A special note to the IPI community:
This year’s IPI World Congress and Media Innovation Festival brought a record 630 participants from over 90 countries to Vienna to strategize on the future of media freedom. It was a deeply meaningful gathering that confirmed the power of solidarity and exchange at a challenging moment for journalism.
In our 75th anniversary year, this Congress was focused on the future. And in keeping with this theme, we felt that this was the right time to share our vision of the next steps for the IPI World Congress – including changes that we’re excited to share with our community.
We’ve spent a lot of time over the past year listening to our community and reflecting on the future of this event, which has brought together members of the IPI global network and the wider media freedom community for more than seven decades – often at turning points in history, such as our 1989 Congress in Berlin or 1994 in Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela addressed IPI members after the country’s first free elections.
In these conversations, we’ve asked some key questions: How do we make the World Congress a more sustainable experience for our network as we look ahead to the next 25 years? And how do we better engage our members around the globe – including those not able to travel to an annual event – amid our shared and urgent challenges?
Our members confirmed the deep value of gathering together at a time when solidarity and professional exchange are essential to addressing the challenges journalism faces around the world. But these conversations also emphasized the importance of creating more accessible opportunities to connect and engage, including at the regional and local level, throughout the year.
As a result of this process, we’re sharing some key changes. Going forward, the IPI World Congress will take place every second year – giving IPI and our community more time and resources to host and attend this cherished gathering. Our next World Congress will take place in 2027 – and we can’t wait to see you there! Our Media Innovation Festival will remain an annual event, with a stand-alone festival taking place May 6-7, 2026 in Vienna.
Meanwhile, we’ll be using the years in between to grow our member engagement around the world by meeting our community where they are. We’ll be focused on increased on-the-ground engagement and regional gatherings, including at existing events where our members will be, with the goal of strengthening accessibility for IPI members to meet, share, and learn from one another at a time of need. We also see this as a key opportunity to strengthen partnerships and alliances within the wider media and press freedom community.
While this is a change, we believe it’s one that meets this moment. This year’s World Congress was one of our most impactful yet, and worthy of our 75th anniversary. But now is also the time to look to the future, with a vision that’s bold, nimble, sustainable and that centers our community.
We look forward to seeing you at IPI events around the world in 2026 – and at our 2027 World Congress! And: We’re always open to ideas, suggestions, and partnerships. So don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Scott Griffen
IPI Executive Director