The Most Distinguished Leaders Across Media, Business, Gaming, Sports, Entertainment, and More Join the Renowned Paley International Council Summit

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

This Year’s Summit, Global Media in Focus: Power, Platforms, and Perspective Will Convene at the Iconic Paley Museum in Midtown Manhattan, October 19–21

Initial Speakers Announced: Jeremy Allaire, Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Commissioner Gary B. Bettman,

Andreas Dracopoulos, Mike Fries, Rich Kleiman, Mohamed Kande, Philippe Krakowsky, Ynon Kreiz, John C. Malone, Eli Manning, Kevin Mayer, Crystal McCrary, Alexis Ohanian, Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Faiza Saeed, David Solomon, Dystany Spurlock, Emily Tisch Sussman, Hiroki Totoki, and Strauss Zelnick

PwC Joins the Paley International Council Summit as an Official Sponsor in an Exclusive Two-Year Partnership

Longstanding Valued Partners Hearst and William S. Paley Foundation Return as Official Sponsors

New York, NY, June 30, 2026 – The Paley Center for Media announced today the highly anticipated initial lineup of speakers and an exclusive partnership with PwC, the tech-forward powerhouse in professional services, for the highly anticipated 2026 Paley International Council Summit: Global Media in Focus: Power, Platforms, and Perspective. One of the industry’s most prestigious events, the Summit returns this year to the iconic Paley Museum in Midtown Manhattan on October 19–21, 2026.

“The Paley International Council Summit fosters insightful conversations on the issues and opportunities that are defining the future of our industry and influencing the world at large,” said Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Executive Vice Chairman and Former CEO of Hearst, and Chairman of The Paley Center for Media. “I look forward to welcoming an extraordinary group of global leaders and innovators to New York this October.”

“The Paley International Council Summit is where the future of media takes shape. Bringing together an unparalleled roster of global leaders from media, business, gaming, sports, entertainment, tech, and beyond, the Summit will inspire visionary thinking, foster powerful collaborations, and drive conversations defining the next era of our industry,” said Maureen J. Reidy, President & CEO of The Paley Center for Media. “We are honored to welcome PwC as an official sponsor of the Summit and extend our sincere appreciation to our longstanding valued partners Hearst and William S. Paley Foundation for their continued support.”

The 2026 Paley International Council Initial Speakers

Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman, Circle
Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Executive Vice Chairman and Former CEO, Hearst; Chairman, The Paley Center for Media
Gary B. Bettman, Commissioner, National Hockey League
Andreas Dracopoulos, Co-President, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
Mike Fries, Chairman and CEO, Liberty Global
Rich Kleiman, Co-Founder and CEO, Boardroom
Mohamed Kande, Global Chairman, PwC
Philippe Krakowsky, Co-President and COO, Omnicom
Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO, Mattel
John C. Malone, Chairman, Liberty Media, Liberty Global, Liberty Broadband, and GCI Liberty; Chair Emeritus, Warner Bros. Discovery 
Eli Manning, Founder, Ten Till Productions
Kevin Mayer, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Candle Media
Crystal McCrary, Co-Founder/CEO, GameUp and Get To Yes Productions 
Alexis Ohanian, Founder and General Partner, Seven Seven Six; Co-Founder and Former Executive Chairman, Reddit
Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Vivendi
Faiza Saeed, Presiding Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
David Solomon, Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs
Dystany Spurlock, Professional Race Car Driver and Motorcycle Drag Racer
Emily Tisch Sussman, Host, She Pivots the Podcast; Co-Owner, Gotham FC 
Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO, Sony Group Corporation
Strauss Zelnick, Founder and Managing Partner, ZMC; Chairman and CEO, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.

The Summit features two signature keynote addresses that reflect the breadth of its focus on global affairs, media, business, and technology. The Henry A. Kissinger Annual Keynote Address, made possible by the William S. Paley Foundation, provides a forum for world leaders and dignitaries to discuss the leading issues of the day and their implications for global business and politics, both now and in the years ahead. The keynote will be led by Frank A. Bennack Jr., with additional participants to be announced.

The inaugural Dr. John C. Malone Annual Keynote Address, which will become a permanent part of the Summit, looks boldly to the future of media, business, and technology, spotlighting the forces reshaping the industry—from breakthrough innovation to shifting consumer behavior—and the powerful new opportunities emerging on the horizon.

The full agenda and additional speakers are forthcoming.

