Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

At the end of Saturday morning, Westway offers a unique experience: a gathering in Penha that combines three dimensions that define the city of Guimarães — natural landscape, artistic scene, and Minho gastronomy. We have thus created an original moment, where national and international guests will get to know some of the key figures of the local music scene, while enjoying the cityscape from the top of Penha Mountain. A journey that culminates in a small gastronomic moment at Adega do Ermitão, for the participants of this new adventure.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Geographical and cultural distance between countries, while seemingly inhibiting, is not always an impediment to the flow of musical exports, as is the case between South Korea and Portugal. This distant market has been visited with some regularity by artists and their agents, giving rise to a new axis of work that is currently being explored. To better understand the interest in and potential of this relationship, Dalse Yoonyoung Kong from Zandari Festa meets with three professionals who have already visited the South Korean scene. A brave new world is blossoming.

In an era of metrics, algorithms, and deeply ingrained digital habits, we address the importance of live music and the resilience of this practice, which seems threatened by the sustainability of its business model. We combine examples of perseverance (CAAA and Texas Bar) with new ways of thinking about defending the vitality of the interaction between audiences, artists, and territories (Malfeito). A conversation about the present body and the energy of being human through live music.

This workshop offers musicians and agents essential knowledge about artistic mobility and internationalisation, covering practical tools for understanding visa requirements, tax obligations, and best practices in tour organisation. Topics such as tour financial management, identifying local partners, and strategies for reaching new audiences in different territories will be discussed. The session will be led by Jess Partridge, Executive Director of the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) and a member of the European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE) team, whose work focuses on music export, talent development, and the creation of international opportunities for the sector. 

Music fuels a system of cultural, economic, and social wealth creation, which, in turn, fosters true communities, strengthening relationships and geographies that would otherwise struggle to create this organic cohesion. At the Westway MEETING, we present three examples of community building through the power of music and by engaging populations with artists and professionals. A way of understanding and valuing life, starting from the territory where it chooses to manifest itself in a unique way.

Career development models, opportunities for emerging talent, internationalization strategies, and knowledge transfer are important aspects of a European ecosystem that has been trying to overcome the major current challenges of sustainability, equal opportunities, and the concentration of power in multinational corporations. Three voices from northern, central, and southern Europe discuss the sector's reality and the changing landscape driven by the speed and digital dominance of consumption.

Networking and sharing areas of interest within the music industry are essential for expanding knowledge and business. WHY Portugal is hosting a Pitch Session to foster exchange between Portuguese and international professionals, enabling closer ties and the creation of new collaboration opportunities among participants.

In a market where music is now produced and distributed primarily in a digital environment, the music industry has transformed into a rights-based industry focused on access rather than the sale of physical products. In this session, the fundamental concepts related to copyright and related rights will be presented, along with the different forms of use of works and artistic performances, and the mechanisms for management and remuneration in the digital context. The workshop will also address emerging challenges associated with artificial intelligence, fostering reflection on the impacts of this technology on the creation, distribution, and valuation of music.

There is a new generation of professionals in the music industry who need to be recognised and have space for intervention and growth. This panel follows one of the objectives of the previous edition by bringing together active voices from this new wave of professionals, who are committed to making a difference and renewing perspectives on curating, producing, and managing music. A new world, dealing with many adversities in the face of the whirlwind of market changes, but committed to resisting and developing a new way of being and generating a different kind of value for the music industry.

What is audio branding? In this case, it can be described as the strategic management of an artist's or band's sonic identity, using sound, music, and voice to create an emotional connection and strengthen the relationship with the audience. To better understand the potential of this sensory marketing, we will have two experts – Fadi Nasr and Mari Paz – who will address this field of exploration, starting with its concept and concrete applications in musical repertoire.

The future of the music industry depends on the progressive integration and empowerment of new generations, but before that, it's perhaps important to consider that there is a vast space to fill in this reality within schools, not only through teaching but also through lived experience and the ways in which this enjoyment is fostered in these centres of knowledge. In this panel, we bring together three representatives from several distinct projects, demonstrating how innovative and catalytic this field can be in fostering interest at a young age, during critical thinking development.

