Speakers
An overview of all confirmed speakers can be found here.
A hub for the entire creative industries
About the German Creative Economy Summit
The German Creative Economy Summit (GCES) is the leading nationwide congress of the German creative industries. Once a year, it brings together around 1,100 players from politics, administration, business and all eleven submarkets of the creative industries in Hamburg - at the invitation of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, Germany's largest public organisation for the promotion of the creative industries.
As a platform for visibility, political anchoring and economic strengthening of the industry, the GCES shows that the creative industries are not a soft location factor, but an independent future sector with economic relevance, enormous innovative power and a high social impact. With around two million employees, a turnover of over 200 billion euros and a gross value added on a par with the automotive and mechanical engineering industries, it is one of the most dynamic sectors in Europe.
The GCES makes this performance visible - and connects decision-makers, creative minds, funding institutions and federal associations. The aim is to facilitate dialogue, form alliances and sharpen positions - both nationally and internationally.
The GCES creates a common platform for an industry that has often appeared fragmented to date - and anchors the creative industries in the political and public consciousness. In doing so, the GCES will consider the potential of artificial intelligence, the digital economy and social transformation, especially in 2026.
Our Mission
The GCES strengthens the self-image of the creative industries as an independent economic sector - and actively promotes their political, economic and social positioning. It encourages people to help shape the future, take responsibility and develop cross-sector solutions for the challenges of our time.
Organizer
Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft was founded in 2010 and is a municipal organisation for the promotion of Hamburg's creative industries. It is the largest municipal creative industries promotion organisation in Germany and is the direct contact and service point for all creative professionals and companies in the creative industries in the Hanseatic city. Its task is to improve the framework conditions for the creative industries in Hamburg and to act as an interface - between the various areas of the creative industries as well as with other players from business, politics and society.
With our expertise and reach, we are a driving force and platform builder. In 2023, we initiated the German Creative Economy Summit as the first nationwide platform for the entire industry - and have since developed it together with strong partners into a forward-looking flagship event for the German creative industries.
Our goal: to strengthen creatives - and make the creative economy visible as a relevant sector of the future.
Main Sponsor
The Ministry of Culture and Media supports the development of culture and the creative industries.
Hamburg is a cultural and media city with a long and lively tradition and an important location for the creative industries with a high level of innovation. This position is strengthened and expanded in a targeted manner, e.g. through the support and programmes offered by Hamburg Kreativ GmbH. The Ministry of Culture and Media supports the cultural, creative and media industries in all necessary transformation processes, in particular with the aim of diversity, social justice, sustainability and a future-proof approach to digitalisation.
The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is the main sponsor of the German Creative Economy Summit.
