WorldDAB Summit 2026 will unite industry leaders in Vienna next month. This will focus on the examination of radio’s digital future, as DAB+ adoption continues to accelerate worldwide, as the event has claimed in a statement.

The annual event will open with a keynote debate, “Why Radio Wins”, featuring WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst, Corinna Drumm of the Association of Austrian Private Broadcasters (VÖP), and Wouter Quartier, Head of Radio at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Moderated by media commentator and UK DAB+ multiplex operator Matt Deegan, the panel will explore what keeps radio relevant, how broadcast stays at the heart of a multiplatform future, and how the industry pays for it.

Bierhorst will offer global update on DAB+ momentum, highlighting successful trials, launches and rollouts in Ireland, Spain, Kenya and Thailand. Around one‑third of countries worldwide are now actively engaged with DAB+, with recent developments including Poland’s call for applications for national multiplexes and the launch of permanent Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) broadcasts in Germany. At WorldDAB Automotive in June, it was confirmed that global sales of DAB/DAB+ receivers have surpassed 166 million units.

The event will also spotlight Austria’s exciting digital radio market will be a major focus of the Summit. Commercial broadcasters are driving growth with new services, while public broadcaster ORF has launched a DAB+ pilot of Hitradio Ö3. From first launch to nationwide roll-out, Digital Radio Austria will share the marketing highlights and the variety of stations behind Austria’s DAB+ success. Markus Horvath of MediaMarkt will also outline why the retailer has switched its in‑store radio to DAB+.

Other highlights

• The Digital Networks Act: what’s at stake for radio – a briefing on the EU legislation as it moves through the Parliament and Council, and the industry’s push for guaranteed in-car FM/DAB+ receiver integration, with Vincent Sneed, Senior EU Policy Adviser, EBU
• How governments and regulators can use WorldDAB’s Public Policy Toolbox to support radio with David Fernández Quijada, Co-Founder, Research Director, South 180; Michael Brett, Assistant Director, Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland; Johan Bouciqué, Media Advisor, Department of Culture, Youth and Media, Flemish Government
• DAB+ Automatic Safety Alert (ASA): Turning trials into permanent services, with Carsten Zorger, Director, Digitalradio Büro Deutschland; Gaëlle Kaminsky, Director of Broadcast and Distribution, Radio France; Georg Plattner, Director, RAS Rundfunkanstalt Südtirol, Italy
• Building brands on DAB+: public and private media brands explain why they chose radio and how DAB+ has helped them reach new audiences and grow their business, including Christer Modig, SVP & Senior Strategic Advisor, Viaplay Group Radio.

Popular radio and YouTube host Julia Nageler returns as Summit moderator. She is the face and voice of the YouTube Show “DSDN – Das schaffst du nie!”, produced by Bayern 3 (BR/ARD), which has more than 850,000 subscribers and is a leading example of 360‑degree, multi‑platform entertainment.

WorldDAB Summit 2026 will take place in person at Meliá Vienna, located in DC Tower 1, Austria’s tallest office building and a key DAB+ transmission site for the capital. Registration is open on the WorldDAB website, with session recordings available shortly after the event.

Bernie O’Neill, Project Director, WorldDAB, shares: “Vienna is the perfect location for this year’s Summit: a dynamic DAB+ market with new and trial services on air and strong promotion for the platform. We have an exceptional line‑up of experts and industry leaders, and we’re looking forward to the discussions and networking”.