One of the most important issues in contemporary societies, and particularly in the music industry, is mental health, which gains even more impact when tour crews are on extended tours and need to expend a great deal of physical and mental effort. We discuss the problem and how to address it, based on a panel of professionals who have been on the front lines of the issue. We will hear stories and potential ideas to address a situation that is increasingly crucial to the longevity of careers in the music industry.

The session dedicated to artistic career management will address the core responsibilities of management — from defining artistic vision and positioning to strategic planning, team development, negotiation, financing, and internationalization. In an increasingly competitive global context, the challenges managers currently face will also be discussed. With a practical approach and based on real-world cases, this session aims to provide young professionals with tools to structure artistic projects, build trusting relationships with artists, and drive growth opportunities at national and international levels.

Music entrepreneur Stefan Schurter is the founder and CEO of Deepdive Music, Deepdive Records, and Deepdive Publishing, and founder and co-president of MMFSuisse – Music Managers Forum Switzerland, a member association of the International Music Managers Forum (IMMF). He regularly participates in international conferences and festivals such as Eurosonic, Reeperbahn Festival, The Great Escape, Tallinn Music Week, and ILMC London.

On Westway, we will have the privilege of witnessing a conversation between two iconic figures in electronic music culture in Portugal and internationally. Deeply knowledgeable about the history of dance music and major contributors to the formation and reputation of the scene both nationally and internationally, Rui Vargas and DJ Vibe (Tó Pereira) have spanned generations, influenced trends, navigated the major transformations of the industry and its consumption habits, without ever falling behind in the face of the ever-changing pace imposed by the advent of the super-digitalization of music.

We will hear them talk about their passion for radio, life in clubs, the safe freedom of the dancefloor, and the glorious years of the internationalisation of dance music in the 90s, in which the Underground Sound of Lisbon (USL) played a large part.

In short, the past is revived in the present to project futures that seem to encompass the discussion of the phenomenon of the massification of this industry and also of mental health, two important aspects for the vitality of a culture that began underground and has become (perhaps) excessively overground.

Neighbourhoods often suggest a more intense process of intimacy and collaboration, but reality doesn't always confirm this idea. At Westway, we've invested in our relationship with the Spanish market by inviting a range of professionals and artists/bands to perform at Westway LIVE. In this panel, we'll discuss the state of this Iberian force and ask four experienced figures knowledgeable about both realities whether there's optimism about doing more and better, and whether there's a probability of achieving better results in this collaborative process.

Portuguese talent has been well-received in several international markets. In this panel, we bring together two professionals who have distinguished themselves in the French market for their particular interest in promoting and circulating Portuguese projects. Yvan Soyouz – who works with Ana Lua Caiano and Fijdu Kitxora – and Yves Tattevin – who works with MAQUINA. – discuss this particular relationship of representing national projects in France and possible talent growth strategies in France. 

The music industry is currently dealing with numerous challenges. Some of these involve correcting systems of representation and advocating for equal opportunities in the job market. Despite constant warnings in the digital sphere, the gender disparity remains an unfulfilled promise, which is why it's necessary to continue debating the quality of the measures to be implemented, so that there is an effective change in the methods and choices that the music industry must consider. This is a topic that will be addressed by a panel of professionals from different geographical areas and backgrounds, to enrich the search for a more balanced path. 

The “The Portuguese Discovery” label was created to generate greater, concentrated visibility for Portuguese talent at leading international events, enhancing the country's music scene beyond its borders and opening up opportunities for more consistent internationalisation aligned with European standards. Jorge Dias, who was involved in developing the initial concept, and Robin Werner, who hosted the initiative at the Reeperbahn Festival, discuss the vitality of this form of representation and its medium-term effects on artists' careers.

Networking and sharing matters of interest within the music industry is essential for expanding knowledge and business. WHY Portugal is hosting a Pitch Session to foster exchange between Portuguese and international professionals, enabling closer ties and the creation of new collaboration opportunities among participants.

Portugal é um país de festivais excecionais no que toca a escalas e estéticas muito diferentes. Alguns deles, pela sua apurada curadoria e missão vanguardista, tornaram-se referenciais no panorama nacional e internacional, pela capacidade de antecipar tendências e funcionar como mostra do que posteriormente se instala em festivais de maior dimensão. Este taste making é uma tarefa de muito estudo e sensibilidade. Vamos tentar perceber como se desperta para essa competência e como se põem em prática estratégias de programação que produzem resultados e reputação.

