SMPTE Announces IBC2026 Programme

SMPTE has announced a programme of expert-led sessions, professional workshops and networking events for IBC2026, focusing on technologies including artificial intelligence, open-source media workflows, cloud infrastructure and emerging production architectures.

The organisation will be based in the IBC2026 Owner Pavilion in the RAI Hall 8 Lobby, alongside other international organisations behind IBC, as well as at Stand 7.P14.

"As a proud partner of IBC, SMPTE has the privilege of presenting sessions and workshops that explore the latest media trends and help technologists at all stages of their careers navigate this period of rapid change," said SMPTE President Rich Welsh. "From AI and cloud infrastructure to open-source solutions and evolving production architectures, media organizations are facing important technology decisions. Our IBC program is designed to provide practical insight — not just into what's changing, but how these technologies can be applied today. Whether you're an engineer, architect or technology leader, these sessions offer valuable perspectives from the people defining tomorrow's production workflows."

SMPTE Partner Programme sessions
SMPTE will deliver four free-to-attend sessions as part of the IBC2026 Partner Programme, covering developments in AI, media facilities, open-source graphics and standards.

The programme on Saturday, 12 September, will begin with “Sovereign AI and Sovereign Cloud” from 14:30 to 15:30 in E102. The session will be presented by Hans Hoffman, Deputy Director Technology and Innovation at EBU.

This will be followed from 15:30 to 16:10 by “Dynamic Media Facility: Why It Matters, and Why Now”, presented by Willem Vermost, Senior IP Media Technology Architect.

From 16:10 to 16:50, Paola Sunna, Senior Technology Innovation Manager at Eurovision Italy/EBU, and Niels Borg of TV2.DK will present “OGraf: Making Broadcast Graphics Open and Accessible”.

The final Partner Programme session, “The Innovation Flywheel: How Open Source and Standards Reinforce Each Other”, will take place from 16:50 to 17:30. The speaker will be Thomas Bause Mason, Director of Standards Development at SMPTE.

SMPTE workshops
SMPTE will also host two professional education workshops on Monday, 14 September, aimed at engineers, architects and technology leaders. Paid registration will be required.

“Technology Roadmap for the Modern Media Enterprise” will run from 9:30 to 12:30 in G106 and will cover visual quality formats, codec strategy, the transition to IP, the Dynamic Media Facility, graphics workflows and cinematography in broadcast.

The workshop will be led by Pierre Hugues Routhier, Advanced Imaging Technologies Specialist at Canadian Broadcasting Company.

The second workshop, “DMF in Practice: Design and Operation for Software-Defined Production”, will take place from 13:30 to 16:30 in G106.

Its modules will cover the Dynamic Media Facility, the building blocks of a software-defined media facility, the transition from concepts to practical implementation and live demonstrations.

Speakers will include Willem Vermost, Senior IP Media Technology Architect at EBU, and Wim Van Roy, Education Architect at LAWO Academy.

Networking events
SMPTE is also sponsoring The Green Line Media Networking Event, a rail journey from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal on Thursday, 10 September.

The event will combine industry networking and discussion with sustainability-focused programming, and will feature a guest DJ set from SMPTE President Rich Welsh.

SMPTE will also join Evertz for a drinks and networking event at Stand 2.A47 from 16:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, 12 September. The event will offer attendees an opportunity to network with industry colleagues alongside complimentary refreshments.

www.smpte.org