The AMW 2026 programme spans a wide range of themes, from music technology and the evolving music ecosystem to electronic music and education, creating a unified space for dialogue and exchange. Speakers such as Gérôme Vanherf, Co-Founder and CEO of ikii.studio, Anna Zo, President of Music Tech Europe, and Oliver Czeslik, the award-winning creator, writer and producer of XR experiences, will introduce fresh perspectives on creativity, technology and the role of AI in music and the creative industries. At the same time, Robert Meijerink, Head of Booking at Eurosonic Noorderslag, Ruth Koleva (SoAlive Music Conference), and Dino Lupelli (Federation of Music Conferences) share insights from leading European showcase festivals. Niko Michault (PUSH Management) and Christian Cleret (Dionysiac Tours), both with extensive experience in international artist development and festival strategy, open the discussion around the relationship between creativity, the market and global networking.

AMW 2026 also explores the music ecosystem at a national level, bringing forward key figures from the Greek industry such as Panagiotis Loulourgas (Panik Records), Manos Dedevessis (Stay Independent) and Andreas Mitrelis (Veego Records), who discuss developments in the recording industry, independent production and emerging market dynamics. Artists themselves take centre stage, with insights from Jack Savoretti, Tamta, Pan Pan and Vassilina, sharing their experiences and practices around contemporary artistic creation, authenticity, resilience and their journeys across local and international scenes.

Producers and creators such as Beyond, BeTaf, Baghdad, Gus and Papatanice, alongside emerging artists of the new generation including GXHAN and TSO, highlight current trends within the Greek scene and the diverse pathways of artistic development. This year also features listening sessions connected to Building Balkan Bridges, the first international songwriting camp organised in Greece, alongside workshops covering topics such as music production, video creation and fanbase development. Spotify participates with a dedicated masterclass on promoting music beyond borders, connecting creators from across the region and strengthening links between local scenes.

Experience the festival

As the conference programme concludes each day, Athens Music Week moves into the city’s nightlife, presenting 30 showcase events, concerts and DJ sets across selected venues.The live programme features artists from Greece and abroad, including Melina (GR/FR) with her cinematic pop approach, The Dionysians with their Greek-language garage rock sound, Lefty from the contemporary urban scene, as well as IOTA with their nu jazz influences and Rosadenia with a modern alternative pop aesthetic. International acts such as Lucy Dreams (AT), integrating AI into their artistic practice, Foehn (FR) with their atmospheric and cinematic sound, and 505 (IT/DE), present different expressions of contemporary electronic and hybrid music on stage. The lineup is further complemented by Greek artists representing diverse facets of the local scene.

The programme also includes special events such as the collaboration with Yannis Veslemes, who revisits the iconic film “The Lazy Ones of the Fertile Valley” by Nikos Panagiotopoulos, composing a new alternative soundtrack live on stage. Also presented is the collaboration with KIKI Music Group, featuring a dynamic label showcase at the new Klakaz venue with Tamta and label artists VASSIŁINA, Tso, Lou and V4L, representing the contemporary Greek pop and alternative scene. On Friday, a collaboration with the Reflected team presents a night dedicated to experimentation, improvisation and the live energy of electronic music at Plex, featuring artists such as Autow Nite Superstore, Fragk and Degear0001. The event stands out as a curated experience exploring current trends in club culture and showcasing the evolving dynamics of electronic music.

Athens Music Week 2026 is supported by SONIC Interreg Europe and the Music Tech Europe Academy, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, as well as the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (EKKOMEΔ), and is organised in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Athens.

More information about the programme:www.athensmusicweek.gr
Tickets are available now, and provides access to all conference activities, showcase concerts and networking events.
Tickets are available exclusively via Cometogether.

The post Athens Music Week 2026: Programme and Highlights appeared first on Athens Music Week.

Join us as a volunteer and experience the festival from the inside.