The charm of bringing back to the present an object we thought never existed is an event that deserves to be celebrated for the apparent strength of its timelessness. Carlos Maria Trindade's album, composed and recorded in an earlier era and now released by Miguel Augusto Silva's Armoniz record label, carries stories that can inspire us to never lose faith in the transcendence of art, in a time when everything seems to disintegrate very quickly. This conversation takes place the day after Carlos Maria Trindade's live performance of the album titled Tédio at the Church of St. Francis, in Guimarães.

We maintain the tradition of accelerating connections and fostering new relationships among participants of the Westway MEETING. As part of the WHY Portugal program curation, the speed meetings consistently generate new opportunities and sometimes reveal unexpected partnerships for the future. In the spacious LAB Lounge, overlooking the Guimarães Castle, international meetings take place, filled with professional discovery. 

Access to funding is crucial for ensuring the diversity of the musical landscape, creating space for new voices, and fostering career development in a time of such volatility and uncertainty. Three representatives from various organisations that allocate significant funding through applications discuss the importance of the eligibility system and the need not neglect the technical aspects of preparing applications.

The increasingly unavoidable need for sustainability in the music sector calls for theory and practice to join forces towards a real paradigm shift. In this panel, we find the expertise of Carlos Ribeiro – Executive President of the Laboratório da Paisagem (Landscape Laboratory), responsible for the European Green Capital 2026 – who presents an event manual with recommendations for best practices, and also Rob van Wegen, coordinator of the Eurosonic sustainability plan, who will talk from the perspective of the applicability of standards that produce a concrete effect, in what is the most important European Festival Showcase & Conference. 

In 2020 he began consolidating his current artistic identity. Through the label Oso Polita he released his first mixtape, ‘AMODIOA’ (together with producers 4:40), followed by a series of singles and collaborations that reinforced his personal signature, such as Dinero Que Vuela with Ben Yart, Vampireando with La Élite, Cada Vez Ke Te Pienso with BRAVA, and Nadie Cuando Lloro with Merina Gris.

Closing out 2023, he released the EP ‘AMORRUA’, a continuation of the previous project. 2024 emerged as a decisive year. With more than 35 concerts confirmed nationwide, HOFE brings his powerful live performance to stages across the country, presenting the tracks from his latest EP.

In 2025, he began producing his upcoming and highly anticipated album.

Initially conceived as a laid-back EP featuring recordings from the Brazilian formation of the band (MONCHMONCH has different members in Portugal), the project underwent successive transformations until it emerged as a conceptual album, built between two continents and across multiple languages. The central concept is the backdrop of the work: billionaires colonize Mars and, from there, watch—and contribute to—the collapse of Earth. The absurdities of the postmodern world are laid bare with humor, irony, and a symbolic fondness for pão de queijo (a traditional Brazilian cheese bread), turned here into an allegory of desire, power, and banality. This narrative setting is synthesized in the track JEFF BEZOS PAGA UM PÃO DE QUEIJO. The creation process was marked by collaborations and movement across borders. The album’s sonic landscape—ranging from Viagra Boys to Tom Zé—began with tracks like BOLINHA DE FERRO and CITY BUNDA (which takes a scatological look at São Paulo), with contributions from producers such as cleozinhu and Sammy Shirts. It later expanded to Portugal, where the artist formed a new band lineup featuring members from projects like Baleia Baleia Baleia, Marquise, and Conferência Inferno. There, he created new songs, such as VELHOS BRANCOS VELHOS CAREQUINHAS, which reflects the precarious experiences of being an immigrant.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Over the following two years, the Lisbon-based band performed across Europe and the United States, sharing stages with bands such as Dehd (USA), Cola (CA), Ducks Ltd. (CA), Quivers (AUS), and The Lounge Society (UK), and appearing at festivals including South by Southwest, Eurosonic Noorderslag, FOCUS Wales, among many others.

In 2025, Guilherme returned to the studio alone, determined to reconnect with the band’s identity and rediscover himself as a musician, moving increasingly closer to dance music. Once the first demos were ready, these new songs were brought into the rehearsal room, where Hause Plants — now with Hugo Luzio on drums — spent time transforming electronic sketches into dance-punk tracks played with real instruments.

