Last week, we began writing about January as the kickoff to the experiential heartbeat of our culture. It started with dispatches from CES and then buzz about Sundance, Davos, the Super Bowl and beyond. But the news about the LA fires puts everything on pause and into perspective. LA is a cornerstone of our culture — and the experiential community. So many leaders from XP Land — creators, Council members, XLISTERS and colleagues — are based there. Our hearts are with them as these catastrophic fires continue.
Those looking to help can donate to the California Fire Foundation Wildfire and Disaster Relief Fund, the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, World Central Kitchen and other organizations here. Or check out this incredible, very local list from the Mutual Aid LA Network (MALAN) team. (Thank you, Elizabeth Rosenberg, a beloved LA-based member of our XP Land fam.)
When the time is right, we know LA will gather again — in ways that heal and connect. (Like the Grammys, which will go on as scheduled in a few weeks, but according to a statement from the Recording Academy, will raise “additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts.”).
Gathering shows our resilience — and even through the chaos, January 2025 events and experiences forge on.
CONFERENCES
CES: January 7-10; Las Vegas, NV
CES 2025 transformed the Las Vegas Convention Center into the epicenter of innovation, showcasing cutting-edge AI, robotics and wearable technology advancements. Delta Airlines stole the show with a game-changing press conference to celebrate their centennial. The immersive, technology-driven experience at The Sphere set a new standard for what corporate announcements can be. Other highlights include Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote on AI-driven creativity, Wearable Devices’ gesture-controlled wristband, and (in even more Delta news) Delta Concierge, an AI travel assistant offering touchless TSA reminders, ride-hailing and real-time updates.
World Economic Annual Forum: January 20-24; Davos, Switzerland
At Davos 2025, the agenda is as ambitious as the time demands — and that’s saying something. This year’s focus areas include “Reimagining Growth” in a wildly complex political landscape; “Industries in the Intelligent Age” with a spotlight on responsible AI development; “Safeguarding the Planet” with climate action initiatives; “Investing in People” through workforce development; and “Rebuilding Trust” amidst societal divides. All of this unfolds under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.” We’re watching closely to see how the smartest brands and media orgs take these massive, messy topics and bring them to life in ways that are innovative, actionable and maybe even hopeful.
CULINARY
The Future of Food and Drink 2025 Launch: January 8; London, UK
Bompas & Parr founders and XLISTERS Sam Bompas and Harry Parr guided attendees through an evening of trigeminal pastels, birch bark chocolate, and rock licking for the launch of The Future of Food and Drink 2025 (now streaming on YouTube), their annual report diving into bold, boundary-pushing culinary predictions. The one-night-only event at The Mills Fabrica in King’s Cross, London was a sensory journey into the provocative, inedible (yes, inedible) and downright unexpected, exploring how we’ll eat, drink and gather in the near future. A must-watch for culinary XP creators.
FESTIVALS
Prototype Festival: January 9-19, 2025; New York, NY
Co-produced by XLISTER Beth Morrison Projects and HERE, Prototype Festival is where New York City gets its fix of contemporary opera and musical theater. Known for its fearless programming and unapologetic creative risks, the festival is a hotbed for diverse voices — from global innovators to rising stars — delivering works that don’t just tell stories but upend expectations of form and content. This year’s lineup serves up everything from the haunting Eat the Document to the genre-defying Black Lodge, the enigmatic In a Grove, and the electrifying Positive Vibration Nation. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, the festival closes with Art Bath, an immersive salon blending music, dance and fine art.
Sundance Film Festival: January 23-February 2; Park City, UT
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival is back with its signature mix of indie brilliance and creative boundary-pushing, showcasing 87 feature films and six episodic projects while dialing up its IRL magic with next-level activations. From immersive panels and pop-ups that celebrate indie filmmaking to outdoor screenings and late-night lounges where the deals get done, Sundance continues to be the ultimate collision of art, culture and community. For now, the mountains are still home — Park City will host the festival through 2026 — but whispers of change are in the air. Sundance is exploring a potential move in 2027 to Boulder, CO, or Cincinnati, OH, evaluating how each city’s vibe, infrastructure, and community-building potential could keep the festival’s indie spirit thriving in its next chapter.
IMMERSIVE
A.I.R. Biennial: January 11-February 9; Brooklyn, NY
Curated by Patricia Margarita Hernández and drawing inspiration from Lydia Lunch’s 1978 punk anthem the 16th A.I.R. Biennial, I woke up dreaming., is a boundary-pushing exhibition that dives into the dream state as a metaphor for our disorienting, media-saturated reality, where digital chaos collides with analog nostalgia. Among the 17 visionary artists featured is XLISTER Emilie Baltz, premiering Digital Souls, her futurist cooking show collaboration with Klasien van de Zandschulp, straight out of their groundbreaking Humaneaty TV. Expect a surreal odyssey of joy and terror, fantasy and truth delivered through a dazzling mix of video, sculpture, performance and printmaking.
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition: Closes January 31; New York, NY
At Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition, augmented reality and 3D models, including a life-sized chimera, take guests on a journey through time. 850 years of architectural marvels come to life in an interactive, immersive experience that explores pivotal moments like Napoleon’s coronation and the cathedral’s intricate restoration following the 2019 fire.
SPORTS
Australian Open: January 12-26; Melbourne, Australia
Electrifying Melbourne Park for the 115th annual tournament, the 2025 Australian Open will feature tennis titans like defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka. This year also introduces the Youth Ground Pass, offering teenagers aged 12 to 17 affordable access to all courts. Additionally, the tournament expands its entertainment offerings with the debut of TOPCOURT, an immersive fan experience featuring cutting-edge gaming, play zones, live music and the latest trends in fashion and beauty.
College Football Playoff National Championship: January 20; Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is making history as the first city to host the College Football Playoff National Championship twice, turning Mercedes-Benz Stadium into the heart of the action for the debut of the 12-team playoff format. But it’s not just a game — it’s a full-throttle fan fest. Think Lil Wayne, GloRilla, and Camila Cabello lighting up the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! and Kane Brown rocking the Allstate Tailgate. Add in the Trophy Trot 5K/10K and Playoff Fan Central, and this championship is pure energy, on and off the field.
X-Games Aspen: January 23-25; Buttermilk, CO
X Games Aspen 2025 returns to Buttermilk Mountain, where elite athletes will battle it out in SuperPipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, Knuckle Huck and the debut of Street Style. This year brings late-night competitions for added thrill and revamped vibes. On the music side, deadmau5, Big Gigantic, ILLENIUM, and Daily Bread are slated to keep the energy high, with performances included in general admission. For the first time, tickets are required for all attendees, offering GA and premium options for an up-close experience of this adrenaline-packed weekend.
WWE Monday Night Raw: January 13; San Jose, CA (and now on Netflix every Monday)
Some people question why we are as fascinated with wrestling as we are, but as experiential folks, we’re in the business of feelings and fandom. And we all could take a MasterClass from the good ol’ WWE, especially now that they’re in their Netflix Era. So hear us out: The WWE sells tickets to live events every week, they’re live on broadcast and Pay-Per-View, and have now added a $5 billion, 10-year streaming deal. Netflix execs were attracted to WWE’s loyal, multigenerational audience that now add to the streamer’s live offerings, including NFL games, boxing matches and comedy specials.
Join us in XP Land. A community for experiential creatives and experience-makers, brand leaders and IP-owners, space stewards and venue visionaries — all of those in the business of epic gatherings and live, immersive storytelling.