Whether you’re already working in events or music, or simply passionate about being part of something meaningful, your contribution helps shape an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Volunteering at AMW is not only a rewarding way to connect with the music community, but also a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop new skills, and meet inspiring people along the way.

Please note that this is a volunteer position and does not include financial compensation.

Applications are open until Sunday, 19 April 2026.

Αpply here: https://forms.gle/6Wgc8tkafxPpwYhj7

The Athens Music Week team

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Bringing together voices from across music, culture, creative industries and technology, the event creates a space for exchange around some of the questions that continue to shape our ecosystem:

How can music and culture contribute to more resilient societies, supporting artists, professionals and the creative economy?
And how can they act as drivers for cities and regions, through stronger collaboration between public institutions, industry stakeholders and the creative community?

The gathering also marks the beginning of this year’s collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Athen, bringing the Greek and German creative scenes closer and opening the dialogue around diversity, cultural production and European cooperation.

At its core, the event invites participants to explore how music can act as a bridge across sectors, connecting different efforts and contributing to more connected and resilient communities and societies.

The conversation will feature contributions from:
– Marc-André Schmachtel, Head of Cultural Department, Goethe-Institut Athens & Region Europe I
– Anouk Rigeade, Cultural Attachée, Institut Français de Grèce
– Manos Dedevessis, Co-founder, Stay Independent
– Alexandros Nousias, Legal Consultant & Research Associate, NCSR-D / Digital Law & Ethics

The event will take place at the Goethe-Institut Athens on March 30, from 18:00 to 21:00, with the discussion scheduled from 18:15 to 19:15.
The evening will then continue with an informal networking session and music, offering space for further exchange until 21:00.

The event is free of charge, with registration required due to limited capacity.
Register here: [link]

The post Connecting the Dots: Music, Culture and Collaboration Across Sectors appeared first on Athens Music Week.

Over four days, AMW brings together conferences, workshops, networking events and showcase concerts, creating a dynamic environment where ideas meet practice and new collaborations take shape. With more than 180 guest speakers invited and 30 artists from Greece and abroad, the event continues to evolve as a platform where music, culture and innovation intersect.

This year’s edition focuses on the transformation of music ecosystems across Europe and beyond, exploring how creativity, technology and community are reshaping the way music is created, shared and experienced. From digital transformation and new creative tools to evolving models of artist development, education and live performance, AMW highlights music not only as an art form, but as a driver of innovation, collaboration and growth.

The conference programme is developed in collaboration with key European networks such as the Federation of Music Conferences (FoMC) and the Music Tech Europe Association, alongside initiatives like SONIC Interreg Europe. With the support of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center Creative Greece (EKKOMED), and in partnership with organisations including AI Pharos and the Hellenic Copyright Organization (OPI), AMW opens a dialogue around the future of the sector at national, regional and European level.

A key highlight of this year’s edition is the collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Athens, strengthening the connection between the Greek and German creative scenes and reinforcing the international outlook of the event. The Goethe-Institut will host the core conference programme, while parallel events and live showcases will take place across selected venues in the city

At its core, AMW remains about music and the people behind it. It is a space where artists, professionals, policymakers, entrepreneurs and audiences meet on equal ground, discovering new sounds, exchanging ideas and building meaningful connections. This shared experience continues to shape AMW as a living and evolving community.

The first wave of artists includes Melina (GR/FR), blending cinematic pop with Mediterranean influences, The Dionysians with their Greek language garage rock sound, and Lefty, one of the emerging voices of Greece’s contemporary urban scene. International acts include 505 (IT/DE), a Berlin based duo moving between electronica, jazz and trip hop, Lucy Dreams (AT), combining dreampop and synth driven electronica, and Foehn (FR) with a contemporary approach to electronic jazz.

