Applications are open for artists and creatives to showcase at a variety of music industry events in 2026. Ready to take yourself or the artist you represent on the road? Read on!
APPLY Now Or Attend Soon…
2026
Budapest Ritmo (HU)
Dates: April 9-11, 2026
Application deadline: Applications closed, check back after the festival.
The Budapest Ritmo Showcase has a Central and Eastern European focus and a day set aside for emerging bands. If you’re into heritage-inspired contemporary sounds, that’s just their thing.
Classical:NEXT (DE)
Dates: April 8-11, 2026
Application deadline: September 30 (expired)
As the largest international event for classical and art music professionals, Classical:NEXT offers exceptional opportunities. Build valuable business relationships and network at the Expo, gain deep insights and practical, tailored advice at the Conference, and explore innovative artists and initiatives from around the world at the Showcases.
c/o pop Festival (Cologne, DE)
Dates: April 15-19, 2026
Application deadline: Applications closed, check back after the festival.
The c/o pop Festival has been bringing national and international acts from the fields of electro, indie, hip-hop/rap and related styles to Cologne’s stages since 2004 – including both established artists and newcomers. In recent years, the focus has increasingly shifted towards national acts, but it is open to all.
European Jazz Conference (Cologne, DE)
Dates: 24 to 27 September, 2026
Application deadline: TBA. Performances are by bands from the host country, but you can apply to attend the conference.
The European Jazz Conference is a leading annual gathering of European jazz professionals, particularly promoters, cultural managers, agents and national/regional support organizations.
FOCUS Wales (Wales, UK)
Dates: May 7-9, 2026
Application deadline: 1st wave applications: 1st September/Final applications: 5pm (UK time), 1st November
FOCUS Wales is an international showcase festival taking place in multiple venues across the city of Wrexham, North Wales. The festival places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world, alongside a selection of the best new acts from across the globe.
Future Echoes (Norrköping, SE)
Dates: 2026 TBA
Application deadline: TBA
Future Echoes, Sweden’s leading showcase festival will feature around 100+ artists from around the world and a music conference with international speakers. The festival is held at several venues in central Norrköping.
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK)
Dates: November 20-29, 2026
About: hcmf is an annual, international festival of contemporary and new music, over 10 days consisting of approximately 50 events, including concerts, music-theatre, dance, multi-media, talks and film, with a related Learning and Participation programme devised and implemented to reflect the artistic program and respond to regional need.
Applications: Contact Sophie Cooper at s.cooper@hud.ac.uk.
Iceland Airwaves (IS)
Dates: November 4-7, 2026
About: Halfway between North America and Europe, Iceland Airwaves brings together emerging Icelandic talents and the most promising acts from around the world. Every November, Reykjavik comes to life for a four-day conference and non-stop music. The deadline for international bands to apply for Iceland Airwaves is usually May-June.
Applications: Via the festival website. Applications till April 30th.
India International Music Week (IIMW) (IN)
About: India’s first global music conference and showcase festival – IIMW aims to establish India as a central trade hub in the global music industry by promoting international bilateral trade, collaboration, cultural exchange, and industry insights through a week-long commemoration of music, business networking, and global diversity.
Dates: February 10 – 12, 2026
Applications: Closed
jazzahead! (DE)
About: jazzahead! is an event for the international jazz industry and a place for high-quality, contemporary jazz from Germany, Europe and overseas. The jazzahead! trade fair and the accompanying festival take place in April in Bremen.
Dates: April 22 – 25, 2026
Applications: Online via the event website. (The application phase for jazzahead! 2027 will start around Sep 2026.)
Linecheck (IT)
About: Linecheck is a music festival and meeting point for industry professionals, held in the Italian city of Milan. Forming part of the wider Milano music week, Linecheck presents an extensive programme of talks, showcases, discussions that explore Italy’s music industry and its relationship with the global scene, featuring international players and the major protagonists of Italian industry, with more than 40 guest speakers.
Dates: 2026 TBA
Applications: Contact the festival.
