DMEXCO 2026 is almost here! In this special episode, Verena Gründel shares the ten things you need to know before heading to Cologne. From “Scaling Intelligence” and the biggest conference highlights to the new World of Commerce, side events and smart networking tips, this is your essential guide to DMEXCO.
Plus, Thomas Mosch, Director Conference at DMEXCO, Dirk Freytag, President of BVDW, and Kassenzone founder Alexander Graf reveal what they’re most excited about this year.
What's Covered:
1. The motto is a deadline, not decoration Why "Scaling Intelligence" - and not "Scaling Artificial Intelligence" - is this year's theme, and what the PwC CEO survey stat (only 12% of companies grow revenue and cut costs through AI) tells us about where the industry really stands.
2. The basics: When, where, how to get around Dates, venue, opening times, transport, and why the DMEXCO app is essential before you even land in Cologne.
3. Eleven summits, four worlds, one roof: A guide to the four DMEXCO Worlds (Tech, Commerce, Media, Agencies) and the ten summits and stages within them. Plus the Start-Up Area and the new Innovation Stage.
4. Why the two days aren't identical: How Day 1 (technological and structural change) and Day 2 (what it means for brands and marketing leadership) follow a deliberate script, and which topics and stages appear on which day.
5. Conference deep dive with Thomas Mosch: The scale of this year's program, how AI runs through the sessions without a dedicated "AI Summit," and the sessions to watch.
6. World of Commerce deep dive with Alexander Graf: Why commerce, media, and marketing are converging, what's new in the expanded Commerce Summit and Commerce Lounge, and the trends (social commerce vs. agentic commerce) shaping the conversation. Learning Journeys, highlights of the Creativity Summit, the Online Ad Summit, and an insider tip for the show.
8. Side events worth knowing about: Pre-show dinners and parties, booth parties on Day 1, and the legendary night out at Bootshaus.
9. Insider tips for getting the most out of DMEXCO: Practical advice on using the app early, pacing your schedule, stepping outside your usual world, arriving the night before, and leading with questions instead of pitches.
10. A closing thought: A question to carry into Cologne: is your company actually scaling intelligence? Or just scaling expectations?