The 2026 Paley International Council Summit Supporters

As one of the world's foremost professional services networks, recognized for driving innovation and shaping the future of business, PwC joins the Paley International Council Summit as an official sponsor through an exclusive two-year partnership. Throughout the Summit, PwC will have a prominent presence, with dynamic brand visibility across the iconic Paley Museum.

PwC joins longstanding, valued partners Hearst and William S. Paley Foundation. “We are proud to join The Paley Center for Media as a sponsor of the Paley International Council Summit,” said Mohamed Kande, Global Chairman, PwC. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to advancing the global conversation on the future of media and driving meaningful innovation across the industry.”

The History of the Paley International Council Summit

Often referred to as the “Davos of Media,” the Paley International Council Summit was founded by Frank A. Bennack, Jr., and Dr. Henry A. Kissinger in 1995. Chaired by Bennack, the Summit serves to advance the exchange of ideas and foster a sense of community among peers. Over the years the Summit has taken place in major cities across the world including Rome, London, New York, Paris, Madrid, Istanbul, Mexico City, Beijing, Cape Town, and most recently Silicon Valley.

Since its inception, the Summit has welcomed many illustrious attendees including members of the Paley Media Council and the Paley International Council, exclusive membership communities composed of the world’s most important entertainment, media, and technology executives. Paley Media Council and Paley International Council Members receive VIP Delegate passes to the Paley International Council Summit, and unparalleled in-person access to timely discussions featuring top industry leaders year-round in both New York and Los Angeles. Recent Paley Media Council programs include conversations with Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO, Netflix; Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube; Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President, Services and Health, Apple; Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO, Sony Group Corporation; Condoleezza Rice, 66th US Secretary of State; Director, Hoover Institution; Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President, Ariel Investments; Gary B. Bettman, Commissioner, National Hockey League; Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer; Roger Goodell, Commissioner, National Football League; Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Commissioner, Major League Baseball; Adam Silver, Commissioner, National Basketball Association; David Solomon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.; and General David H. Petraeus, Partner, KKR; Chairman, KKR Global Institute, among others.

The Paley International Council Summit takes place during an unprecedented year for Paley as it celebrates its historic 50th anniversary. From the grand reopening of its newly renovated, state-of-the-art theaters and reimagined public spaces at The Paley Museum, to the opening of The Paley Archive at the Beverly Hills Public Library, Paley serves as a vibrant gathering place for both the public and industry leaders, as well as visitors from around the world.

Current and upcoming programs include celebrations of the FIFA World Cup, featuring a blockbuster exhibit and live watch parties for all 104 matches; a commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary; the return of PaleyFest NY; live podcast recordings; songwriter and artist showcases; and much more.

To learn more about the many benefits of Paley Media Council and Paley International Council Membership please visit Paley Media Council. 

For additional information on the Summit, including delegation registration information and speaker information, please visit paleycenter.org/paleysummit.        

Media Contacts: 
Teresa Brady, The Paley Center for Media, 212.621.6757, tbrady@paleycenter.org

PMK Entertainment, paleycenter@pmkentertainment.com

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About The Paley Center for Media  

Founded by media pioneer William S. Paley in 1975, and chaired by Frank A. Bennack, Jr. since 1991, The Paley Center for Media is the world’s leading nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to preserving media history and exploring media’s powerful shaping influence on culture and society. The Paley Center for Media, which owns the iconic Philip Johnson-designed Paley Museum, has proudly made its home in New York City for fifty years. The Paley Museum is where media, sports, gaming, and entertainment come together and has been recognized as New York City's "Best Museum" and "Best Children’s Party Place" for three years in a row.

During the year, the Paley Center produces unmatched programs and respected educational classes for the public and industry. Paley’s best-in-class public programming offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive access to today’s most talked about names through memorable programs that are entertaining, educational, and captivate audiences across generations. On the industry side, programs educate, inform, and lead the conversation on the rapidly evolving media landscape. Paley’s unmatched convening power offers unparalleled access to top industry CEOs, world dignitaries, and global thought leaders. At the heart of the institution is the Paley Archive, the largest publicly accessible collection of its kind—with more than 160,000 programs. Often referred to as a national treasure, this invaluable resource is available at The Paley Museum in New York and at the Beverly Hills Public Library in California and plays a central role in Paley’s respected educational initiatives that serve K-12 educators and students throughout the year. 