John Malone and Sony CEO lead Paley summit speaker lineup
John Malone, Sony Group president and CEO Hiroki Totoki, and Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick are among the headline speakers announced for the Paley Center for Media's annual International Council Summit, a high-profile gathering of industry, business, political, and academic leaders returning to Midtown Manhattan from Oct. 19–21, 2026. The event lands as global media companies weigh platform power, consolidation, and the next wave of entertainment deals.
Key Takeaways
- John Malone, Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki, and Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick are confirmed speakers at the Paley International Council Summit.
- The 2026 event returns to the Paley Center's Midtown Manhattan headquarters after last year's gathering in Menlo Park, California.
- This year's theme is "Global Media in Focus: Power, Platforms, and Perspective," with a roster heavy on investors and business leaders.
- PwC joins as an official sponsor alongside longstanding partners Hearst and the William S. Paley Foundation.
- Other headline names include Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
Why does the Paley summit matter for media leaders?
The Paley International Council Summit is billed as a place where "the future of media takes shape," according to Paley Center president and CEO Maureen J. Reidy. Bringing together leaders from media, gaming, sports, entertainment, and technology, the event is designed to spark collaborations and conversations that could define the industry's next era.
For audiences tracking streaming and TV alerts, the speaker list signals where power is concentrating. John Malone remains a towering cable and media investor as chair emeritus of Warner Bros. Discovery, while Sony CEO Totoki oversees a conglomerate spanning film, music, gaming, and electronics. Take-Two's Zelnick adds a major gaming voice at a moment when interactive entertainment increasingly shapes Hollywood strategy.
Who else is on the 2026 speaker roster?
Beyond the trio of Malone, Totoki, and Zelnick, the announced lineup spans finance, sports, advertising, and consumer brands. Goldman Sachs chairman and CEO David Solomon, Omnicom co-president and COO Philippe Krakowsky, and Vivendi chairman Arnaud de Puyfontaine represent the business and agency side of the ecosystem.
Sports and culture figures include NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, former NFL quarterback Eli Manning, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and Mattel chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz. Candle Media co-CEO Kevin Mayer, Liberty Global chairman Mike Fries, and race car driver Dystany Spurlock round out a roster that Paley describes as spanning media, business, gaming, sports, entertainment, and tech.
When and where is the 2026 Paley International Council Summit?
The summit runs Oct. 19–21 at the Paley Center for Media's Midtown Manhattan headquarters. That marks a return to New York after the 2025 edition was held in the heart of Silicon Valley in Menlo Park, California.
PwC global chairman Mohamed Kande said the firm's sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to advancing the global conversation on media's future and driving innovation across the industry. Reidy also thanked Hearst and the William S. Paley Foundation for their continued support. Full details are available via Variety's report on the announced speakers.
What is this year's summit theme?
The 2026 gathering centers on "Global Media in Focus: Power, Platforms, and Perspective." That framing reflects an agenda tilted toward investors, business executives, and think-tank voices as the industry confronts streaming economics, platform consolidation, and shifting audience habits.
Variety noted that Sony's Hiroki Totoki, investor John Malone, and Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick were featured in the announcement imagery—underscoring how gaming, legacy media, and global conglomerates will share the stage when the summit opens this October.