The Hollywood Reporter has opened a new front in the creator economy with the launch of UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market, to be held in Los Angeles in October 2026 in partnership with Access Media.
The first-of-its-kind event market will offer global development-ready digital content producers a bridge to major studios, streamers, broadcasters, talent agencies, digital platforms, production companies, brands and buyers. In addition to curated deal-making opportunities and industry networking, the UP NEXT marketplace will feature keynote conversations, creator showcases, live IP presentations and exclusive editorial programming from THR.
Says Maer Roshan, Editor-in-Chief of THR: “We’re excited to bring the fast-growing creator economy and Hollywood together, as digital innovators continue to fuel studio talent pipelines, drive brand marketing strategies and redefine who becomes a star.”
The launch of UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market is designed to accelerate partnerships amid a major shift across the global media landscape where audience-first storytelling has reshaped how content is discovered, financed, developed and monetized. That industry disruption has Hollywood players seeking commercially viable IP for new audiences and content like podcasts and microdramas as they expand their traditional content pipelines.
“Entertainment is undergoing one of the most significant shifts in its history, and creators are at the center of that transformation. The traditional development pipeline is evolving rapidly, and some of the most valuable and culturally relevant IP in the world is now emerging from creator-led communities with deeply engaged audiences. This event is about creating a serious business marketplace where those creators can connect directly with the studios, streamers, networks, brands, and investors looking to shape the future of entertainment,” Ferne Cohen, president of Access Media and executive director of UP NEXT, said in a statement.
The new marketplace aims to create a premium business environment where Hollywood and the creator economy can engage directly and strategically. UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market has tapped WorldBuilder Summit founder and former Buffer Festival CEO Scott Benzie as its general manager.
More details from event organizers will be announced in the coming months.
