IBC has issued its annual call for submissions to its Accelerator Media Innovation Programme for the 2026 show.
Organisations from across the global media and entertainment ecosystem are invited to propose collaborative innovation challenges that will help shape the future of the industry.
In 2025, the programme features Proof of Concepts exploring ultra-low latency live streaming at scale, integrating C2PA provenance into workflows, and multi-vendor software live media exchange.
The programme aims to drive real-world experimentation through global collaboration, uniting media and entertainment ‘champions’ (the buyers of technology, such as broadcasters, studios, content and rights owners, streamers, games organisations) with technology vendors, start-ups and academic partners to solve some of the industry’s most pressing business and technology challenges.
According to Mark Smith, IBC Council chair and lead, IBC Accelerator Programme, it is the only place where global industry collaboration between buyers and sellers of technology happens in a project-based, open approach to innovation and on a fast-track basis. “In essence, it’s a brains trust of previous and current learnings, failures, successes, ambitions and appetites to really push for the art of the possible… which is why our participants and champions really enjoy involvement in the programme,” he tells TVBEurope.
Smith wants the Accelerators to serve as an opportunity for companies taking part to explore “disruptive and potentially divisive” technologies, put ideas into action and understand whether they can be harnessed in media workflows, or not. “And at a pace that keeps up with the speed of market change,” he adds.
“As a result of the programme, we have brought a real-world dimension to innovation at the show, which is not just about exhibiting concepts, but real solutions, results, tangible learnings and genuine tech evolution.”
IBC is looking for submissions from a wide section of different applications, architectures and use cases, but there are certain verticals which are hogging the industry’s focus. “AI is just beginning to scratch the surface of possibilities across so many sectors, in generative and agentic forms,” says Smith. “Connectivity affects content creation, distribution, live events, sports, and interactive experiences like gaming and esports. So, whether it is in these areas or tech that fuels the evolution of cloud, edge computing, cybersecurity, content provenance, sustainability, adtech, we’d be interested to see where Champions see the most pressing priorities to explore.”
In addition to broadcasters, streamers and studios, Smith is keen to welcome projects from the worlds of gaming, esports, immersive and virtualised production, as well as rights owners and sports affiliations. “We have also continued to see closer collaborations and partnerships between the media sector and telcos and vendors, including some of the world’s biggest, such as Verizon, Vodafone, Orange and BT in recent years,” he adds. “Aside from broader segments, we have had tremendous successes where academia and research institutions have been involved, and there are many already being talked about in terms of interest for 2026.”
The deadline for submissions to the 2026 programme is Friday, 5th December at 5pm (GMT). IBC will select up to 12 challenge submissions to go forward to the next round of on-stage pitches at its Kickstart Day event, which will once again take place at the BBC Radio Theatre in BBC Broadcasting House on Wednesday, 25th February 2026.
Following the Kickstart Day event, IBC will select the final projects that will go forward for development over the course of the following 6 months, culminating in live proof of concept (PoC) showcases and demonstrations at IBC2026, taking place in Amsterdam from 11th to 14th September 2026.
Details about the IBC2026 Accelerator Programme are available here.
