As electronic music continues to expand across borders, platforms, and cultures, this year’s Summit is setting the stage for some of the most urgent and forward-thinking conversations in the industry. The new wave of talks reflects the forces actively shaping dance music today — from the rise of independent managers and the enduring power of radio to complex debates surrounding equity, AI, censorship, and online abuse. It’s a program built not just to celebrate success, but to challenge the structures, ethics, and assumptions underpinning the global electronic movement.
A major theme running through the Summit is long-term artist development in an era obsessed with virality. Sessions like Becoming an Overnight Success in Ten Years will unpack the myth of instant fame, highlighting the patience, strategy, and resilience required to build sustainable global careers. That conversation naturally connects to Indie Managers: Building Global Careers Without the Machine, which explores how independent teams are carving out powerful alternatives to traditional label-driven systems. Together, these talks underline a broader industry shift: autonomy is no longer a niche approach — it’s becoming the blueprint.
The Summit will also dive deep into cultural evolution and regional expansion. After the Rise: The Future of Afro Electronic Music will examine how Afro electronic sounds have moved from underground scenes to global festival stages — and what comes next. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe: On the Rise – New Voices, New Futures and Market Focus Brazil: From Identity to Impact spotlight emerging territories that are reshaping the global dance music map. These sessions signal a wider decentralization of influence, as new hubs challenge traditional strongholds.
Technology and ethics sit at the heart of several headline conversations. AI: Inside the Moral Revolution confronts the rapidly accelerating impact of artificial intelligence on music production, authorship, and creativity, asking whether innovation is outpacing regulation. At the same time, Culture vs Capital: The Ethics of Investing in Dance Music and Censorship & Morality Contract Clauses examine the legal and financial frameworks that increasingly govern artistic freedom. These discussions arrive at a critical moment when dance music is both culturally powerful and commercially attractive to major investors.
Social responsibility is another cornerstone of this year’s program. Equity in Action: From Pledge to Progress looks beyond statements and initiatives to measure real, tangible change within the industry. Meanwhile, Tackling Online Abuse and Misogyny addresses the darker side of digital culture, confronting the harassment and toxicity that artists — particularly women and marginalized communities — face in public spaces.
Ibiza itself will come under the microscope in Ibiza on the Brink: Paradise or Paradox, a session set to explore the island’s cultural crossroads as it heads toward 2026. As commercial expansion intensifies, questions around sustainability, authenticity, and community preservation are becoming impossible to ignore.
The Summit unfolds across five dedicated spaces, each designed to reflect a different dimension of the conversation. IMS Academy with Pete Tong DJ Academy & AlphaTheta will focus on education and next-generation talent development. The Brave Space with HE.SHE.THEY. centers inclusivity and progressive culture. The Art of Areté with AlphaTheta emphasizes creative excellence and performance. Meanwhile, Summit Stages Indoor and Outdoor will host keynotes, debates, and large-scale discussions that bring the industry together.
Among the confirmed highlights are keynote interviews with Maykel Piron of Armada Music Group, Yann Pissenem of The Night League and Ushuaïa Entertainment, and special sessions such as Meet the New Team Sónar, Meet Team Josh Baker, and a celebration of 35 Years of Nervous Records. Add to that The Power of Electronic Music Radio in 2026, and it’s clear that the Summit is not just looking forward — it’s actively shaping the next chapter.
In an industry defined by movement, this year’s conversations promise clarity, confrontation, and, ultimately, direction.
