WV Connect 2026 — Weddings & Films Edition Opens in Hyderabad

Sabu Cyril, Senthil Kumar, Sabbas Joseph, Rituraj Khanna, Kumar Raja, and Dakshinaamurthi—creative forces behind Baahubali, RRR, IPs such as IIFA and other landmark productions—will converge for ‘Weddings & Films’, the fourth edition of WV Connect.

Key Takeaways

• WV Connect 2026’s fourth edition, themed ‘Weddings & Films,’ launched in Hyderabad, bringing together top wedding and film industry figures.
• Creative forces behind Baahubali and RRR joined the summit organized by Wedding Vows magazine.
• Hyderabad was chosen for its dual strength in film (Ramoji Film City) and luxury weddings.
• India’s wedding market is valued at Rs 3.86 lakh crore and growing 25% annually.

Hyderabad, September 2, 2026:WV Connect 2026 — Weddings & Films Edition launched today in Hyderabad, marking the fourth straight edition of Asia’s biggest B2B wedding summit. Organized by Wedding Vows, India’s top wedding industry magazine, the summit was created by N DakshinaaMurthi on the belief that the Indian wedding sector merits a premier business platform for learning, networking, and growth.

Each year, WV Connect moves to a new Indian city—Chennai in 2019, Mamallapuram in 2023, Jaipur in 2024. This edition chose Hyderabad, home to Ramoji Film City, the world’s largest film studio complex, and one of India’s fastest‑growing luxury wedding hubs. Hyderabad is the only Indian city where both the wedding and film sectors are truly world‑class, making the Weddings & Films theme a perfect fit.

The concept is straightforward yet commercially important. India’s wedding market is worth ₹3.86 lakh crore, expanding at 25 % annually. The film and OTT sector contributes an additional ₹1.97 lakh crore. Both industries rely on the same talent—designers, cinematographers, lighting crews, fabricators, and venues—but have never had a formal platform to collaborate, share knowledge, or create joint ventures. WV Connect 2026 aims to fill that gap.

In its fourth year, WV Connect has expanded from 400 delegates at its launch to over 800 professionals from India and abroad. It is neither a trade show nor an awards gala; it is a knowledge‑sharing summit featuring three days of sessions, panels, masterclasses, and discussions guided by the wedding industry’s top experts and, for the first time, the film industry’s leading creatives. Each year the aim is to equip every attendee with fresh ideas, valuable contacts, and business opportunities unavailable elsewhere.

Day 1 – Tuesday, 1 September – Ramoji Film City

Kicking off not in a conventional conference hall but on the sets of Ramoji Film City—the world’s largest film studio complex and the most cinematic backdrop for a Weddings & Films edition—delegates enjoy a private tour of the studio’s iconic sets. This is followed by the summit’s signature opening event, Movie Blind Date Night, an evening screening where the film remains a surprise until the lights dim. The day concludes with a VVIP networking dinner under the stars at Ramoji.

Day 2 – Wednesday, 2 September – Arth Resorts & Spa – Main Ballroom

The main conference kicks off at Arth Resorts with an inaugural keynote by Sabbas Joseph, co‑founder of Wizcraft—the driving force behind IIFA and India’s most iconic live productions. The day also features celebrated creative minds such as Sabu Cyril, a four‑time National Award‑winning production designer for Baahubali and RRR; K.K. Senthil Kumar, acclaimed cinematographer and longtime collaborator of S.S. Rajamouli; Kumar Raja, founder of Design by Raja; and Lauren Rodgers, Director of Events at Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi.

Sessions examine the crossroads of cinematic production and luxury weddings, covering immersive set design, projection mapping, AI‑enhanced guest experiences, and destination wedding creation. The WV Connect EXPO runs throughout the day, uniting exhibitors from the wedding, film, and hospitality sectors. Speed networking, curated introductions, and panel discussions complete the conference agenda.

The evening program continues with Vaikuntam Kalyanam, the sacred ceremonial wedding of Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavati, performed by priests specially invited from Tirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam. This is followed by Bhajan Clubbing, a contemporary devotional music experience. The combination is intentional: a summit focused on the future of Indian weddings, grounded in the timeless spiritual tradition that lies at the heart of Indian matrimony.

Day 3 – Thursday, 3 September – Arth Resorts & Spa – Mini Banquet + Awards Night

The final day begins with a networking brunch, followed by WedX and Masterclasses—the summit’s most intimate and intellectually rigorous sessions. WedX is WV Connect’s signature short‑talk format: one speaker, one idea, ten minutes, one spotlight—no panel, no moderator, no Q&A. Ideas Worth Celebrating. Each WedX talk is recorded as a standalone piece and released after the summit, extending the impact of every idea beyond the room.

Masterclasses led by professionals from both the film and wedding industries provide hands‑on training in cinematic storytelling, virtual production, projection mapping, advanced lighting, and production design—practical skills delegates can immediately apply to their work.

The summit wraps up with the WV Awards 2026 Gala Night—India’s most credibly adjudicated wedding recognition platform. This year’s awards cover over 80 categories across 16 industry segments, ranging from photography, videography, and décor to technology, entertainment, and hospitality. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury and tabulated by TABS, the Awards Tabulation Intelligence System—an AI‑powered engine that timestamps, secures, and audits every result. The evening includes a red‑carpet arrival, live awards ceremony, and gala dinner at Arth Resorts.

Featured participants at WV Connect 2026 include Sabbas Joseph (Co‑founder, Wizcraft); Sabu Cyril (Film Production Designer, Baahubali/RRR); K.K. Senthil Kumar (Cinematographer, Baahubali/RRR); Kumar Raja (Founder, Design by Raja); Lauren Rodgers (Director of Events, Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi); Rituraj Khanna (Founder, Q Events and President, WV Connect); Rahul Kumar and Maggi Kewlani (Vivaah Celebrations); Ruchi Pant (Chief Business Officer, Ramoji Film City); Aarti Mattoo (MD, Momentum Experiences & Events LLP); Punam Chadha Joseph (Author, Poet and Painter); Parul Sharma Wallbrown, Tarun Agarwal, Reema Thakkar Tiwari, Gauri Chadha, Photriya Venky, Laadi Sangeet Maker, Sandeep Molugu, Vishnu Vardhan Indur, Sri Koundinya, and Ashok Kumar Koralath.

Weddings and films have always shared the same core ingredients—storytelling, emotion, visual spectacle, and exceptional craftsmanship. What has been lacking is a shared business platform. WV Connect 2026 unites these two ecosystems not just to highlight their similarities, but to explore what they can create together. Each edition of WV Connect revolves around one question: what does this industry need to hear, see, and do differently? In Hyderabad, where weddings and films converge, that question finds its most compelling answer.

WV Connect is Asia’s largest B2B wedding summit, published and organized by Wedding Vows—India’s leading wedding industry magazine. Founded by N DakshinaaMurthi, the summit visits a different Indian city each year, gathering the nation’s most influential wedding, hospitality, film, and creative professionals for three days of knowledge exchange, business networking, and industry recognition. Previous editions took place in Chennai (2019), Mamallapuram (2023), and Jaipur (2024). Season 4—the Weddings & Films Edition—is the most ambitious to date.