NEXT25: What you need to know

Adam Tinworth

Everything you need to know to make the most of your day on and around the conference.

If it’s nearly autumn, it’s nearly time for NEXT. This is the end of summer, and the start of an incredible day of talks, workshops and networking that will prepare you for the decade to come.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s edition of NEXT…

The Event: NEXT25

As ever, our aim with NEXT is to give you an immersive day of talks, workshops, networking – and experiences. From coffee and pastries after you collect your badge at the venue, through an on-site lunch before the afternoon talks, through to a formal end of the conference with music and networking, we’ll keep you stimulated in mind and body through the day…

And, if you still have energy left at the end, you can continue into Reeperbahn Festival events.

We’ll be in our long-term home, the Schmidt’s Tivoli theatre on Reeperbahn, until mid-afternoon. And then, you’ll be offered the choice of a range of immersive or deep-dive sessions across the city (see Venues, below), before we finally come back together for the closing party.

Have a look at the full schedule.

The Theme: This is the End

This year, it’s the end. Not of the conference – heaven forbid – but of the old world. We’ve spent over a decade exploring digital transformation, but this year, we’re looking at the opportunities that are unleashed when you accept that the old world has passed, and you can play a role as a midwife of the world yet to be born. The end of one thing opens space for new things to emerge. And when new things emerge, there are new opportunities for life, culture and commerce.

This is the end. But also the beginning.

To read more about our theme, check out The is the End: Embrace It and This is the End: Of our Illusions

Why Attend NEXT25?

We’re not here to sell you anything (other than a conference ticket, of course). We’re here to equip your mind with the knowledge and insights to navigate the next decade. That’s why we’re called NEXT. And so, you can expect both the talks and workshop that facilitate that, but also the company of the sorts of people who have their eyes firmly fixed on the long-term. If you want to network with these sorts of people, we are the conference for you:

  • Curious minds
  • Digital-savvy decision-makers
  • Marketers, strategists, innovators
  • Creative thinkers and doers across industries

Don’t worry – we understand that there’s only so much anyone can absorb in a single day. So, we’ve interweaved live music in the venue, some unusual sessions on the main stage, and some more interactive workshops through the afternoon and early evening.

It’s a day of immersive discussions, exploration of cutting-edge tech and trends, and networking with international experts and your peers. And that’s not all.

Networking

We all know that the “lobbycon” – the casual hallway conversations, the encounters over lunch, and the chats at the tables at the theatre – are often a big chunk of the value of being at a face-to-face event. And we’re giving you multiple chances for those chance encounters that can change your business. There’s:

  • Coffee breaks at the theatre
  • Afternoon sessions in various small, casual venues around Hamburg
  • The evening closing party at GAGA Club

All of these give you the chance to connect with other attendees in a relaxed, social and fun setting.

More than just a conference

Your ticket to NEXT25 also gets you:

  • Access to all public Reeperbahn Festival concerts on Sept 18th
  • Access to the conference programme of the Reeperbahn Festival

We’ll be publishing a list of suggested sessions from both the festival and the conference closer to the day.

How NEXT feels

Venues

Had enough of conference centres? Us too. That’s why we hold NEXT in a real, working theatre. (It’s also why the main stage sessions finish mid-afternoon. They need to prep the theatre for the evening performances!) But then the breakout sessions aren’t in offices or conference centres, but a range of bars and other venues around Hamburg’s party district.

Here’s where we’ll be going:

Main Venue

From 8 am to 3.30 pm we’ll be in Schmidts Tivoli – a real, working theatre.

From 3.30 pm onwards, you’ll find events at a mix of returning favourites and new additions:

See more detailed information about the venues.

The Digital Conference

We’re a digital conference in both senses of the word – you can attend some of what we do virtually. We’ll have a livestream of the main stage sessions only, on the front page of the NEXT website during the event. Throughout the day, live posts from the sessions will be available on the NEXT Insights blog and social media. And we’ll release the session videos in the weeks after the event.

Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when they’re live.

Hashtags

Our team will be sharing information, images, and video from the conference on Instagram and LinkedIn. Share your insights and tag us, use the hashtag: #next25

Please do join in, and add your own insights and experiences through the day.

NEXT25: Getting Practical

How do you get around Hamburg? Where do you store your coat and suitcase? Where can you assuage your hunger? We have answers:

Getting Around

MOIA

MOIA is Hamburg’s e-mobility ridesharing and shuttle service. You can use the MOIA app to book a ride, offering an eco-friendly way to get around the city.

HVV Switch

For convenient travel around Hamburg, we recommend using the HVV Switch app. HVV Switch integrates public transport, car-sharing services like ShareNow and Miles, and taxi booking all in one app. This makes it easy to find the best transportation option for your needs.

  • For direct taxi bookings, you can also call: +49 (0) 40 211 211

Public Transport

The nearest stations are:

  • U-Bahn: St. Pauli
  • S-Bahn: Reeperbahn

Parking

The nearest car parks are:

  • Parking Garage Millerntor: Millerntorpl. 1, 20359 Hamburg (pay directly)
  • Parking Garage Spielbudenplatz: Reeperbahn 63, 20359 Hamburg (pay directly)
  • Parking Garage Contipark Tanzende Türme: Zirkusweg 20, 20359 Hamburg (pay directly)

Storing your stuff

Just arrived, and it’s too early to check-in to your hotel room? Or it’s typical Hamburger Schietwedder and it’s raining cats and dogs? Don’t worry, we got you covered! NEXT provides a coat check for your jackets and even suitcases.

Please note: Since there is limited space available, we kindly ask you to bring only what’s absolutely necessary.

When & Where?

  • 8:00 am – 3:00 pm at Schmidts Tivoli, Spielbudenplatz 27/28, 20359 Hamburg
  • 1:00 pm – 12:00 am at GAGA, Spielbudenplatz 21/22, 20359 Hamburg

Coat Check Transition: from Tivoli to GAGA

For your convenience, all items you checked-in at the Tivoli but didn’t have the chance to pick up on your way out will be automatically brought over to the GAGA (just a few steps away next door) from 3:30 pm on. The coat check number you have will remain the same.

Items Left Behind

Please make sure to pick up your belongings during the above coat check hours at the GAGA. Note that NEXT Conference is not responsible for any loss or late pickup. Collection of items left in the coat check after hours or conference end times must be coordinated directly with the venue and not NEXT Conference.

Where to get food

Coffee & Snacks

Coffee and snacks will be served in the morning at Schmidts Tivoli.

At our afternoon locations, coffee and fresh water are served.

Lunch

We will serve snacks at Schmidts Tivoli Foyer. And food trucks at the Spielbudenplatz serve a variety of delicious food options.

Dinner

For dinner, we can recommend one of the many food trucks at Spielbudenplatz.

On Thursday, from 6:30 pm, we will also have finger food available during our Networking Hours at GAGA.

NEXT25 Dress Code

We all feel more comfortable wearing casual clothing. This is why we at the NEXT Conference welcome you to wear whatever you want.

Small hint: It might be rainy, so don’t forget to bring an umbrella with you.

See you on Reeperbahn!

More about NEXT25