Game Changer Zagreb 5.0 powered by A1 brought more than 2,000 attendees and 120 Croatian and international speakers to CineStar cinemas in Z Centar on 14 October 2026, with artificial intelligence at the centre of a single day programme spread across five themed rooms and more than 50 panels. The fifth edition focused on changes already under way rather than technologies still on the horizon.
Key Highlights
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The fifth Game Changer Zagreb conference, powered by A1, took place at CineStar cinemas in Z Centar on 14 October 2026
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More than 2,000 attendees and 120 speakers took part across five rooms and more than 50 panels in one day
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Artificial intelligence led the programme, covering its impact on business decisions, company growth and how people work and create
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The Game Changer Awards recognised individuals, projects and initiatives across 15 categories
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Game Changer now runs in Montenegro, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, with Italy on 30 October and Ljubljana on 23 November next
Who Took the Stage in Zagreb
Zagreb once again became a hub for the regional and international innovation scene. The conference brought together leading figures from business and technology, entrepreneurs, investors, artificial intelligence experts, marketing professionals and creatives. Their shared goal was to send visitors home with concrete answers to the questions they arrived with, valuable contacts and clearer next steps for launching or improving their businesses.
Speakers included John Newbigin OBE, one of the UK’s leading creative industry experts and an adviser to the Mayor of London, and Davor Bruketa, founder and owner of Bruketa&Žinić&Grey. Slađana Ćosić, Head of the European Investment Bank Group Office in Croatia, and Andrea Čović Vidović, Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Croatia and Head of its Media Team, represented European institutions. Dr Bruna Gerardi, a robotics expert at Sheffield Hallam University, also took part.
Technology and business leaders on the programme included Dejan Turk, CEO of A1 Croatia and Slovenia, Siniša Krajnović, CEO of Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Josip Ćesić, founder and CEO of Gideon Brothers, and Joško Mrndže, former Google Regional Director and consultant. They were joined by Tvrtko Stošić, Solutions Consultant at Avaya, Joseph Tenzin Oliver, CEO of Vision Plan, Marko Đurđević of Superteam Balkan and the Solana Foundation, and Karol Cagáň, CEO of Aegic.
The line up also featured Željko Šustra, Director of the Corporate Governance Sector at APIS IT, Aco Momčilović of FutureHR, Eva Orszaghova, Senior Software and SaaS Account Manager at Amazon Web Services, Tin Šarić, CEO of BitX, and Daniela Jović, CEO of Orbitalyx. Creative and media voices included Vasile Alboiu, AI Creative Engineering, Innovation and Community Lead at CME and Pro TV Group, film and advertising director and producer Filip Filković Philatz, Tony Beretini, Chief Product Officer at Burai, and Matej Lončarić, CDO for CME Adria.
Their expertise and perspectives shaped discussions on the future of entrepreneurship, innovation and regional development.
Artificial Intelligence at the Heart of the Programme
This milestone edition concentrated on what is already changing. Sessions explored the real world impact of artificial intelligence on business decisions, company growth, everyday life, and the ways people work, create and communicate.
The anniversary edition confirmed the importance of open dialogue between business, technology and the creative industries. As change accelerates and artificial intelligence and digitalisation reshape how people live and work, Game Changer positions itself as a community that does not wait for the future but takes part in shaping it.
International Ambitions
What began in Zagreb has grown over five years into an international platform connecting communities and markets across Europe. The Game Changer conference is now also held in Montenegro, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, showing how local ideas can travel beyond their original boundaries and join a broader European innovation scene.
More Than a Conference: Connections, Collaboration and New Opportunities
Alongside its most extensive programme to date, spread across five stages, the conference offered an expanded EXPO area and the Game Changer Lounge, both designed for networking, an activity for which Game Changer is already widely known. A creative highlight was a virtual exhibition by Los Angeles based American artist Mieke Marple, presented in collaboration with SHPIGL, an arts organisation and platform.
The day concluded with the Game Changer Awards ceremony, recognising individuals, projects and initiatives across 15 categories for pushing boundaries and creating positive change.
What Comes Next
Following Zagreb, Game Changer continues its international journey. The second edition of the conference in Italy takes place on 30 October, followed by the fourth edition in Ljubljana on 23 November. More information about upcoming editions and activities is available at the official Game Changer website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the focus of Game Changer Zagreb 5.0?
Game Changer Zagreb 5.0 focused on artificial intelligence and its impact on business decisions, company growth, and how people work and create.
How many people attended Game Changer Zagreb 5.0?
The conference attracted more than 2,000 attendees, bringing together a diverse group of individuals interested in innovation and technology.
Who were some of the speakers at the event?
The event featured 120 speakers, including leading figures from business and technology, entrepreneurs, investors, and artificial intelligence experts.
Where else does Game Changer take place besides Zagreb?
Game Changer now runs in Montenegro, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, with upcoming events scheduled in Italy and Ljubljana.
The TCB View
Conferences that put artificial intelligence on every agenda risk repeating each other, so the useful test for Game Changer Zagreb 5.0 is whether sessions stayed on applied outcomes. The stated focus on changes already happening, and a speaker list that mixes telecoms, finance, robotics, creative industries and blockchain, suggests the organisers understand that. The number to watch is the international rollout: with Italy and Ljubljana weeks away, the format’s ability to travel is now the real measure of its growth.