The result is Shake The Empty Feeling, the band’s debut album, recorded and produced by Gordon Raphael (The Strokes, Regina Spektor, Hinds, The Cribs) at Eiger Studios in Leeds, where the four musicians recorded live while playing together in the same room at the same time. Scheduled for release in 2026, Shake The Empty Feeling is an album about friendship, fun, and growing up in a healthy way — and proof that Hause Plants are one of the most fun, exciting, and creatively restless bands around today.

For fans of: going out at night until a reasonable hour; introducing friends to friends; Brooklyn Lagers; spending time in bars; niche personal blogs.

A duo that persistently and almost deliberately evades any convenient label. And perhaps it is in this happy unclassifiability that one of the project’s most original traits resides.

In their fertile wandering through seemingly distant sound worlds, one can nonetheless glimpse the shadow of Italian and Brazilian singer-songwriters from the 1960s and 70s, with their ability to blend personal and social commentary, unexpectedly merging with the lysergic visions of the rave and trip-hop scenes.

There are also abrasive remnants of a certain industrial sound, and, closing an ideal circle, one can sense a subterranean dialogue with that fringe of the contemporary Italian alternative scene that in recent years has reinvented tradition.

Pedro Sousa (b. 1984, Arcos de Valdevez), a multidisciplinary artist based in Braga, develops his work under the alter ego Cody XV, exploring the relationship between human and machine through sound composition using analog and modular synthesizers, audio software, and techniques such as field recording and sound collage.

Tiago Castro Sampaio is a musician, composer, performer, and producer, whose career has been marked by the creation of musical projects such as Grandfather’s House, St. James Park, and X It, as well as by composing for film, theatre, dance, and fashion.

The City Showcases will energise Saturday afternoon with performances by Hate Moss (IT), Hause Plants (PT), Hofe (ES), Humana Taranja (PT), MonchMonch (BR / PT), and Tiago Sampaio & Cody XV (PT), who will take the stage at several venues across the city of Guimarães, including Ramada 1930, Convívio Associação Cultural (Salão Nobre), and CAAA – Centro para os Assuntos da Arte e da Arquitectura.

Westway 2026 will also present, for the first time in Portugal, in partnership with Why Portugal, The Portuguese Discovery, an initiative dedicated to the international representation of new Portuguese music, featuring Ana De Llor, Summer of Hate and The Sunflowers.

The latest announcements also extend to the Westway MEETING programme, which, in collaboration with WHY Portugal, reveals new confirmations joining the group of (inter)national guests visiting Guimarães over these four spring days. Jess Partridge (European Music Managers Alliance), Hélio Morais (Primavera Tours), Paulo Silva (MED), João Rufino (Bons Sons), Terry Costa (Festival Cordas), Nadine Saize (Freelance), João Lemos (Sonus), Gabriel Nery (Pointlist), Mariana Lois (Festival A Porta), Paola Wescher (Last Tour), Stefan Schurter (Music Managers Forum), Yves Tattevin (Persona Grata), Yvan Soyouz (Soyouz Music), Jorge Dias (GIG Rocks), Miguel Augusto Silva (Armoniz), Carlos Maria Trindade (artist), and Jorge Bizarro (WHY Portugal) join the tribe of music industry professionals preparing to share insights and reflect on the present and future directions of the sector together with Westway participants in Guimarães.

These names join previously announced guests: Dalse Yoonyoung Kong (Zandari Festa, South Korea), Robin Werner (Reeperbahn, Germany), Jordi Fosas (Fira Mediterrània Manresa, ES), Jordi Casadesús (Mercat de Música Viva de Vic, ES), Joyce Jenny Loir (Ancienne Belgique, BE), Eugenio González (La Mar de Músicas, ES), Ísleifur Thorhallsson (Sena Live / Iceland Airwaves, IS), and Cíntia Marques (ARCUPS, organising association of the Ti Milha festival, PT). The Westway MEETING programme also includes the addition of moderators Gordon Masson, Isilda Sanches and Vítor Belanciano.

Westway LIVE General Passes available here
Westway MEETING registrations available here

Their debut album, Sudden Light (Discotexas, September 26, 2025), is an 11-track journey that is both contemplative and communal, balancing light and shadow, raw emotion and electronic precision, vulnerability and power — captivating audiences and earning support from global tastemakers.