On the conference side, confirmed speakers include internationally acclaimed singer songwriter Jack Savoretti (UK), Pan Pan, a multidisciplinary creator working across comics, illustration and music, Autow Nite Superstore, electronic music producer and DJ, Oliver Czeslik (DE), a screenwriter and producer working at the intersection of cinema and immersive storytelling through XR and VR experiences, and Christian Cleret (FR), a leading figure in festival development and international artist mobility.

More artists, speakers and programme highlights will be announced in the coming weeks, with updates published daily on the official Athens Music Week website. The full programme will be released in early April.

Tickets

Early bird tickets are now available. The AMW Full Pass provides access to all conference activities, showcase concerts and networking events. Tickets are available exclusively via cometogether.com

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Press Contact: Vassilis Sevdalis

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Ε: vassilis@mesoevents.eu

The post Athens Music Week 2026 announces first wave of artists and speakers appeared first on Athens Music Week.

Stay tune for more. Next SONIC meeting in Tampere!

More about SONIC

The post From Hamburg to Athens: connecting music ecosystems, cities and Innovation appeared first on Athens Music Week.

Athens Music Week (AMW) returns for its 8th consecutive edition from 6 to 9 May 2026, bringing together artists, creative professionals and music lovers for four days of concerts, discussions, workshops and networking activities across the city of Athens.

AMW has become a meeting point for artists who want to take the next step in their career. The showcase programme is designed to help creators connect with the people who matter: talent buyers, festival programmers, managers, A&Rs, promoters and industry professionals from Greece, the Balkans and the wider European scene.

Every year, the Open Call marks the beginning of this journey. The showcases remain at the heart of AMW, offering emerging artists the chance to perform in a professional setting, gain visibility and build meaningful relationships that can lead to future bookings and cross-border collaborations.

The selection of showcasing artists is curated by the AMW Artistic Board, composed of experienced professionals from both the domestic and international music industry. Their input ensures a dynamic programme that highlights artistic identity, originality and live potential.

Artistic Board 2026

More specifically, the Artistic Board includes representatives from both the domestic and international music markets.
From the domestic scene, participants include: Andreas Periklis Metaxas, Marketing Director at Stay Independent; Michalis Kamakas, Radio Producer at Kosmos 93.6; Theodora Karakassi, co-organiser of the Athens-based Plisskën Festival; Aggelos Kleitsikas, journalist and member of the Athens Jazz Festival team; and Elli Bornova, cultural programmer at Romantso.

From the international music market, participants include: Cosmin Ionescu (RO), Head of Over Ground and key member of the Mastering the Music Business conference; Ruth Koleva (BG), Founder and CEO of the So Alive Music Conference in Sofia; Dino Lupelli (IT), Director of Music Innovation Hub and Founder of Linecheck Music Meeting & Festival; Lisa Nasta (UK), Coordinator and Production Manager for the Green Futures Field at Glastonbury and Director of Re-Play Music; and Cesar Andion (ES), PR, Talent & Export Specialist for Live Nation Madrid and Head of The Spanish Wave export programme.

You can explore the full Artistic Board profile page here. More members will be announced soon.

By strengthening this process and widening the pool of professionals involved, AMW continues to bridge the Greek music scene with international markets, supporting artists with export potential and welcoming outstanding international acts to perform in Athens.

By aspiring to become a hub for promoting domestic musical talents with export potential, as well as introducing outstanding international artists to the Greek audience, AMW reinforces its commitment to bridging the Greek music industry with the global market, a goal that is at the heart of AMW’s philosophy.

ABOUT THE OPEN CALL

How the selection works
All submissions are reviewed by the AMW Artistic Board, a group of experienced curators, bookers and music professionals from Greece, the Balkans and across Europe. Their recommendations help shape the showcase lineup, with a focus on artistic identity, originality and live potential.

What AMW offers
AMW is designed to provide real value to emerging artists: curated industry exposure, direct access to professionals and long-term opportunities linked to our wider ecosystem. Our aim is to offer a platform that leads somewhere, creating visibility, meaningful encounters and follow-up opportunities that extend well beyond the performance.

