International Creative Industries ConferenceCIMIx 2026

Around 800 participants from 44 countries – focus on financing, business transformation and cross-industry collaboration

Vienna (OTS) – Under the motto “The Transformation Edition”, the fourth edition of the international creative industries conference Creative Industries meet Industry – CIMIx 2026 brought together national and international players from the creative industries, business and industry in Vienna and in virtual space from January 27-29 and provided lasting impetus for new business models and international cooperation.

With around 800 participants from 44 countries, CIMIx 2026 underlined the international relevance of the creative industries as a driver of innovation and strengthened the international networking of the domestic creative industries.

“The creative industries are a key driver of innovation for Austria as a business location and make a significant contribution to international competitiveness. The targeted exchange between the creative industries, industry and business is a decisive success factor for sustainable value creation and future-proof growth,” emphasizes Bettina Dorfer-Pauschenwein, Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Against this backdrop, the conference focused on innovative financing models, new forms of cross-industry collaboration and creative strategies for sustainable transformation. Another focus was on the business of live events. International examples – from major events such as the Eurovision Song Contest to festivals and innovative audience activation formats – were used to demonstrate how live events can transform the economy, brands and communities in the long term.

CIMIx goes far beyond a pure trade conference. “CIMIx 2026 shows once again how strongly the Austrian film and music industry is anchored internationally. When creativity, clever use of technology and entrepreneurship come together, new models of collaboration emerge – and it is precisely this dynamic that we need to make our industries fit for the future and globally visible,” emphasizes Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu, Chairman of the Austrian Film and Music Industry Association of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ): “CIMIx is a place where ideas in the creative industries can be presented and further developed in concrete projects.”

This breadth of content and practical relevance was also reflected in the rest of the program: keynotes and panel discussions by international experts such as Matt Szymanowski (GenAI in Film), Romi Mikulinsky (immersive environments) and Max Gurvits (venture capital and private equity for the creative industries) provided in-depth content. The program was complemented by hands-on workshops, masterclasses, best-practice showcases and practical deep dives that promoted the direct transfer of knowledge between the creative industries and industry.

“The creative industries are highly adaptable – even in challenging times. Creative skills enable companies to differentiate themselves internationally, develop digital business models and successfully position sustainable solutions on the market,” explains Reanne Leuning, AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT Creative Industries.

A special highlight was the first cooperation with the event format “we:transform (Opens in a new tab or window)” of Kreativwirtschaft Austria (KAT) on January 27. Design labs and interactive formats provided additional creative impetus and added new perspectives to the conference program. “The cooperation with CIMIx makes the innovation potential of the creative industries visible. With ‘we:transform’, we are bringing creative methods and creative industries expertise into economic transformation processes in a targeted manner,” says Gerin Trautenberger, Chairman of Kreativwirtschaft Austria.

CIMIx 2026 once again positioned Austria as a location for creative transformation and innovation. The creative industries conference was organized by AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA and implemented in cooperation with Kreativwirtschaft Austria (KAT), the Enterprise Europe Network, the Film and Music Industry Association (FAMA) and EIT Culture & Creativity. The event took place as part of the internationalization offensive go-international, a joint initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. (PWK038/EL)