Program & Suggested Topics

Future of Festivals thrives on strong content, relevant topics, and the right people on stage. At the same time, we receive a large number of requests each year for panels, keynotes, or individual formats.

To make this process more transparent, we want to show how our program is curated and how you can contribute.

How we curate our program

Our program is curated and guided by a clear editorial approach. We don’t focus on general trends or big names, but on concrete questions and challenges from festival practice.

A key focus is to address different roles within festival teams – such as management, marketing, booking, social media, production, or emerging talent.

This means:

1. Topics must be relevant to a clearly defined target group
2. Content should offer concrete learnings and perspectives
3. Titles and descriptions need to be clear and tangible
4. Formats should enable exchange and create real value

Our goal is that every session answers:
Who is this for – and what do I actually take away? Multiple perspectives on a topic are very welcome.

Submit your own topics or formats

If you have an idea for a panel, keynote, or another format, you’re welcome to contribute. You can submit your proposal through our form in a structured way – similar to an application, but for content.

It is essential that every submission has a clear connection to festivals or the event industry. The more precise and practical your proposal is, the better we can evaluate it.

Please make sure to describe your idea as clearly as possible:
What is it about?
Who is it relevant for?
What are the key learnings or core thesis?
Which format fits best?
Who could be involved as speaker(s)?

How we handle submissions

All proposals are reviewed by our team and evaluated within the context of the overall program. As we have a limited number of slots and curate the program, we cannot include every submission. In many cases, we also develop ideas further together to better fit the program.

This also means:
We make conscious decisions for or against content – always with the overall quality and value for participants in mind.

Formats within the program (beyond panels, we increasingly focus on formats that make content more tangible):

Masterclasses with concrete insights and do’s & don’ts
Best practice or case sessions with honest learnings
Trend and keynote talks with a clear festival context
Exchange formats for specific target groups

If your idea fits the program, we’ll get back to you directly to discuss next steps. Regardless, every submission helps us better understand relevant topics, set priorities, and further develop the program. Apply here!