Selected artists receive:
– A 30-minute showcase slot in front of bookers, curators and industry professionals
– Full provided backline
– Artist accreditation for all days of AMW
– Accommodation for acts traveling from more than 200 km
Participation in the showcase programme is completely free of charge. No application fee. There is also no performance fee or monetary compensation for showcase artists.

Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the AMW 2026 Showcase Programme, artists must meet the following criteria:
– Solo artists or bands, with all members 18+
– Perform primarily original material (projects based on covers are not eligible)
– For artists from outside the European Union: a valid travel visa allowing performance in Greece
– An active project with recent releases, live videos or concert history
– Ability to perform a 30-minute live showcase
– Availability to perform in Athens between 6–9 May 2026
– All genres and contemporary music styles are welcome

Artists should be open to using AMW as a professional opportunity, including networking and participating in relevant activities.

Timeline
Open Call runs until 21 December 2025
– Shortlist (40–50 acts) sent to the Artistic Board by end of December 2025
– Final deadline for Board selections: 10 January 2026

More information about this year’s programme will be announced after the new year.

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The post Athens Music Week 2026 Open Call for Showcase Artists appeared first on Athens Music Week.

Held between Sassari and Alghero, the initiative brings together workshops, showcases, and discussions exploring how tradition, sustainability, and new technologies are reshaping the live music experience. Organised by Carta da Musica and Le Ragazze Terribili with the artistic direction of Barbara Vargiu and curatorship of Federica Ceppa, the programme features contributions from Assomusica, regional partners, and European professionals from Greece, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, and the Baltic countries.

Beyond its local impact, Sardinia Music Hub stands as part of a wider regional network MESO continues to strengthen, alongside initiatives such as Ato JazZ in Sofia, MMB in Bucharest, So Alive Music Conference, and the Sicilia Music Conference. Each of these touchpoints contributes to a common purpose: to build a connected and innovative live music ecosystem across Southern and Eastern Europe.

From Sardinia to Athens, every partnership and encounter adds another piece to this shared roadmap, one that connects people, strengthens markets, and celebrates the diversity and creativity of the Mediterranean.

More information here

The post From Sardinia to Athens: Building a Mediterranean Hub for Music appeared first on Athens Music Week.

Held at Orfium’s offices, the gathering brought together young entrepreneurs, startups, artists, producers, and innovators from the local and international scene.
The goal was simple but meaningful: exchange ideas, connect peers, and explore how music and technology can grow together, from Greece to the wider South-East European region.

Among the participants were Chris Hocking, Konstantinos Karavezis (Stay Independent), Sakis Triantafyllakis (Orfium), Dimitris Komninos (MOOD), Georges Perot, and Anastasia Kotsa (Panathēnea), who shared insights on how creative talent, media-tech, and entrepreneurship can come together to shape new opportunities.

The discussion also introduced the 2025–2026 roadmap that connects Music Tech Europe, the next Music Tech Europe Academy cohort joining Athens during Athens Music Week 2026, and the first pilot actions leading to the launch of AGORA, Greece’s forthcoming creative innovation hub for music and related CCI sectors.

The evening underlined what many already sense, “the talent and ideas are here”. What’s needed now is to sustain collaboration, build infrastructure, and ensure that Greece and South-East Europe stand at the centre of this change.

The Music Tech Europe Academy Open Call 2025 is now open, inviting Greek and regional startups to apply and join Europe’s network of mentors, investors, and peers in the music and creative industries.

And the conversation continues: on October 7, Athens will host the SONIC Kick-Off Meeting at Innovathens / Technopolis City of Athens, bringing together institutional and private stakeholders to explore how international cooperation and local policy can help accelerate this shared vision for music innovation.

📸 Impressions from the evening below.






