Dhar Mann, Sean Cohan (NATPE Global photo)
Creator Dhar Mann, Bell Media President Sean Cohan to Keynote NATPE Global in Miami in February 2026
July 9, 2025
Popular YouTube and TikTok content creator Dhar Mann and Bell Media president Sean Cohan will be the keynote speakers at next year’s NATPE Global and Realscreen Summit, which returns to Miami Feb. 2-6 at the InterContinental Miami hotel.
Mann and Cohan, according to NATPE, “represent two poles of an industry in transformation … where traditional media reinvents itself to meet audiences’ evolving needs across their platforms of choice, and YouTube creators are producing network series and becoming studios.”
Mann, founder of Dhar Mann Studios, leads one of the world’s most-watched digital storytelling platforms, with billions of views across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Known for his cinematic, purpose-driven narratives centered on empathy, resilience, and social themes, Mann has cultivated a loyal global audience. His vertically integrated studio model combines high-volume production with real-time analytics, exemplifying how creators are building scalable media operations outside traditional gatekeeping structures. As the creator economy surpasses $250 billion globally, Mann stands at the forefront of a movement where creators’ industry influence is on the rise. He will be joined in the conversation by Dhar Mann Studios CEO and former MTV president Sean Atkins.
Cohan leads Canada’s largest media and entertainment company. He will talk about how the company is changing its strategy to compete — and thrive — on a global stage. From transforming legacy media assets to building top Canadian streamer Crave, Cohan will share how Bell Media is driving success by embracing great storytelling across news.
“This year’s keynotes speak to the confluence of what was once seen as two viewing solitudes — social platforms and mainstream media,” said Mary Maddever, executive content director of NATPE and EVP of Realscreen. “In tandem with the broadcast business model’s migration towards streaming, what happens on different platforms is less distinct, so whether you’re a creator scaling a global brand or a traditional media leader adapting to new market realities, there’s an upside in collaboration, crossing streams and learning from successes.”
“The response to our 2025 edition was phenomenal — record-breaking attendance and unprecedented buyer engagement,” said Claire Macdonald, SVP and executive director of NATPE Global. “In 2026, we’re raising the bar again, driven by visionaries like Dhar and Sean who are reshaping what this industry looks like. In addition to the bringing the Creator economy into the NATPE fold, we’re putting a spotlight on the Scripted side of the market with a new dedicated track and expanding our focus on bringing brands into the conversation.”
Other key programming highlights include:
- A newly launched Scripted Content strand;
- Enhanced creator and brand programming, bringing creators, agencies, and media companies into direct dialog; and
- The return of NATPE Honors, celebrating trailblazing industry leaders pushing boundaries.