If you thought Abu Dhabi would slow down after the high-octane Formula 1 weekend and its packed after-race concerts, think again. The capital is shifting gears into yet another major cultural moment with the debut BRIDGE Media Summit 2025, taking place at ADNEC from December 8 to 10.

Leading the star-studded speaker lineup is Idris Elba, Hollywood powerhouse, filmmaker, DJ Big Driis, and one of the most influential global voices on creativity, culture, and innovation. Fresh off his post-race DJ set during the F1 weekend, Idris will now take the BRIDGE stage to dive deep into something he champions passionately: the power of creativity. From The Wire and Luther to playing Nelson Mandela, his career has shaped global conversations around identity, resilience, and storytelling.

But Idris has never been one to fit into a single box. Beyond his on-screen work, he serves as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and a strong advocate for youth empowerment, pushing for more opportunities for emerging talent. His mission aligns perfectly with BRIDGE Summit’s vision of elevating diverse voices, sparking cross-cultural dialogue, and reimagining how global narratives are shared.

Adding even more star power to the summit is Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the Bollywood-Hollywood trailblazer and global icon. She will join as one of BRIDGE’s headline speakers, bringing her influential perspective as an actor, producer, entrepreneur, and champion of social impact.

Chopra Jonas is also making headlines this month for her much-awaited return to Indian cinema. After six years, she is stepping back into a leading role with S.S. Rajamouli’s action-adventure epic Varanasi, set to become one of the most expensive Indian films ever produced. The film stars Chopra Jonas alongside Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and Malayalam cinema veteran Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Largest Debut Event for Media

Being billed as the world’s first and largest debut event for the media, content and entertainment sectors, the BRIDGE Summit 2025 is set to make a major impact when it opens in Abu Dhabi. Held in partnership with global heavyweights such as Meta, X, LinkedIn, Sony, Canva, Time, and Forbes, the three-day summit promises a packed programme of panels, roundtables and masterclasses led by industry leaders.

Organisers are expecting a huge turnout, with more than 60,000 attendees, 400 speakers, and 300 exhibitors confirmed for the inaugural edition. The agenda spans everything from high-profile keynotes and deep-dive discussions to curated showcases and serious deal-making sessions, positioning BRIDGE as a new international hub for creative exchange and collaboration.

More Global Voices

Besides Idris, the BRIDGE Summit will feature a heavyweight lineup of global voices, including Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud of Alwaleed Philanthropies, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, YouTuber Michelle Khare, Google MENA’s Anthony Nakache, Forbes’ Moira Forbes, Binance CEO Richard Teng, IBM’s Sarah Meron, United Airlines’ Maggie Schmerin, LinkedIn’s Katie Carroll, and Tubefilter founder Drew Baldwin, among others,  forming one of the most diverse and influential speaker rosters the region has seen.

For Abu Dhabi, it’s another bold milestone in its journey to become the region’s most exciting creative and screen industry hub. For everyone attending, it’s a chance to be in the room where the next decade of storytelling is being shaped, and to hear Idris Elba break down what reinvention, creativity and culture mean in an industry changing faster than ever.

To register for the event, visit: www.bridgesummit.com/en/registration