Sudden Light is more than an album: it’s a revelation, a luminous interruption that invites presence, connection, and transformation. Live Over Lisbon is its live manifestation — a suspended concert over the Tagus River, where music meets light and Lisbon itself becomes part of the experience.

Their groundbreaking sound and fierce stage presence have earned them a reputation as one of Denmark’s most compelling live acts – culminating in a Danish Music Award for “New Live Act of the Year” in 2024. In April 2024 the band released their debut album 'SPDS' to critical acclaim. SPDS played to an audience of over 11,000 at Roskilde Festival in 2024, their concert at Store Vega sold out five months before the show and the trio is now ready to take the world by storm. In 2025 alone the trio has played SXSW, ESN, The Great Escape, SummerStage NYC, Athens Jazz Festival and many more shows around the world. In March 2026 SPDS is releasing their second album on the Danish record label Stunt.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

What begins as pure intensity quickly reveals something deeper: an obsession with pushing boundaries, breaking expectations, and chasing the next sonic mutation. No show is ever the same. No record stays frozen in time. Their live performances are legendary: primal screams, a devotion to distortion, and a relentless energy that refuses to slow down. Chaos isn’t a side effect—it’s the goal.

At their core, Sunflowers are about total immersion. This isn’t music meant to sit in the background—it demands your body, your ears, your surrender. Loud, relentless, and strange, in exactly the right amounts.

Live, that transformation takes on a whole new intensity. The trio turn the stage into a space of connection, where physical energy meets emotional honesty. Hypnotic rhythms, moments of release and a magnetic presence make their shows more than just concerts — they are full-body experiences that stay with you long after the final note.

There’s also a story of growth, community and creative freedom running through everything they do. Built from the ground up, their journey has shaped a band that thrives on authenticity and shared energy. Seeing PVA live means catching them at their most powerful — immersive, visceral and absolutely unmissable.

Their sonic saga escalated with the unleashing of their sophomore album, "Sinking Creation," in February 2022. This release catapulted TRAVO to the forefront of both national and international stages, setting the scene for a rollercoaster of sonic exploration that would define their path. "Sinking Creation" not only defined their signature blend of blistering heavy psych and gritty garage rock, but it birthed a revolution of raw, unadulterated sound that they've since wielded like a sonic weapon.

TRAVO's unmistakable essence is forged at their live spectacles, where the boundaries between reality and auditory ecstasy blur. Their live performances transcend mere shows; they're volcanic eruptions of rock and roll energy, captivating audiences with the intensity of a rock and roll freakout. From the guttural cries to the electrifying guitar solos, TRAVO possesses an uncanny ability to make every performance a visceral experience, a testament to their rock and roll ethos.

In 2022, they released their debut studio album Love Is Dead! Long Live Love! with the support of Fundação GDA, drawing attention from the Portuguese alternative scene.

In 2026, Blood & Honey was released, a double album exploring two contrasting sides — Blood, more experimental and rooted in shoegaze textures and ecumenical rhythms; and Honey, which expands their pop/psychedelic side with touches of britpop and slowcore — consolidating their reputation as one of the most original projects in the Portuguese psychedelic scene.

An artist for as long as she can remember, De Llor’s journey has taken her from the solitude of her bedroom to international stages, where singing became her truest form of expression. Her inspiration emerges from the clash between Portuguese folk traditions and her lived experience as a queer woman navigating the world — drawing from deeply personal yet universal encounters shaped by how society perceives her.

A true visionary directing her entire visual universe, De Llor is now preparing to release her most ambitious work to date — a bilingual album, set for release in 2026, that honors her community while reaching far beyond it, cementing her position as a bold new voice in European avant-pop.

In 2023, the show Vitral Submerso premiered. His work blends electronic and acoustic sounds, and Maria Trindade is regarded as a pioneering figure in the production and experimentation of electronic music.

In 2025, Carlos Maria Trindade’s lost album, recorded in 1982 around the time of “Amor” (Heróis do Mar), was finally released. Described by the artist himself as cold wave, Tédio is in fact lighter than the average within the genre, as represented, for example, by John Foxx, Gary Numan, and the early Human League.