MaMa (F)
About: MaMA is a music festival and convention for the international music industry based in Paris. This event offers a gateway to the French music market and offers a place to meet majors or independents, producers and promoters, venues and festivals, bookers and agents, record companies, publishers, promotion companies, media… – and obviously artists!
Dates: October 14 – 16, 2026
Applications: For information contact contact@mama-event.com.
Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg, DE)
Dates: September 16-19, 2026
Application deadline: Not listed
Since its debut in 2006, the Reeperbahn Festival has grown to become one of the most important meeting places for the music industry. Apply now via the online application form.
SOALIVE MUSIC CONFERENCE (BG)
About: The gateway to the Balkans’ music industry. In just three years, SAMC has grown into one of Europe’s most impactful showcase festivals and music conferences. Each October in Sofia, we connect the Balkans to the wider world with a programme built for discovery and real outcomes.
Dates: October 14 – 16 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Applications: Closed (February 10th, 2026).
SPIKE (Plovdiv, BG)
Dates: TBA 2026 (The 2025 edition of SPIKE was cancelled.)
Application deadline: TBA
SPIKE is a showcase festival and conference offering opportunities for networking, team-building, and development to artists and music professionals.
Square Festival (Braga, PT)
Dates: TBD
Application deadline: TBD
In celebration of its status as Portuguese cultural capital in 2025, the city of Braga has launched the Square showcase festival, a representative and diverse event focusing on the continents bordering the Atlantic Ocean – Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
TGE – The Great Escape (Brighton, UK)
Dates: May 13-16, 2026
Application deadline: February 15, 2026
The Great Escape is one of the world’s most renowned festivals for new talent, welcoming artists from every genre and from across the globe.
WOMEX
About: WOMEX – the World Music Expo – is the world’s biggest music meeting and global music conference, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and a showcase festival. Since 1994 WOMEX has been traveling all across Europe.
Dates: October 21-25, 2026.
Applications: WOMEX launches its annual call for applications via its newsletter. Proposals for WOMEX Showcases, Club Summit, Conference and Film are now closed and will reopen in early 2027 here.
2027…
ESNS – Eurosonic Noorderslag (Groningen, NL)
Dates: January 13-16, 2027
Application deadline: September 1, 2026
ESNS is the premiere exchange and networking event for European music, with a proven track record of helping new and upcoming acts break into the international music scene. ESNS attracts over 4000 delegates each year, including representatives of more than 400 international festivals.
M4Music (CH)
About: m4music connects, promotes and discovers: This is where the Swiss music scene comes together, exchanges ideas and celebrates the acts of tomorrow. The Zurich festival creates a platform for exchange, information and talent promotion.
Dates: March 2027 TBA
Applications: No deadline listed; contact the festival directly at booking@m4music.ch.
MENT Festival (Ljubljana, SI)
Dates: 2027
Application deadline: TBA
MENT is one of the leading showcase festivals and music conferences in Central and Eastern Europe, and the largest event of its kind in the region.
Musexpo (Burbank, CA, USA)
Dates: March 2027
Application deadline: TBA
MUSEXPO is one of the world’s top music business conferences and artist showcase events. It stands at the forefront of innovation, creativity, and connectivity with its premiere panels, keynotes, networking, showcases, and awards events. MUSEXPO gives you access to key decision-makers, influencers, and some of the leading international music companies.
SXSW – South by Southwest (Austin, USA)
Dates: March 2027
Application Deadline: TBA
SXSW Austin is an annual festival and conference that celebrates the intersection of technology, film, music, and culture. Held in Austin, Texas, SXSW features keynote speakers, film screenings, live music showcases, and interactive media exhibitions. It attracts innovators, artists, and industry leaders from around the world, making it a hub for networking, creative exchange, and emerging trends. Founded in 1987, the event has grown into one of the most influential cultural gatherings, known for launching startups, debuting groundbreaking films, and showcasing cutting-edge music acts.
Stay tuned for updates and additions! And find all our current open calls here. Don’t be shy, apply!