Last June, we published a blog post on the Tripleguns website called “Global Anime Expo & Japanese Culture Event Calendar”.
To our delight, a few people told us things like, “This is really useful!” and “It’s so much easier to understand when everything is listed like this.”
So this time, we’ve put together a music industry version: a global calendar of music conferences, showcases and industry events around the world.
Once again, this may be a very niche topic that only speaks to a small group of people, but even if you don’t work in the music industry, we hope you’ll have a look and discover that there is a whole world of B2B events behind the music business too.
Want to perform overseas?
Play at international festivals?
Connect with labels, promoters, agents and managers around the world?
When Japanese artists and music professionals think about expanding internationally, performing abroad is only one part of the picture.
Another important part is to attend music conferences, showcase festivals and music markets held throughout the world.
From SXSW in the United States and ESNS in the Netherlands to Reeperbahn Festival in Germany, ILMC and The Great Escape in the UK, and TIMM, MU:CON and All That Matters in Asia, there are industry gatherings taking place across the globe throughout the year.
And it is not only artists who attend.
Labels, managers, booking agents, promoters, festivals, venues, publishers, streaming platforms, music tech companies, media organisations and music export bodies from different countries all come together in the same place during such gatherings.
This article introduces some of the world’s major music conferences, showcase festivals and music markets, arranged as a month-by-month calendar.
Dates, programmes and participation requirements may change from year to year. Please check each event’s official website for the latest information.
▼ January
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| ESNS – Eurosonic Noorderslag | Groningen / Netherlands | A major European showcase festival and music conference focused on introducing emerging artists from across Europe. The 2027 edition will take place from 13–16 January. | Brings together festivals, booking agents, labels and music export organisations from across Europe. Previous performers include Stromae, The xx, Hozier and Fontaines D.C. |
| Folk Alliance International Conference | Chicago / USA | An international music conference centred around Folk, Roots and Global Music. The 2027 edition will take place from 27–31 January. | Artists, managers, agents, labels, festivals, venues and radio professionals from around the world attend, with both official and private showcases taking place throughout the event. |
▼ February
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| ILMC – International Live Music Conference | London / UK | An international conference dedicated to the global live music, touring and festival industries. ILMC 2027 will take place from 23–26 February. | Rather than focusing primarily on recorded music, ILMC brings together promoters, agents, festivals, venues, ticketing companies and touring professionals from across the live entertainment business. |
▼ March
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| SXSW Music Festival & Conference | Austin / USA | One of the world’s best-known events bringing together music, film, technology, culture and other creative industries across the city of Austin. The 2027 Music Festival & Conference will run from 15–21 March. | Alongside showcases from artists around the world, the conference covers topics including the music business, touring, music tech, copyright, AI and fandom. Labels, agencies, media companies and music export organisations also host showcases and networking events here. |
▼ April
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| jazzahead! | Bremen / Germany | An international trade fair, conference and showcase festival dedicated to jazz. The 2027 edition will take place from 22–24 April. | Musicians are joined by labels, agencies, festivals, bookers and media organisations from around the world in a trade-fair format, alongside an official showcase programme. |
▼ May
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| The Great Escape | Brighton / UK | A major discovery-focused showcase festival and music conference held across numerous venues in Brighton each May. The 2027 edition will take place from 12–15 May. | More than 450 emerging artists perform across over 30 venues. During the day, the industry conference includes panels, keynote sessions and networking attended by music professionals from around the world. |
| Music Biz | San Diego / USA | A music business conference organised by the Music Business Association. The 2027 edition will take place from 17–20 May. | Approximately 2,000 industry professionals are expected to attend, representing record labels, DSPs and streaming services, distributors, publishers, music tech, management and marketing. |
▼ June
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| TIMM – Tokyo International Music Market | Tokyo / Japan | An international music market connecting the Japanese music industry with overseas professionals, with a strong focus on international expansion and exchange. The 2026 edition was held from 8–13 June. | Includes networking between overseas buyers and Japanese music professionals, business seminars and showcase performances. In 2026, cooperation with MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN WEEK was further expanded. |
▼ September
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| BIGSOUND | Brisbane / Australia | One of Australia’s leading music conferences and showcase events. The 2026 edition will take place from 1–4 September. | Alongside the industry conference, numerous artists perform as part of the BIGSOUND showcase programme. Attendees include professionals from labels, publishing, sync, management and media. |
