DMEXCO 2026 Events Guide: The Sessions and Side Events Worth Prioritising
DMEXCO returns to Cologne on 23–24 September 2026 with more than 1,000 speakers, 17 stages, 11 summits and 230+ hours of programme. That scale is exciting, but it also makes a random agenda a costly mistake.
For advertisers, agencies and programmatic teams, the most useful DMEXCO conversations will be about control: transparent supply, privacy-first targeting, CTV, retail media, measurement and AI that can be governed, not merely demonstrated.
Blasto will be at Hall 6.1, Stand D043a throughout the event. Join us for Happy Hour from 12:00 to 13:00 on both days.
Tuesday, 22 September: the AdTech pre-DMEXCO calendar
The conversations start before the exhibition halls open. For programmatic teams, Tuesday evening is the best time to reconnect with partners and make the introductions that can turn into useful meetings on the floor.
Equativ & ShowHeroes Pre-DMEXCO Party
18:00–00:00 die wohngemeinschaft, Richard-Wagner-Str. 39, 50674 Cologne
Invitation only
Equativ and ShowHeroes are bringing together AdTech peers for an exclusive evening of music, drinks and informal networking.
This is one of the strongest pre-DMEXCO events for programmatic, video and CTV professionals. Equativ brings supply-side, DSP and curation conversations. ShowHeroes adds video, CTV and publisher-side perspectives. Expect a more concentrated AdTech audience than at a general marketing event.
Best for: supply relationships, video and CTV conversations, publisher partnerships and senior AdTech networking.
DMEXCO 2026 Kickoff Drinks
18:30–23:00 Craftbeer Corner, Martinstraße 32, 50667 Cologne Hosted by Limelight and GeoEdge
Registration approval required
The DMEXCO Kickoff Drinks are a good option for ad quality, brand safety and supply-path conversations. The format is informal, so it is better for reconnecting with industry peers than trying to fit in a product presentation.
PREMEXCO Connect
19:30–23:30 Zum scheuen Reh, Hans-Böckler-Platz 2, 50672 Cologne
Invitation only
PREMEXCO Connect is broader than a pure AdTech event, but it attracts the right cross-functional room: brands, agencies, media companies, MarTech and AdTech businesses.
Choose this one if the priority is senior conversations across the ecosystem rather than a focused programmatic crowd.
Wednesday, 23 September: market direction meets media execution
Thought Leaders’ Summit
09:45–18:30, Center Stage, Hall 6
The Thought Leaders’ Summit covers agentic AI, hyper-personalisation, social commerce, creators, platform dynamics, data protection and regulation.
This is the strategic lens for the week. It is useful for understanding the wider forces shaping marketing investment, but the practical value comes from testing those ideas in later meetings. Ask partners what a trend changes in buying, measurement or governance.
MarTech Summit
09:45–13:30, Tech Stage, Hall 6
The MarTech Summit focuses on generative AI, first-party data, consent-based analytics, server-side tracking and customer journeys.
For advertisers, this is where media and customer data conversations start to overlap. The useful question is not whether a new tool is “AI-powered.” It is whether the tool improves targeting, measurement or the speed of a real decision.
DOOH and Retail & Commerce Media Summits
09:45–13:30 and 14:00–18:00, Media Stage, Hall 8
The morning DOOH Summit looks at data-driven targeting and measurable impact. The Retail & Commerce Media Summit then moves into full-funnel retail media, retailer data, measurement standards and the integration of on-site and off-site activation.
Retail media is no longer a separate line in the media plan. It is becoming a planning discipline that must work alongside programmatic reach, creative, audience strategy and outcome measurement.
AdTech Summit: Day One
15:30–18:00, Tech Stage, Hall 6
The AdTech Summit is one of the key priorities for advertisers, agencies and publishers. Topics include AI-driven automation, first-party data, contextual targeting, identity, curated marketplaces, supply-chain transparency and CTV.
Blasto Happy Hour
12:00–13:00 Hall 6.1, Stand D043a
No registration required
Join Blasto for a break from the packed DMEXCO agenda. It is an open space for advertisers, agencies, publishers and AdTech partners to discuss the issues behind programmatic performance: supply quality, transparent buying, in-app and CTV activation, real-time reporting and accountable optimisation.
Add BLASTO Happy Hour to your schedule.
Wednesday evening: selected side events
The evening begins on the exhibition floor. Aprimo and CI HUB host their Happy Hour from 16:30 to 19:00, with a focus on content operations and governance. HubSpot’s Happy Hour runs from 17:00 to 19:00 and is a natural stop for CRM, agency and growth conversations.
For video and CTV professionals, VideoWeek Cologne runs from 18:30 to 22:30. Taboola’s Realize Happy Hour takes place from 18:30 to 21:30 and brings together performance advertising and publisher-side teams. For a later, larger-scale industry gathering, O/WONDER OMClub begins at 21:00.
Thursday, 24 September: turning ideas into a 2027 plan
CMO Summit
09:45–16:30, Center Stage, Hall 6
The CMO Summit brings together brand-side leaders to discuss automation, communities, cultural marketing, changing consumer behaviour and growth strategy.
This is the place to connect media performance with the broader marketing agenda. The strongest teams will leave with a clearer view of how efficiency, relevance, brand building and accountability can work together.
AdTech Summit: Day Two
09:45–approximately 13:30, Tech Stage, Hall 6
The second AdTech Summit session should be protected time for programmatic teams. Privacy-first targeting, CTV, identity, contextual signals and supply-path transparency are commercial questions, not just technical ones.
Commerce Summit
09:45–16:30, Commerce Stage, Hall 7
The Commerce Summit covers platform dynamics, agentic commerce, scalable technology stacks, consumer behaviour and evolving business models.
For advertisers, its value lies in connecting retail media, marketplace activity, performance marketing and brand investment into one coherent commercial plan.
Creators’ Summit
09:45–17:00, Creators’ Stage, Hall 8
The Creators’ Summit addresses authenticity, influencer matching, creator-led brands and changing platform behaviour. It is useful for teams building more connected full-funnel plans, where creator content, paid media and contextual relevance inform each other.
Blasto Happy Hour: Day Two
12:00–13:00 Hall 6.1, Stand D043a No registration required
If Wednesday is booked, join Blasto on Thursday. Bring a real campaign question, market challenge or supply concern. The most useful DMEXCO conversation is one that leads to a clear next step.
Add Thursday’s Happy Hour to your schedule.
How to use DMEXCO well
A strong DMEXCO agenda has three parts:
Learn: choose the two or three themes that matter to your 2027 media plan.
Validate: use meetings to test what you hear on stage against real buying, measurement and supply questions.
Act: finish each meaningful conversation with a next step, whether that is a market test, supply-path review, product demo, campaign brief or reporting workshop.
DMEXCO is most valuable when it creates progress after Cologne, not just a crowded calendar during it.
Meet Blasto at DMEXCO
Visit Blasto at Hall 6.1, Stand D043a to discuss transparent programmatic buying across display, video, CTV, audio, mobile and in-app.
Every dollar should be visible. Every decision should be explainable. And every optimisation should serve a clear campaign outcome.
