Rob Biagioni, CEO of Time Out Media, shares the successes of the last 12 months and hints at what’s ahead.

Looking back on the past year, what have been some of the standout moments or achievements for your business?

The media and publishing industry once again has gone through many changes which we all have had to navigate – as a team, we have continued to stay focused, creative and committed to delivering value for our audience and partners. Our global monthly brand audience increased to 224 million, driven by strong social media growth. We also expanded through new franchise partnerships into India and the Nordics, proving that Time Out remains a relevant, fun and trusted brand for city lovers everywhere.

This year also brought inspiring media partnerships with Pride in London, NYC Pride and SXSW, plus three new Time Out Markets in Osaka, New York Union Square and Budapest – there are now 13 Markets around the world, each bringing the best of the city together under one roof, with more to come.

The opening of the new Union Square site demonstrated the incredible synergies between Markets and Media – and the opportunities this offers for our partners to showcase their brand: there are screens throughout the space, featuring Time Out New York recommendations, and we partnered with Disney’s THE LION KING on Broadway as exclusive opening sponsor – as part of a multi-month partnership, we developed a campaign with a blend of digital and in-Market activations to connect our client with our experience-hungry audience.

Which commercial partnerships or collaborations from this year have been particularly exciting or impactful?

We continued our strong multi-year partnerships with Uber Eats and P&O Cruises, both delivering even better results year on year for our clients – proving that long-term collaborations drive meaningful impact for brands and audiences alike. We also loved working with new partners including Lego, Pepsi MAX, Nando’s, Westfield, NERDS, and British Airways Holidays.

Each campaign was unique, but one theme stands out: growing demand for experiential activations. It’s an area where Time Out truly excels – and the results show why – consumers are significantly more likely to describe partnerships as enjoyable and authentic when there’s a live experience at the heart. People are seeking joy and connection, and when brands enable that, everyone wins.

As you plan for the year ahead, what priorities or opportunities are at the top of your agenda?

We’re heading into 2026 with ambition. Our audience remains highly engaged and continues to turn to Time Out for trusted recommendations – something that’s incredibly valuable for our partners. We’ll keep focusing on evolving social, video and email, and we’re introducing new technology and AI tools to strengthen our first-party data and programmatic capabilities.

We’ll also keep building two-way conversations with our community – listening, learning and acting on what they share with us. This year marked the first birthday of Time Out Loud, our growing insight community, and it’s been inspiring to see their faces, hear their stories, and bring their perspectives into everything we do. That connection with real people will continue to guide us next year and beyond.

And on a more personal note, what are you most looking forward to during the festive season?

For me, it’s really about connection. I’m looking forward to slowing down and spending proper time with my friends and family – celebrating, laughing, and just enjoying being together. I try to prioritise that all year, but Christmas has a different kind of magic. The food, the music, the familiar chaos – it’s that mix of warmth and nostalgia that reminds you what matters most. It’s the perfect reset before diving into a new year.