Good for the Soul was released in September via Peter Doherty’s Strap Originals label. Produced by Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys, Amyl & The Sniffers, The Fall, Working Men’s Club), it’s a rollercoaster of surprises, with the band traversing intense post-punk and fast-paced electronics, inhabiting a world of dark, late-night reflections. They have become regulars on the BBC 6 Music playlist, receiving further support from publications such as Clash, DIY, The Line of Best Fit, Louder Than War, Rolling Stone UK, So Young and many more.

The Scúru Fitchádu project was born in mid-2016, debuting the first self-titled EP Scúru Fitchádu the following year, a work strongly rooted in experimentation and the breaking of sonic barriers. In January 2020, the first full-length album, Un Kuza Runhu [“A Bad Thing”], was released, further confirming the distinct exploration and blending of sounds, earning it a place on the best albums of the year lists by specialized media, which still regard it as one of the freshest and most vital projects in recent times of national music.

The new album, "Griots i Riots", was released in the first half of 2025.

The Maccaia, Gaia Banfi’s new album, refers to a particular meteorological condition that occurs exclusively in the Gulf of Genoa, when the sirocco wind blows, the sky becomes overcast, and humidity reaches very high levels, creating a kind of fog that hovers over the sea and merges with it. Paolo Conte already described it in his famous Genova per noi — says Gaia. My passion for imagery and observation always drives me to get as close as possible, on a sensory level, to sounds and visions. That’s why I tried to visualize what it would be like to listen to my album while the fog stratifies over the sea.

DISCOGRAPHY

2025 - Cringe Is The New Sexy - EP

2024 - Me, Money & Politics - EP

2023 - Vibrato bz bz blop - Single

2023 - Do Things Right - Single

2023 - Follow No One - Single

XEXA remains undefined, hovering over her origins, influences and points of reference. Her music is shaped by echoes of all these elements, processing heritage and future in an equally democratic way, confident in its (her!) path. However synthetic it may sound, Kissom contains a deeply human element of XEXA’s presence — not only through her instantly recognisable ethereal vocals, but also in the web of grooves that stop short of the dancefloor. Kizomba 003 is where she comes closest to it: a pared-down take on the popular style of kizomba, a low-key interpretation with vocals placed atypically high in the mix. A brief breath of nostalgia. Kissom (the title track) extends the slow tempo, almost like an extended version of Kizomba 003, stretching its sensual bounce for nearly four more delightful minutes.

In 2026, Westway will strengthen the network between Portugal and Spain, while also engaging other Southern European countries and geographical peripheries that promote talent.

Within the scope of Westway MEETING, the 2026 edition, together with WHY Portugal, will welcome a renowned group of international guests, including Jordi Fosas (Fira Mediterrània Manresa, ES), Jordi Casadesús (Mercat de Música Viva de Vic, ES), Joyce Jenny Loir (Ancienne Belgique, BE), Eugenio González (La Mar de Músicas, ES), Ísleifur Thorhallsson (Sena Live / Iceland Airwaves, IS), and Cíntia Marques (ARCUPS, the organizing association of the Ti Milha Festival, PT), with many more announcements still to come.

Registrations for access and participation in this upcoming edition of Westway MEETING are already open with promotional rates.

This edition also introduces a new category for participants under 35 years old:
Young Delegate Pass – U35 (€25); and offers the Delegate Pass – Early Bird (€40) until the end of December 2025.

Another highlight of this 13th edition is a training opportunity for young music professionals, which Westway will debut in April 2026, in Guimarães, through an initiative launched by WHY Portugal and Audiogest.

Remaining true to its synergistic nature, this 13th edition of Westway will also amplify partnerships and create new opportunities, moving forward together with partners such as Fundação GDA, WHY Portugal, Bando à Parte, Audiogest, European Talent Exchange (ETE), Canal 180, and Antena 3.

It is also worth noting that the Portuguese act selected to represent Portugal at the next edition of Eurosonic is Fidju Kitxora, a project that gained visibility during the 2025 edition of Westway.

Registrations available here.

Creative Europe is the EU programme for the cultural and creative sectors, focusing on international collaboration. There are many opportunities for the European music sector within other funding calls of the programme, specifically the so-called “European Cooperation Projects”, “Culture Moves Europe” and “Music Moves Europe”. Equally relevant is the so-called “Creative Innovation Lab”, which seeks projects that combine the audiovisual sector with the music sector, with an innovative and structural technological approach. During this session, participants will get a general overview of these calls and key tips about the application process.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Violetta Zironi is an Italian artist with an international career who has previously participated in the Westway LAB editions – both in artistic residencies and showcases. A few years later, she returns to the Westway MEETING to discuss her career management strategy as an independent artist and her innovative ideas for adapting to market changes. An inspiring testament to a new approach for fulfilling the dream of continuing to create independently. This session will be held digitally and live, due to the artist’s inability to attend in person.

