WOW Awards Asia 2026 – Industry‑Government Dialogue
The 17th edition of WOW Awards Asia was held on 3‑4 July 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Presented by Maharashtra Tourism, the two‑day summit ran under the theme “Community To Collective Consciousness” and aimed to cement India’s standing as a premier destination for live experiences, cultural programming, business events and large‑format entertainment.
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, participated in a strategic interaction with senior industry figures, notably Deepak Choudhary, Founder & Managing Director of EVA Live and EVENTFAQS Media, and Sabbas Joseph, Co‑Founder of Wizcraft Group, together with other leaders from events, tourism, hospitality and live entertainment. The dialogue focused on the future of India’s experience economy, emphasizing the role of live events in strengthening tourism, cultural promotion, destination marketing, employment generation and global perception. Participants highlighted the need for stronger industry recognition, upgraded infrastructure, streamlined execution support and deeper collaboration between government bodies and private‑sector stakeholders.
Across the two‑day programme, the summit attracted thousands of delegates and professionals from the events, experiential marketing, MICE, wedding, live entertainment, tourism, brand experience, hospitality, technology and creative sectors. It featured 150 speakers, 100+ exhibitors, and representation from more than 25 countries. Award segments included the 35 Under 35 Awards, Wedding Power List, Women of the Year Awards, and the Event Managers A‑List Awards, celebrating emerging and established talent.
During the session, Deepak Choudhary asserted that “India has the scale, talent, culture and audience depth to become one of the world’s most important experience economy markets,” adding that the next phase will rely on collaboration among government, venues, brands, artists and event professionals to build scalable platforms that generate long‑term value.
Choudhary’s background spans over two decades across event education, industry media, intellectual‑property platforms, large‑format concerts and talent development. Through EVA Live, EVENTFAQS Media, WOW Awards Asia, Shows of India, MSEED and related initiatives, he has contributed to education, recognition, business networking, content creation, artist programming and large‑scale entertainment. EVA Live’s portfolio includes concerts and festivals featuring artists such as Arijit Singh, A. R. Rahman, Bryan Adams, Enrique Iglesias, Tiesto and many others, with projects across India, the UAE and Qatar. Notable venues include Etihad Arena (Abu Dhabi), Coca‑Cola Arena (Dubai), Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and QNCC Doha, as well as Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata and Jaipur.
The presence of the Union Minister alongside senior industry leaders underscored the growing importance of structured dialogue between policymakers and the live‑event business. With India’s tourism and cultural sectors expanding, stakeholders view events not merely as entertainment but as drivers of employment, destination value, cultural diplomacy and overall economic growth. Choudhary concluded that “the experience economy is not only about events; it is about how people remember cities, brands, destinations and cultures,” urging the building of world‑class event platforms that blend creativity, infrastructure, technology and cultural strength.
The conclusion of WOW Awards Asia 2026 in Mumbai reinforced conversations about positioning India as a global hub for live experiences, leveraging government engagement, private‑sector leadership and international participation to accelerate the sector’s contribution to the country’s creative and economic growth story.
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