Winter Music Conference Unveils First Wave of Programming for 2026
Winter Music Conference has announced the first wave of programming for its 2026 edition, marking a renewed expansion of its educational, industry, and cultural footprint during Miami Music Week. Taking place March 24–26, 2026, at the Kimpton EPIC Hotel in downtown Miami, the conference continues its role as a central meeting point for artists, executives, technologists, and fans across the electronic music ecosystem.
WMC 2026 Badges are on sale now
Building on its return to the Kimpton EPIC as the official Miami Music Week hotel, WMC 2026 introduces an expanded multi-track format, new delegate spaces, and a slate of brand partnerships designed to balance education, networking, and live experiences. The initial announcement outlines a program that places equal focus on career development, creative practice, and the evolving business structures shaping global dance music.
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Panels, Workshops, and Industry Programming
The 2026 conference introduces two dedicated content tracks, WMC Industry and WMC Creators, aimed at serving professionals across all stages of their careers. The first wave of panels brings together speakers from organizations including Beatport, Create Music Group, AlphaTheta, L-Acoustics, Discogs, AFEM, and Vinyl Me Please. Topics range from artist audience ownership and sustainability in club culture to the role of AI in music distribution and the renewed interest in physical media.
In addition to panels and keynotes, WMC’s workshop programming emphasizes applied learning through smaller-format sessions led by educators and working professionals. Early workshop topics include event production, scoring for film and television, DJ workflow demonstrations, and practical discussions around integrating new technologies into creative practice. More speakers and sessions are expected to be announced in the lead-up to the conference.
Pool Parties, Gear, and the A&R Pop-Up Lounge
WMC 2026 also introduces several experiential elements designed to extend learning and networking beyond traditional conference rooms. A three-day pool party series presented by Beatport Live will take place on the Kimpton EPIC pool deck, featuring label showcases and artist lineups to be announced. Produced in partnership with L-Acoustics, AlphaTheta, and FEVER, the daytime events are positioned as a social and professional anchor during the conference.
Presented in partnership with Label Radar the Lounge will be hosted inside the WMC Gear Exhibition Room and will feature a rotating lineup of respected dance labels across the dance music landscape. Hosted within the Gear Exhibition Room, the lounge creates an in-person environment for artists to share USB demos directly with participating labels, including Ultra Records, Experts Only, Dirty Workz, and imprints under Create Music Group. Alongside the lounge, the Gear Exhibition Room returns with hands-on demos from leading technology brands, reinforcing WMC’s long-standing connection between music creation, performance tools, and industry access.
Badges for Winter Music Conference 2026 are available now, with hotel accommodations offered at the Kimpton EPIC for registered delegates.
