The 77th edition of the World News Media Congress, the annual meeting of news publishers, editors and media owners worldwide, will take place at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, France, from June 1 to 3, 2026, under the theme: “Emerging Voices. Emerging Risks. Inspiring Futures”.
Organized in collaboration with CMA Media Group, France’s third-largest private media group and media subsidiary of CMA CGM Group, the congress will be hosted by the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), an organization established in 1948 and which is described as the world’s largest international press organisation representing 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and 40 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries.
WAN-IFRA seeks to protect the rights of journalists and publishers worldwide to operate independent media and provides its members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their role in society.
The Congress is a global showcase for press freedom, featuring the prestigious Golden Pen of Freedom Award, and is hosted in a different city each year, drawing over 1,000 professionals from more than 60 countries for three days of conferences, executive meetings, networking, and social events.
The event includes the World Editors Summit, where Chief Editors and journalism practitioners discuss the evolving media landscape, the critical need for trusted news in society, and how newsrooms can adapt to these changes.
The Congress sessions will be presented in English, with complimentary AI-powered translation into over 50 languages, including French, German, Dutch, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Danish, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. The real-time translation is accessible on participant’s chosen digital devices, such as laptop, mobile phone, and tablet. But participants are required to bring their own headsets if they wish to access translation with audio.
According to WAN-IFRA, this year’s congress will focus heavily on the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, newsroom innovation, media sustainability, revenue generation, and the future of democratic discourse.
The event is expected to feature three principal conference tracks, namely: AI in Media, Future of Journalism, and Revenue and Growth; and participants will include editors, publishers, media owners, technology companies, researchers, and press freedom advocates from across the globe.
Interactive sessions, exhibitions, strategy discussions, and networking events are also planned as part of the three-day programme, while a major highlight of the congress will be the presentation of the Golden Pen of Freedom Award, which recognizes journalists and media organizations that have demonstrated exceptional courage in defending press freedom.
