CM Fadnavis Reviews Preparations for WAVES 2027, Calls for World-Class Planning

Mumbai, July 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed officials to ensure that no aspect of planning is overlooked for the WAVES 2027 Conference, emphasising that preparations for the global event should begin immediately with a clear focus on delivering a world-class experience.

Chairing a high-level review meeting at his official residence, Varsha, the Chief Minister instructed departments to expedite planning related to programme management, departmental responsibilities, budgeting, publicity, transportation, technical infrastructure, logistics and inter-agency coordination. He stressed that WAVES 2027 should be organised on a much larger, more streamlined and impactful scale than its inaugural edition.

The review meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Mumbai Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Principal Secretary and Director General of Information and Public Relations Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary (Industries) Dr. P. Anbalagan, MIDC CEO Dipendrasingh Kushwah, Secretary (Cultural Affairs) Dr. Kiran Kulkarni, the Chief Minister’s Investment Advisor Kaustubh Dhavse, and senior officials from the Central Government.

Fadnavis said the inaugural WAVES Conference had created a strong global impression and significantly enhanced Maharashtra’s brand value. He noted that the next edition should build on this success by adopting meticulous planning and international best practices. Considering weather conditions, he suggested organising the conference during February or March 2027.

The Chief Minister directed officials to assign responsibilities for every component of the event, establish strict timelines, and ensure flawless execution. He emphasised that venue planning, infrastructure development, branding, technology support, protocol management, transportation, media outreach and public relations should be completed without any shortcomings.

During the meeting, discussions also focused on strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Government of Maharashtra. Officials deliberated on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the formation of a joint coordination committee, partnership models, and measures to encourage greater participation from industry stakeholders.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of leveraging the conference to attract greater investments in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector. Officials explored strategies to position WAVES 2027 as a global platform for showcasing Maharashtra’s creative economy and emerging digital industries.

Fadnavis further directed departments to develop robust technical infrastructure for the conference, including a mobile-based registration system, an integrated digital platform for delegates, and dedicated protocol arrangements for international participants. He also called for a comprehensive national and international publicity campaign to maximise the event’s global reach and visibility.

The Chief Minister reiterated that timely planning, effective coordination and seamless execution would be critical in ensuring that WAVES 2027 emerges as a landmark international conference, further strengthening Maharashtra’s reputation as a leading destination for media, entertainment, technology and investment.