MUMBAI: The sunny sands of Goa are abuzz again, and this time the buzzword is “experience”. South Asia’s iconic advertising and media festival, Goafest 2025 kicks off from 21-23 May at the luxurious Taj Cidade de Goa – Heritage and Horizon. Steering clear of clichés, the festival theme boldly invites participants to "Ignite Creativity". As Goafest 2025 Organising Committee chairman and Another Idea founder Jaideep Gandhi enthusiastically put it, "the return on experience is going to be really high".

What sets Goafest 2025 apart is its immersive 'Goafest Village' concept. Inspired by global festivals like Cannes Lions, the village sprawls across the heritage venue, packed with parallel-running sessions, interactive zones and entertainment spots. Gandhi explains, "The objective was to make it inclusive, hosting parallel sessions, entertainment, engagement, and sports".

Adding spark to the sandy shores, the festival introduces two fresh initiatives—Ad Plays and Goa Fresh. Goafest 2025 Organising Committee co-chair and Havas Media Network India CEO Mohit Joshi highlights, "Ad Plays integrates wellness activities like pickleball, yoga and a walkathon. Goa Fresh brings in students from top institutes, offering them mentorship and industry insights".

Goafest 2025 promises a dynamic blend of content with over 60 illustrious speakers delivering more than 35 sessions and 20 masterclasses. Among the notable figures are Rishad Tobaccowala from Publicis, Youri Guerassimov of Marcel Worldwide, Hindi cinema's Kareena Kapoor, cricketer Gautam Gambhir, and pioneering AI film director Vivek Anchalia. "Almost 25-30 speakers are clients this year, representing top brands like Spotify, Tata Motors and HUL", Gandhi notes proudly.

Reflecting on this mammoth event, Joshi stresses that the real charm lies in its community-driven spirit, "We have one vision—to grow Goafest together. It’s not 'you' or 'me,' it’s 'us'".

Another record-breaking highlight is the ABBY Awards 2025, powered by The One Show, boasting an unprecedented 4,076 entries from 233 organisations. As Gandhi succinctly puts it, "Every year the challenge becomes more interesting. It’s all about continuously improving".

Compared to the previous edition in Mumbai, which revolved around adaptability, this year’s festival pushes proactive transformation through meaningful experiences. The integration of sports, wellness, student mentorship, and the vibrant Goafest Village ensures a unique, memorable celebration.

"We spend six months organising Goafest, and each year we aim to outdo ourselves", shares Gandhi. Joshi adds, "We take lessons from every global event and bring those insights home, aiming for improvement every year”.

Indeed, with creativity at its core and collaboration in its spirit, Goafest 2025 is ready to ignite fresh perspectives, cement new connections, and redefine industry standards on the idyllic Goan coast.