Orfium, Panathēnea, Technopolis City Of Athens, Athens Music Week, Music Tech Europe Academy, Music Tech Europe Technoport SA, Music Innovation Hub, Music Tech Hub (MTH), Media Deals

The post Music Tech Europe Meet-Up: Athens Sets the Tone for Music Innovation appeared first on Athens Music Week.

From October 14 to 17, the journey continues in Sofia for the So Alive Music Conference (SAMC) — one of the dynamic professional gatherings for the music industry in the Balkans.

The conference brings together artists, managers, promoters, and entrepreneurs from across the Balkans and beyond, following the same regional approach as Mastering the Music Business (MMB) in Bucharest. Both events strengthen the links between Southeast and Central European markets, supporting the exchange of experience, mobility, and professional cooperation.

Following the Athens Music Week 2025 initiative and MESO’s recent participation in Mastering the Music Business, this step continues the effort to build stronger ties between Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria — two countries that have just entered the Schengen zone, opening new opportunities for touring and creative mobility in the region.

This year, a Greek and Cypriot delegation will join SAMC, participating in discussions, showcases, and networking sessions designed to connect creativity and entrepreneurship.
The delegation includes professionals Andreas Trachonitis, Georges Perot, Lia Mansola, and Lefteris Moumtzis, together with artists Labaf, Elena Leoni, and Alexa Michael.

We will take part in panels, B2B sessions, and the CEE Mixer (October 15 | 14:00 | Kino Kabana), a regional networking format designed to foster direct collaboration between professionals from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.

To facilitate participation and strengthen regional exchange, Greek professionals are offered a 50% discount on SAMC passes. This initiative aims to encourage more artists and entrepreneurs from Greece and Cyprus to join the conversation and expand their networks.

We look forward to developing stronger bridges between the Bulgarian and Greek music ecosystems, continuing the dialogue started through Athens Music Week, Mastering the Music Business, and our shared commitment to regional cooperation and creative innovation.

The post Connecting Southeast Europe: From Dialogue to Action at So Alive Music Conference appeared first on Athens Music Week.

After the project’s official launch in Groningen, the discussion now continues in Athens, where the SONIC initiative brings together local stakeholders and cultural partners to explore new pathways for music policy and innovation.
SONIC – Strategic Opportunities for New Innovative Changes in Music Policies is a European initiative on cultural policy and music innovation, co-funded by the INTERREG EUROPE programme.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 7, at Innovathens / Technopolis City of Athens, bringing together key public and private stakeholders shaping Greece’s music and creative ecosystem, including representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Technopolis City of Athens, ACE-IN (Athens University of Economics & Business), EDEM Rights, Orfium, Action Esti, Crates, Fuzz Productions, The Factory Music Group, TMR Entertainment, and MESO Events.

Throughout the session, participants will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Athens music ecosystem, identify strategic pathways for collaboration, and outline first steps toward the creation of a Music Policy Cluster based approach in Athens.

This informal cluster will serve as a long-term framework, linking research, policy, and entrepreneurship, while connecting local actors to European networks supporting innovation and SME competitiveness in the music sector.

The SONIC Kick-Off follows the recent Music Tech Europe Athens Meet-Up, where MESO and partners — Orfium, Panathēnea, and Technopolis City of Athens — brought together startups, artists, and entrepreneurs to explore bottom-up opportunities for creative and technological innovation.

With SONIC, this momentum now expands from community to policy, laying the groundwork for sustained cooperation between institutions, academia, and creative professionals.

Over the coming months, the project will foster preliminary dialogues among Greek stakeholders, mapping strengths, needs, and synergies to develop a shared vision for the future of the music industry.

As these efforts evolve, SONIC will help shape a coordinated approach that combines bottom-up energy with top-down policy development, ensuring that Greece – and Athens in particular – becomes a reference point for music innovation, education, and cultural entrepreneurship in Europe.

Follow this link for more information about SONIC (Interreg Europe): https://www.interregeurope.eu/sonic

Stay connected — more news and opportunities will follow soon.

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