In just 48 hours, the 63^rd ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings will officially begin in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

After months of planning, countless conversations, endless preparations and more than a few last-minute changes, the moment we have all been working towards is almost here.

From 30 October to 3 November, Colombo will become the meeting point for broadcasters, media leaders, content creators, innovators and industry professionals from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

And what a five-day gathering it promises to be.

From our Technical, Programme and Sports Group meetings to the Broadcasting for All Forum, Media Leaders’ Forum and Super Panel, GA2026 will bring together some of the brightest minds in broadcasting to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives and explore the future of our industry.

There will also be opportunities to celebrate creativity, recognise broadcasting excellence and experience the cultural richness of our region through the ABU Song Festival. But beyond the packed programme, there is something particularly meaningful about this year’s gathering.

Under the theme “Media for Peace and Humanity: Truth, Trust, and Transformation,” GA2026 arrives at a time when the media industry is facing some of its most defining challenges.

How do we protect truth in an age of misinformation? How do we rebuild and maintain audience trust? And how do we embrace technological transformation without losing the human values at the heart of responsible broadcasting?

These are conversations worth having. And there is no better place to have them than among colleagues who understand the challenges, share the ambitions and recognise the value of working together.

More than an annual gathering

The ABU General Assembly has always been about more than meetings, presentations and formal discussions. It is where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are strengthened and friendships are renewed. It is where a conversation over coffee can spark a collaboration, and where an experience shared by one broadcaster can inspire a solution for another.

It is also a reminder that while we may operate in different countries, cultures and broadcasting environments, we are connected by a common purpose: to inform, inspire and serve our audiences. As we count down these final 48 hours, we also recognise the tremendous work that has gone into making GA2026 possible.

To our host, MTV Channel Sri Lanka, our ABU colleagues, members, partners and everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes, thank you for your dedication and commitment. In just two days, the meeting rooms will fill, familiar faces will reconnect and new introductions will be made.

There will be discussions, debates, discoveries and celebrations. But when the week is over, I hope we measure its success not simply by the number of sessions or delegates, but by the ideas that become action, the partnerships that take shape and the connections that continue long after Colombo.

Because the true value of coming together is not simply being in the same room. It is what we choose to build together afterwards.

48 hours to go. The stage is set. Colombo, here we come!

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