What Not to Miss at DMEXCO 2025: Event Highlights
DMEXCO 2025 has a ton of exciting highlights in store for you. Get ready for insights into top topics such as the AI revolution, modern payment solutions, social media marketing, entrepreneurship in turbulent times – and more!
The DMEXCO Worlds: helping you stay on-topic in the hustle and bustle of the trade fair
What ’s essential at a trade fair with 40,000 visitors and more than 800 exhibitors? Clarity. Focus. Relevance. Exactly what the DMEXCO Worlds have been designed to deliver: Themed action zones where you can find the players, topics and innovations that match the needs of your business perfectly.
World of Agencies: for agency power & brand makers
This is where your passion-driven agency meets decision-makers: Whether you’re more creative, strategic or distribution-focused, the World of Agencies is where you’ll find the very brand and marketing decision-makers who’ve been waiting for your solutions.
Start-up Area: fresh ideas and bold trailblazers
The spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well here. In the Start-up Area, young companies from all over the world will demonstrate what the future looks like, from data-driven services to AI-powered marketing tools. Perfect for trend-scouting, networking and making connections.
World of Tech: the nerd paradise for all those who mean business
AI, the cloud, cybersecurity, adtech and martech: The World of Tech brings you cutting-edge solutions presented by the tech champions themselves. Look forward to product demos, insider discussions and deep dives.
World of Media: from the big screen to retail shelves
This is the networking hub for publishers, advertisers and marketers. TV, OOH, retail media and the latest media trends and business models are served up on a silver platter in the World of Media. Perfect for all those who aim to attract target groups rather than chase after them.
World of Commerce – where deals, data and sales come together
Is e‑commerce your playground? Then the World of Commerce is the place for you. From payment systems and shop technologies to social commerce: This is where you’ll find a wealth of commerce power, partners including Shopware, Shopify and more – plus tons of networking vibes.
In times of disruption: Be bold. Move Forward.
“Be bold. Move forward.” is the 2025 DMEXCO motto. It reflects how participants in our forward-looking event for the European and global marketing and tech world are squaring up to the diverse challenges of today’s world. For example, you won’t want to miss these DMEXCO summits if you want to set yourself and your company on the right path for future success:
DMEXCO Thought Leaders’ Summit
The sector’s brightest minds will converge on the Center Stage for the DMEXCO Thought Leaders’ Summit on the very first day of the trade fair. Together, experts will dig deep into various hot topics, including platform strategies, the social economy and digital sovereignty.
Where: Center Stage
When: 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
DMEXCO CMO Summit – powered by Digiday and W&V
On day 2, the DMEXCO CMO Summit will see the DMEXCO Center Stage taken over by influential CMOs from Germany, Europe and around the world. Want to do your homework ahead of the individual summit sessions? Then be sure to check out our deep dive into the CMO Summit.
Where: Center Stage
When: 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2025
DMEXCO Commerce Summit in partnership with Shopify
The DMEXCO Commerce Summit highlights what success means at every stage of the customer journey today – and how you can optimize your shop to get the best results! Sessions will cover innovative tools, omnichannel strategies, AI-driven personalization and composable commerce architectures.
A strong pairing for your business: DMEXCO and Shopware Community Day 2025
Shopware is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, so the annual Shopware Community Day (SCD) promises to be extra special. As a visitor, you’ll be treated to a look back at a quarter of a century of e‑commerce milestones and a glimpse ahead into the sector’s dynamic future. SCD will take place at the Confex venue within the Koelnmesse trade fair grounds on the day before DMEXCO 2025 opens. Our tip: Get your exciting trade fair week started early with the Shopware Community Day 2025 on Tuesday, September 16!
Christmas is coming early: DMEXCO 2025 highlight sessions
The DMEXCO 2025 program is sure to make your marketing and tech dreams come true! We’ve put together a selection of exciting, must-see sessions that you can look forward to – although, given that the program has more than 200 hours of content, it’s obviously not an exhaustive list of all the DMEXCO highlights!
Welcome to DMEXCO 2025!
On the morning of Wednesday, September 17, Verena Gründel, DMEXCO host and Brand & Communications Director, and Dirk Freytag, President of the German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW), will appear on the Center Stage to open DMEXCO 2025. It promises to be an inspiring kick-off to two days packed with insights, innovations and networking.
Where: Center Stage
When: 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Google opening keynote: The Future of Google Search
Following the official opening, the program gets off to a flying start with a true highlight: Google’s opening keynote will be all about the future of Google Search. Given the groundbreaking developments in AI and the dawn of a new era in the search engine market, this will definitely be one of the unmissable DMEXCO highlights.
Where: Center Stage
When: 10:00 to 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Inside the Transaction Graph: How Payments Became the New Cookies
As the search for alternatives to third-party cookies continues, data from real transactions is coming into focus. Dr. Mark Grether (SVP, GM PayPal Ads at PayPal) will discuss this development in his fireside chat with James Cooper (Editor-in-Chief at Digiday Media) – and he’s sure to share some exciting insights.
Where: Center Stage
When: 3:20 to 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Google keynote: Creators, Fans and AI – the Future of Marketing on YouTube
In their keynote address, Andreas Briese (Country Director YouTube Germany and Regional Director YouTube Central and Northern Europe at Google Germany GmbH) and Dr. Michalina Seekamp (Head of YouTube Content & Creator Sales at Google Germany GmbH) will shed light on the interplay between creators, fans and artificial intelligence on YouTube.
Where: Center Stage
When: 4:00 pm to 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
From Cart to Heart – from Performance to Brand Growth with TikTok
What makes TikTok so exceptional when it comes to modern marketing? And how do campaigns contribute both directly to a company’s success and to brand building in the long term? David Roland (Head of Global Business Solutions at TikTok) will share some answers in his presentation on the Center Stage.
Wo: Center Stage
When: 5:40 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Experience your personal DMEXCO highlights up close on a guided tour
Do you specialize in a particular topic and want to meet relevant exhibitors? Then the guided tours run by the German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW) are just what you need! The guides focus on a specific topic, such as retail media, AI and the disruption of digital marketing, programmatic advertising, and SEO and SEA. Whether your aim is to generate leads or expand your network, the BVDW’s guided tours offer outstanding opportunities for exhibitors and trade visitors alike.
Booth parties and more: DMEXCO’s legendary side events
DMEXCO 2025 is more than just a trade fair – it’s a business experience. After all, the last session of the day is by no means the end, since a whole host of side events take place in conjunction with the expo and conference. Designed to complement the trade fair program, these events offer even more DMEXCO highlights and excellent opportunities for you to network – and celebrate!
DMEXCO 2025 highlights: Create your own schedule
Don’t want to miss any DMEXCO highlights? Then make a note of the sessions that interest you most so that you can tailor your DMEXCO experience and get maximum benefit from each of the two days. Explore the conference program now, filter by stage or topic, and bookmark the sessions that are particularly important to you.
Still not got a ticket? Then there’s no time to lose! Secure your ticket for DMEXCO 2025 now and pick up a wealth of insights and business contacts at Europe’s leading digital marketing and tech event on September 17 and 18, 2025, in Cologne!
