies rather than a commercial show organiser: IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, IAMT, SCTE, SMPTE and the Royal Television Society. IBC lists the third simply as IAMT without publishing an expansion; that seat was historically held by IABM, the trade body for broadcast and media technology suppliers. The legal entity is International Broadcasting Convention LLP, registered in England.

The IBC2027 programme had not been published as of 26 October 2026. The IBC2026 conference had five programme themes. AI in practice: creative workflows and real-world deployment. Audience behaviour: choice, personalisation and platform complexity. Sports transformation: data, fandom and media rights. Trust and provenance: protecting content against deepfakes and misinformation. New commercial models: brands, creators and media converging. This five-theme framing replaces the three-pillar structure used earlier in the cycle.

No IBC2027 speakers had been published as of 26 October 2026. At IBC2026, Eline van der Velden, founder and CEO of Particle 6, opened the show with "Disrupt, Innovate, Create: How to Embrace AI", appearing virtually alongside the AI performer Tilly Norwood. Other announced keynotes: Claire Enders CBE (CEO and founder, Enders Analysis) on media consolidation, Alex Charalambides (SVP and CTO, CNN) on news delivery, Mahesh Bhalerao (regional director for product partnerships, YouTube). Also on the programme: Anna Mallett (VP production, Netflix), Marion Rathmann (group VP content, Warner Bros. Discovery), Simon Crownshaw (media and entertainment strategy director, Microsoft), Sotiris Salamouris (CTO, Olympic Broadcasting Services). IBC declared more than 600 speakers overall for 2026, with BBC Studios, FIFA, UEFA, ITV, Meta, Google, Adobe and Oracle among the organisations represented.

Four additions at IBC2026. Future Tech Ignite, a start-up area in Hall 14 run with EIT Culture and Creativity as innovation partner. IBC Exchange, a peer-led networking layer powered by Braindate with its own lounge. An expanded Future Tech area, also in Hall 14. A GVB transport QR code in every badge. The Accelerator Media Innovation Programme returns, with Google as headline sponsor.

IBC Exchange was the formal channel at IBC2026: peer-led, Braindate-powered, with a dedicated lounge and invitations to networking events. It was not part of the Visitor Pass, so access started one tier up. Show floor theatres, demonstration zones and Future Tech Ignite carried the informal side. Networking arrangements for IBC2027 had not been published as of 26 October 2026.

Three. The IBC Innovation Awards, judged on collaborative projects across Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere and Social Impact, finalists named ahead of the show and winners during show week. The IBC Stand Design Awards. The IBC International Honour for Excellence, IBC's top accolade. No ceremony date is stated on the official conference page.

IBC2027 prices had not been published as of 26 October 2026. For IBC2026 there were four paid tiers, and every one of them increased again on 11 September 2026, the opening day. Visitor Pass EUR 195: the exhibition across 14 halls, show floor theatres, Future Tech in Hall 14, and a free Amsterdam travel pass for the show days. Exchange Pass EUR 245: adds IBC Exchange, the dedicated lounge, networking events and one conference session. Technical Papers Pass EUR 845: the three-day technical paper programme and its online hub, 11 to 13 September. Conference Pass EUR 1,795: the full three-day conference including all keynotes, the delegate lounge, technical papers and the Trends Report.

No. The complimentary visitor pass window closed on 29 August 2026 and the IBC2026 entry tier cost EUR 195. Two free routes remained, both subject to credential verification: student registration, upgradeable to a discounted Conference Pass, and press or analyst registration. Whether IBC2027 will offer a free visitor pass had not been published as of 26 October 2026.

IBC2027 registration details had not been published as of 26 October 2026. For IBC2026, registration was self-service on a separate portal at reg.ibc.org, not on the main show.ibc.org site, reached through per-pass links on the pass types page. Every published tier rose on 11 September 2026, so registering before the opening day was cheaper than registering at the door.

IBC and the NAB Show are the two reference dates of the broadcast technology year, six months apart: NAB in Las Vegas in April, IBC in Amsterdam in September. For a sport reader IBC is a technology watch and vendor mapping exercise rather than a sport event. The sport-specific ground is covered by the SVG Europe Summit, scheduled on IBC's eve, and by SPORTELMonaco later in the autumn.

IBC2027 runs 10–13 September 2027. The IBC2027 venue had not been confirmed as of 26 October 2026, and IBC2026 was held at the RAI Amsterdam. The dates are published on IBC's 2027 exhibiting page.

Consumers and hobbyist video makers: the floor is a trade exhibition for professional buyers. Sports rights buyers and sellers who want a rights market rather than a technology show. Professionals after a sport-only agenda, since sport is one theme of five. Anyone counting on walking in free: the complimentary visitor window closed for IBC2026, and no IBC2027 terms had been published as of 26 October 2026. Delegates who can only travel on the final day: at IBC2026 the exhibition was open on 14 September but the conference was over.