Medellín advances toward its position as the entertainment capital of Latin America

Medellín's Tourism and Entertainment Secretariat is making steady progress in its quest to consolidate the city as a competitive destination and a global benchmark in the entertainment industry. This is demonstrated by a recent study conducted in partnership with EAFIT University, which identifies the challenges, opportunities, and strategies needed to strengthen this sector as a driver of economic, cultural, and tourism development.

The report highlights that Medellín has the potential to strengthen its entertainment ecosystem through an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable approach, leveraging the creativity of its people, its emerging talent, and its cultural infrastructure.

A strategic vision for a growing sector
The city is committed to a dual development model, known as 2MDE, which integrates two types of offerings:
• MDE Production, focused on niche creative content that promotes diversity and innovation.
• MDE Show, geared toward large, high-impact events that position Medellín internationally as a venue for cultural and entertainment experiences.

This strategy seeks to attract both new local audiences and international visitors, combining the authenticity of artistic expression with the reach of large-scale events.

An expanding creative ecosystem
The study reveals that the entertainment ecosystem in Medellín is in its emerging stage, but with enormous growth potential. Of the more than 200 companies identified in different subsectors, such as live music, performing arts, gastronomy, nightlife, sports, audiovisual, video games, and cyberentertainment, 98% are small and medium-sized, and more than 60% have been created in the last five years.

This dynamic represents a great opportunity to strengthen the formalization, sustainability, and professionalization of the sector, as well as to foster "coopetition": strategic collaboration between actors who, while competing, join forces to grow collectively.

Challenges and Opportunities for the Future
While Medellín has the potential to become a benchmark for entertainment in Latin America, the study also identified structural challenges that require attention:
• Lack of coordination between public and private actors.
• Need for a more consistent and diverse cultural offering.
• Limited strategic collaboration between companies.
• Challenges in infrastructure, sustainability, and security.

In response, the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment proposes a set of actions to foster the sector's growth, including:
• Strengthening artistic collaboration networks.
• Promoting alliances with hotels, restaurants, and event organizers.
• Promoting training and support programs for local talent.
• Implementing trend analysis systems for decision-making.
• Consolidating creative clusters as a basis for the development of "entertainment cities."

Medellín: A City Where Entertainment Also Flourishes
With this roadmap, Medellín reaffirms its commitment to developing an industry that not only generates employment and boosts the economy, but also transforms territories, connects communities, and projects the city's identity to the world.

From festivals to digital experiences, from massive shows to independent artistic offerings, Medellín is gearing up to offer a diverse and distinctive agenda.

In this context, entertainment is not just a spectacle: it is culture, it is opportunity, and it is the future.

Source: Medellín Tourism and Entertainment Secretariat