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Goafest 2026 unveils star-studded speaker line-up
‘Reset for Growth’ theme to feature 60 speakers across 20 sessions with leaders from advertising, tech and brands.
MUMBAI: Goafest 2026 is ready to press the reset button with plenty of star power. South Asia’s premier advertising, media and marketing festival has announced an impressive line-up of speakers and personalities for its 19th edition, themed ‘Reset for Growth’. The three-day event, scheduled for 20-22 May 2026 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, promises rich conversations on AI, data ownership, evolving media habits, creativity, and business reinvention.
The festival will feature 60 speakers across 20 sessions, bringing together a powerful mix of advertising veterans, tech leaders, brand custodians, and entertainers. Notable names include Padma Shri Prasoon Joshi, Dr Rajiv Kumar (former Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog), Santosh Desai, Eugene Cheong, and Bollywood veteran Rakesh Bedi.
Client-side representation is particularly strong this year with leaders such as Aman Gupta (boAt), Rohit Kapoor (Swiggy), Chandan Mendiratta (Zepto), Nikhil Sharma (Perfetti Van Melle), Veetika Deoras (IHCL), and senior executives from Pepsico, Britannia, Godrej, Dabur, Ajio, and HDFC Bank.
On the technology front, speakers include Satya Raghavan (Google India), Haran Ramachandran (Spotify), and Neha Markanda (ShareChat). Adding entertainment flavour are Sukhbir Singh and Neeti Mohan, while the sports and fitness segment will see Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandira Bedi, Aditi Chauhan, and others.
Mohit Joshi, Co-Chair of the Goafest 2026 Organising Committee and CEO, Havas Media Network India, said the festival will reflect the industry’s need for fresh perspectives and collaboration in a rapidly changing environment.
Rohit Ohri, Member of the Goafest Advisory Committee, added that the theme ‘Reset for Growth’ is a call to action, driving stronger participation from clients and the wider ecosystem.
From AI dilemmas to creative storytelling and brand building, Goafest 2026 is shaping up to be a timely reset for the industry part celebration, part serious rethink as it navigates a complex, technology-driven future.
