Status and perspectives of electromagnetic probes: a bright future

After a number of years of sparse results from electromagnetic probes we have seen a revitalization of this field at this conference. Exciting first results obtained by NA60 at CERN, HADES at GSI, as well as PHENIX at RHIC, cover a broad range of initial conditions created in heavy-ion collisions. These experiments hold the promise to provide accurate new data, which will certainly furnish qualitatively new insights into matter at high temperature and density. In this paper I review the status of the field today and the perspectives for the future.Arrival of the final proofs: 28 July 2005PACS: 25.75.Nq