| MU:CON | Seoul / South Korea | A global music business platform connecting the Korean and international music and entertainment industries. The 2026 edition will take place from 2–4 September. | Includes business matching, business workshops, conferences and global showcases, providing opportunities for Korean and international music professionals to connect. |
| IFF LDN – International Festival Forum | London / UK | A live music industry event centred around festival bookers and booking agents from across the world. The 2026 edition will take place from 7–9 September around Outernet London. | Around 1,000 booking agents and festival professionals, representing more than 700 festivals and over 40 markets, are expected to attend. Unlike many general music conferences, IFF is invitation-only and strongly focused on festival booking and agency business. In 2026, the new Asia Live programme will also be launched to strengthen ties between Asian festivals and the international live industry. |
| Reeperbahn Festival | Hamburg / Germany | A major showcase festival and music industry conference held throughout Hamburg’s Reeperbahn district. The 2026 edition will take place from 16–19 September. | Hundreds of artists perform alongside a conference programme covering the music and digital industries, providing networking, matchmaking and international business opportunities. |
▼ October
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| All That Matters / Music Matters Live | Singapore | An international Asian conference spanning music, sports, gaming, marketing and entertainment. The 2026 edition will run from 2–7 October. | Music Matters Live takes place from 2–4 October, followed by the industry conference from 5–7 October. Participants include music companies as well as brands, platforms, technology companies and entertainment businesses. |
| Amsterdam Dance Event – ADE | Amsterdam / Netherlands | One of the world’s largest festivals and business platforms dedicated to electronic music. The 2026 edition will take place from 21–25 October. | Club events, live performances, conferences, music tech programmes and networking take place throughout the city. DJs and producers are joined by labels, agents, promoters, festivals and music technology companies from around the world. |
| WOMEX – Worldwide Music Expo | Las Palmas, Gran Canaria / Spain | An international music market focused on World, Folk, Roots, Traditional and Global Music. The 2026 edition will take place from 21–25 October. | Approximately 2,600 music professionals attend its combination of trade fair, conference, networking, film and showcase programmes. Festivals, bookers, agents and Music Export organisations from around the world take part. |
| BIME Bilbao | Bilbao / Spain | An international music industry meeting connecting Europe and Latin America. The 2026 edition will take place from 27–30 October. | BIME Pro includes talks, workshops, speed meetings and networking, while BIME Live presents showcase performances. Its connection between European and Latin American music markets is a defining feature. |
| ACCES – Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases | Johannesburg / South Africa | A conference, trade event and showcase festival focused on the African music industry. The 2026 edition will take place from 28–31 October. | Artists, labels, promoters, festivals and booking agents from across Africa gather alongside international music professionals for networking, knowledge exchange and showcases. |
▼ November
| Event | City / Country | Overview | Notes |
| Visa For Music | Rabat / Morocco | A Music Market & Festival focused primarily on music from Africa and the Middle East. The 2026 edition will take place from 18–21 November. | Held annually in Rabat since 2014, the event brings together artists, festivals, promoters, agents and cultural organisations through showcases, forums, meetings and international exchange. It serves as a platform connecting African and Middle Eastern music with the wider global industry. |
What Is the Difference Between a Music Festival and a Music Industry Conference?
The events listed above can broadly be divided into several formats.
Conference
Talks, panels, meetings and networking between music industry professionals.
Showcase Festival
Short live performances designed to introduce emerging artists and internationally focused acts to industry professionals.
Music Market / Trade Fair
Labels, agents, festivals, music export organisations and other companies exhibit, meet and conduct business.
Festival + Conference
Industry conferences take place during the day, while showcase performances are held across the city at night.
SXSW, ESNS, The Great Escape, Reeperbahn Festival and BIGSOUND are examples of this format.
The type of professionals attending can also vary considerably between events.
ILMC and IFF, for example, have a strong concentration of professionals working in touring, festivals and booking agencies, while Music Biz has a greater focus on labels, streaming, publishing, distribution and music technology.
ADE specialises in electronic music, jazzahead! focuses on jazz, while WOMEX and Visa For Music have particularly strong communities around Global Music and music rooted in specific cultures and regions.
Music Industry Conferences Are Not Just for Artists
Artists are only one part of the picture.
Music conferences bring together people from across the entire music ecosystem, such as:
Labels, managers, booking agents, promoters, festivals, venues, publishers, streaming companies, music tech businesses, media organisations and music export bodies.
For a few days, people who normally work in different countries, companies and parts of the industry can suddenly be found in the same city.
That is one of the reasons these events continue to play such an important role in the international music business.
There Are Still Many Places Where the Global Music Industry Meets Face to Face
Today, music can travel around the world almost instantly through Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and other digital platforms.
