Following an intense and inspiring kick-off in Slovenia at MENT Ljubljana, the next edition of Building Bridges: Explore CEE heads to Bratislava end of April for SHARPE Festival, one of the most exciting meeting points for the independent music scene in Central and Eastern Europe. Building Bridges: Explore CEE is aimed at professionals in the Austrian music industry who are looking to expand their international networks, explore new markets and build sustainable collaborations within the CEE region. To join the delegation, apply by midnight, April 6th!
What’s INcluded
The delegation trip includes a joint train journey from Vienna on Thursday, April 23, a dinner with international delegates on Thursday evening, and participation in the Austrian Heartbeats speed meeting on Friday, April 24, with participants from Slovakia and Croatia. The programme is complemented by access to the SHARPE conference and festival, which runs until Saturday and offers a wide range of opportunities to explore the local scene and connect with new partners.
In preparation, participants will be invited to a digital briefing, expected to take place on Monday, April 20, providing insights into the Slovak music landscape and helping you make the most of your time in Bratislava.
For selected participants, the joint train journey, festival and conference access, as well as the group dinner are covered. In addition, a reimbursement of up to EUR 100 for travel and accommodation costs will be granted, subject to submission of receipts.
Building Bridges: Explore CEE
Building Bridges: Explore CEE is aimed at professionals in the Austrian music industry who are looking to expand their international networks, explore new markets and build sustainable collaborations within the CEE region. The programme is primarily aimed at music industry professionals from all music genres, in particular, the people „behind“ the artists who are involved in the business side of things, i.e. labels, publishers, management companies and agencies. The trip is considered particularly useful for entrepreneurs who already have at least some experience in cross-border music marketing.
Due to the limited number of participants, only one person per company can be funded. Please send your documents to office@musicexport.at by April 6, 00:00 at the latest.
The number of participants is limited. Participants will be selected by Austrian Music Export; applicants will receive formal acceptance or rejection for funding or participation by 7 April.
SHARPE Festival 2026
This year, two Austrian acts will be performing at the festival:
Laikka
Feverish, theatrical and gloriously genre-fluid, Laikka tear through the binary with a post-pop sound that bends rules and breaks expectations. Their music is a high-voltage collision of glitchy electronics, oversized emotion and melodic hooks that hit like theatre set on fire. Weirdness meets grandeur, pop melancholy meets explosive energy — every performance infused with the effervescence of queer culture.
After the albums Morning Glow (2021) and Bleach (2023), and a support tour with ÄTNA, Laikka released I close my eyes, tomorrow in autumn 2024, celebrating with a release show at Flex. In 2025, they were nominated for the Amadeus Austrian Music Awards and joined the SHAPE+ program, marking their growing international momentum.
Beyond sonic experimentation, Laikka’s art is a bold statement against restrictive gender norms. Refusing to be defined by gender or genre, they embody music’s transformative power — proof that embracing one’s true artistic identity can spark connection far deeper than the pulse.
Humming People
humming people is music by two heads who don’t quite know where to go, but always head somewhere. Made for the many who accompany them. Sometimes quiet, sometimes loud, for those who dance and those who don’t.
Music plays on stage and people hum in the room. This is how humming people find their way to all kinds of places.
Keep up to date with all Austrian Music Export Projects & Activities, especially open calls and opportunities: here. To learn more about our Building Bridges projects past and present, go here.