With just days to go for the 18th edition of the Indian advertising industry’s most anticipated and largest festival, Goafest 2025, set to take place at the Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage and Horizon, the organising committee is pulling out all the stops to make this year’s celebration grander than ever. Positioned as a comprehensive experience for delegates, the festival promises more than just learning opportunities, it is inviting attendees to explore new domains, engage in meaningful conversations, and immerse themselves in a variety of thoughtfully curated activities, all aimed at delivering a well-rounded blend of knowledge and enriching experiences.
The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and The Advertising Club (TAC) have brought the much-anticipated return of Goafest to its iconic home in Goa this year for South Asia’s largest creative festival.
Scheduled to take place from May 21 to 23, Goafest 2025 is also bringing alive a never-seen-before concept of the ‘Goafest Village’ with multiple venues and experiences under one roof.
This year’s Goafest promises a completely revamped experience, with significant changes to the venue layout, activities, and programming. Unlike previous editions that featured a single large hall hosting all the panel discussion and two masterclasses simultaneously taking place in different halls, this year’s festival will see a more expansive setup with multiple events unfolding simultaneously across various locations.
Additionally, deepening engagement and staying true to its maiden edition with the nouvel Goafest Village concept, Goafest 2025 has also introduced ‘Advertising Plays’ – a sports and wellness IP designed to bring agency professionals together in a fun and informal setting.
The content lineup is notably larger, featuring over 20 masterclasses across multiple stages, more than 60 speakers, 35+ sessions, and upwards of 2,000 registrations.
In a conversation with Marketing Mind, Prasanth Kumar (aka PK), President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India and CEO of GroupM, South Asia, pointed out, “It’s not like the old days where everything happened in a single hall. There’s a lot being provided here, it’s a large space and the venue itself is massive. The property offers multiple features beyond just event halls, and we’ve consciously tried to leverage all of that.”
“Yes, there will be sessions and masterclasses, but what I really want to emphasise is that attendees should treat this as an opportunity for themselves. Don’t come in with the mindset of “let me find something to learn” and limit yourself to that. Instead, experience everything that’s on offer,” he said.
He mentioned that people who will be attending the festival should not feel shy, they should get involved in the activities, explore new areas, have meaningful conversations, and make new connections.
“Networking isn’t just a parameter anymore, it’s about doing it the right way. These gatherings are important opportunities for the industry to come together. So the responsibility doesn’t just lie with the organisers to provide value, it’s equally on every attendee to make the most of what’s available,” he mentioned.
PK also shared his insights on this year’s theme ‘Ignite ______’, saying, “It’s a very evolving landscape and we want to keep both the energy and the momentum going. When we looked at it, ‘Ignite’ stood out as a compelling and energetic proposition because it’s flexible and adaptive. It can ignite tech enhancement, ignite creativity, it can ignite multiple aspects of what we’re aiming for.”
“This is the 18th edition of the fest, almost two decades since we started. It has been ever-evolving, and it’s incredibly exciting to see how we now have the opportunity to contribute back to the industry. This isn’t just an event hosted by one organisation; it’s something truly owned by everyone, clients, media, agencies, even the youth. Everyone is a part of it,” he added.
Furthermore, PK went on to say that every year, they are able to spark meaningful conversations that span across sectors, categories, and areas of transformation, be it media, tech, talent, or skills. From these diverse conversations comes inspiration drawn from multiple use cases and experiences. The space continues to evolve with contributions from different leaders, who come in to speak and engage.
“The format, too, has changed over time. It’s no longer limited to just panel discussions, we now include masterclasses and various other session formats. What we’re really trying to do is help curate these sessions with individuals who are willing to invest their time and insight into shaping the larger industry. It’s a shared commitment from all of us to strengthen the foundation of the industry by inspiring the younger generation,” PK said.
“At the same time, there’s also a world where we learn from the young, and that, in itself, can be incredibly inspirational for the more experienced. So really, it’s a blend of many elements coming together,” he added.
In conclusion, speaking about the sponsors, PK mentioned, “We extend abundant gratitude to all our sponsors. Their continued support, as always, has been incredibly encouraging. Despite the tough times, they’ve remained truly helpful, and for that, we have nothing but gratitude. We’re also seeing participation from some new players alongside our long-standing partners.”