A track released in Japan can be heard by someone in Brazil, Germany or Indonesia the very next day.
Yet when it comes to international touring, festival bookings, label partnerships, publishing and many other areas of the music business, meeting people face to face still matters enormously.
Behind many international projects are relationships built through in-person conversations, introductions, meetings and multiple appointments.
This is why music conferences, showcase festivals and music markets continue to thrive, even in an increasingly digital industry.
They are places where people come looking for:
- new artists
- new international partners
- new festivals and touring opportunities
- new markets
- new ideas and technologies
In other words, the global music industry still has plenty of physical places where people meet, talk and create the next project together.
Music Is Increasingly Part of National Content Industry Strategies
Looking beyond music-specific conferences, another major global trend is becoming increasingly visible.
Countries and cities are now bringing together music, film, animation, games, webtoons, technology and other creative sectors as part of broader content-industry export strategies.
One example is ENTER-TECH, SEOUL 2026 in South Korea.
Held across Seoul’s DDP and Dongdaemun area in September 2026, the event brings together the SPP International Content Market, ENTER-TECH Festival, and Game · E-Sports Seoul (GES).
Its programmes include international business matching, investment meetings, networking, exhibitions, AI and XR technologies, and a K-POP showcase.
Rather than treating music as an isolated sector, the event brings different parts of the Korean content industry together within a single international business platform.
Similar initiatives can be found elsewhere.
South Korea | K-CONTENT EXPO
In addition to Seoul-led initiatives, KOCCA, the Korea Creative Content Agency also organises K-CONTENT EXPO events in international markets.
These programmes bring Korean content companies together with overseas buyers and partners, supporting the global expansion of Korean content through business meetings, showcases and industry exchange.
Taiwan | Taiwan Creative Content Fest – TCCF
Organised by TAICCA, the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, TCCF is a major content market covering film, publishing, animation, games, music, technology and other creative sectors.
Pitching, investment, international co-production and business matching are used to connect Taiwanese content with global markets.
Singapore | Singapore Media Festival
Led by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority, the Singapore Media Festival brings together platforms such as the Asia TV Forum & Market, Singapore International Film Festival, and Singapore Comic Con.
Film, IP, games, creators and other sectors are connected through a wider international media and content-industry ecosystem.
These examples show that artists and entertainment companies are no longer the only ones thinking about international expansion.
Governments, cities and public organisations are increasingly treating content as an export industry and building platforms that will bring overseas buyers, investors, festivals and businesses into their markets.
Japan’s Music Industry Is Also Moving Quickly
Japan has also seen a significant increase in international music-industry initiatives in recent years.
CEIPA, the Culture and Entertainment Industries Promotion Association, has become an increasingly visible force in strengthening Japan’s entertainment industry and its international connections.
One of its major initiatives is MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, created under the concept of connecting with the world and helping shape the future of music.
The awards provide a new international platform for Japanese and Asian music while bringing together different parts of the Japanese domestic music industry.
Another important development is CUEW Showcase & Conference, based in Shibuya, Tokyo.
CUEW invites international music professionals connected to organisations and events including SXSW, The Great Escape, ESNS and Reeperbahn Festival to Japan.
Through 1-on-1 meetings, networking sessions, conferences and showcases, Japanese artists and music professionals can connect directly with international decision-makers without first having to travel overseas.
In 2026, CUEW has also begun connecting its activities to overseas showcases including The Great Escape in the UK, creating a route from meetings in Japan to actual international performance opportunities.
Meanwhile, MTV VMAJ continues to operate as one of Japan’s major music awards platforms, with the role of showcasing the contemporary Japanese music scene on a larger scale.
TIMM, MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, CUEW and VMAJ all serve different purposes, but together they reflect a broader change taking place across Japan’s music industry.
Japan is also positioning content more clearly as a strategic export industry.
The Japanese government has set a target of increasing overseas sales of Japanese content, including anime, games, and music, to 20 trillion yen by 2033.
International expansion is therefore no longer simply about arranging a concert overseas.
The routes connecting Japanese music with the world are becoming more diverse:
Conferences
Showcases
Music Markets
International Awards
Business Matching
Music Export programmes
The infrastructure itself is changing.
Tripleguns will continue following not only international music conferences, but also developments around CEIPA, TIMM, CUEW and other initiatives in Japan, as well as music export organisations and content-industry strategies around the world.
Where does the global music industry gather?
Who is meeting whom?
Which markets are beginning to move next?
We will continue updating this calendar as new events and developments emerge.