The Business Of
June 24–26, 2026 · Virtual · First Edition
Every person building this industry.
Three days. One room.
Join 700+ writers, directors, brand marketers, and platform professionals already on the list. You'll get the full lineup, session schedule, and ticket access before anyone else.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Almost there! Check your inbox and click the confirmation link to secure your spot on the Microdrama Summit waitlist.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck said it on Joe Rogan: studios now want a big moment in the first five minutes because streaming audiences won't wait. Netflix optimizes for when viewers drop off. The way stories get made and watched has fundamentally shifted.
Meanwhile, micro drama hit $700 million in a single quarter. P&G just launched a 50-episode branded series. Maybelline ran a five-part micro drama on ReelShort. Fox invested in Holywater. The format is projected to reach $26 billion by 2030, creating thousands of new jobs in writing, acting, directing, editing, and production while traditional paths shrink. (Already looking? Check the board at VerticalDramaJobs.com)
This summit brings together working creators, platform professionals, brand marketers, and industry voices to share what's actually working. Twenty sessions across ten tracks, including a dedicated brand track for CMOs and content directors. Three days here will save you months of figuring it out alone.
What You'll Walk Away With
Speakers
Full lineup announced to waitlist members first. Here's who's confirmed so far.
For Brand Marketers
P&G launched a 50-episode branded micro drama for Native. Maybelline ran a five-part series with the stars of Hot Frosty. Fox invested in Holywater. Disney backed DramaBox through their accelerator. HBR just published a full case study on the business model. This is not a trend to watch. It's a channel your competitors are already funding.
The micro drama industry hit $700 million in a single quarter in early 2025. HBR says Chinese platforms are using AI to test thousands of story concepts before greenlighting production. One-third of marketers are now advertising on short drama apps. The global market is projected to reach $26 billion by 2030.
MDS26 has a dedicated brand track: four sessions on commissioning, ROI measurement, platform strategy, and how to brief and publish your first micro drama series. Built specifically for CMOs, content directors, and brand strategists who need to understand this format before their competitors do.
Get ticket details, speaker lineup, and the brand track schedule first.
This Is Your Summit If You're A
"Streaming changed how audiences watch. Micro drama changed how stories get made and how brands reach consumers. This summit is where you learn all three."
Why Attend
This is the only room where all of it
comes together.
Your audience moved. Micro drama is where they are now.
Micro drama is pulling 400M+ daily viewers. Brands that learn to commission and integrate into this format right now will own the next wave of native storytelling. At MDS26 you learn directly from the platforms, the studios, and the creators doing it. There's a full brand track. Four sessions. Real case studies. No fluff.
The industry is hiring. The skills are transferable. The timing is now.
Writers, directors, DPs, editors, casting directors, location scouts, production designers. Micro drama is producing hundreds of titles a year and the demand for experienced crew is outpacing supply. MDS26 shows you exactly how your existing skills translate and which platforms are actively looking for talent like you.
$26 billion by 2030. Get the full picture before everyone else does.
Traditional streaming took a decade to mature. Micro drama is doing it in four years. If you're a studio exec, a media investor, or a distribution platform leader making decisions right now, MDS26 gives you direct access to the people building this market. Three days of signal, no noise.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Put your brand in front of this audience.
Presenting Partner, Track, Session, and Community sponsorships available. First edition means first-mover advantage.
Inquire About SponsorshipFrequently Asked Questions
MDS26 is the first edition of the virtual summit dedicated to the vertical drama industry, including micro drama, short-form series, and mobile-first storytelling. It brings together creators, talent, and fans for 20 sessions across 10 tracks covering everything from vertical storytelling and cinematography to AI-assisted filmmaking and creator economics.
Creators (writers, directors, showrunners, producers), talent (actors, DPs, editors, crew), brand marketers and CMOs looking to commission micro drama campaigns, film students, fans of vertical drama, people in traditional Hollywood thinking about pivoting, and anyone curious about the fastest-growing format in entertainment. There's a dedicated brand track for marketing teams.
Vertical drama refers to short-form, episodic dramatic content filmed in 9:16 portrait format for mobile viewing. Think Netflix-quality storytelling in 1-3 minute episodes on platforms like ReelShort, DramaBox, ShortMax, and FlexTV. The industry hit $700M in Q1 2025 and is projected to reach $26B by 2030.
Micro drama is ultra-short dramatic content, typically under 3 minutes per episode. It overlaps significantly with vertical drama but can also include horizontal formats. The genre has exploded globally, with China's micro drama market alone reaching billions in revenue.
The summit takes place June 24-26, 2026 (Wednesday through Friday). The full schedule will be announced to waitlist members first. Can't make it live? No problem. Full replays of all 20 sessions come with one-year access so you can watch and rewatch on your own time.
No problem. Sign up anyway. Full replays of all 20 sessions will be available with one-year access, so you can watch everything on your own schedule. Whether you're in finals week, at work, or in a different time zone, you won't miss a thing.
MDS26 is 100% virtual so you can attend from anywhere in the world.
We're still finalizing the speaker lineup, so we're holding off on releasing ticket prices just yet. We'll announce pricing to the waitlist first, before it goes public. Join the waitlist above to be first in line.
All tickets are non-refundable. However, if you can no longer attend, you can transfer your ticket to someone else as long as you notify us before June 10, 2026. To request a transfer, email hello@verticaldramajobs.com with your order details and the name and email of the person you're transferring to.
Yes. We have a limited number of press credentials for journalists, podcasters, and content creators covering the vertical drama and micro drama space. For press inquiries, email hello@verticaldramajobs.com with your name, publication or channel, and a brief note on your coverage angle.
Yes. We believe in making the summit accessible to the next generation of vertical storytellers. Student tickets will be offered at a significantly reduced price. Like all tickets, they are non-refundable. Details will be announced to the waitlist first, so get your name on the list.
Speaker reveals, session details, and ticket access go to the waitlist first. Full replays with one-year access so you never miss a session even if you can't attend live.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The MDS26 Ecosystem