Summer festivals have become a trademark for many regions seeking visibility, cultural affirmation, and economic wealth. João Carvalho directs two of the most important festivals in Portugal – Paredes de Coura and Primavera Porto – which stand out for their contrasting geographies and the contexts in which they operate. This session will explore the experience of organizing festivals in rural and more remote areas, compared to the more widespread model of centralizing operations in urban or even coastal locations. Which model offers the best vibe? Which one has the most promising future?

Paulo Furtado is a multifaceted and highly successful artist, particularly in how he has managed his career and artistic vitality curve. His creative relationship with cinema began to take shape very early on, a field where he has been repeatedly recognized (Sophia Award) for the soundtracks he produced for various directors (e.g., Rodrigo Areias). It is within this axis of artistic complicity that The Legendary Tigerman comes to speak and showcase his strong and referential visual and sound universe, also addressing the duality an artist faces: the choice between pursuing pure, uncompromising artistic expression and the need for financial survival in the independent circuit.

International circulation is vital for the longevity of artists' careers and the professionals connected to them. In this international panel, several important questions will be raised, such as: What criteria do programmers use when selecting international talent? What still works, and what has become an obstacle? What is the current impact of artistic residencies on international collaborations? The aim is to seek guiding answers or even speculations that can help shape strategies for internationalization.

Frank Kimenai, a researcher at the University of Rotterdam, is one of the leading voices in a new, important study on the European music ecosystem. This session is dedicated to presenting the study and providing a detailed exploration of some revealing aspects of this new reality, grounded in scientific methods. It’s a session looking toward the future, preparing for the rapidly evolving and changing path ahead. An indispensable tool for gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of music in Europe and its revitalization within society.

The final Keynote of the Westway MEETING promises to be an unmissable meeting for music and cinema lovers. A conversation between two internationally recognized directors, with their creative universes, who have always placed music in a particular place in their cinematographic creation. This session is part of the evolution that Westway proposes of the “sound & image” vector and will address the construction of imaginary landscapes and the cine-concert formats that enable the circulation of works in relation to music. This is just the starting point for a conversation that, like his films, will surely surprise you.

The market and its trends often condition creative freedom. At Westway LAB, since its first edition, we have defended creation as one of the priority vectors capable of unlocking patterns and configurations imposed by the sector, allowing a crossover of geographies, influences, and new working methods. Mafalda Costa and Vile Karimi met at LAB (artists-in-residence) and experienced a week of creative sharing, giving rise to two showcases with original music. They will discuss this dimension of creative freedom – dreaming – in this session, not to be missed.

Another green world: a conscious search for listening and care. How can music become a serious channel to activate a global sense of care for planet Earth? It is time to map out important ideas and strategies that go beyond the obvious, that restore hope to the leadership of a new generation. Building an axis and joining forces for a carbon-free world, driven by a truly regenerative soundtrack. Nis Bøgvad, advisor to EARTH/PERCENT, tells us about the project and Carlos Ribeiro, executive director of Laboratório da Paisagem, helps us understand what will happen in Guimarães Green Capital 2026, with, possibly, the help of music among other things.

Sara Machado + Susana Costa Pereira

In a rapidly changing world, accumulating tasks and skills seems to be an unstoppable reality. Entrepreneurs play a role in connecting various human relations needs and managing sensitivities in advising artists. What is the fundamental role of the entrepreneur in the current situation of the music sector, and how does the speed of events allow decisions to be made together so that artists' unique perspectives are respected?

In this session, we will have a panel featuring three of the key players behind programs dedicated to internationalization in the music sector. The aim is to enhance clarity around the processes of applying for funding, the logic behind grant allocation, and the ongoing discussion about the challenges and strengths to address in this area, which remains a field of constant demand by artists.

The fundamental role of integrating the new generation into the decision-making process is currently under discussion. Is this being done satisfactorily, or is there still a tendency towards conservatism within your hierarchy? What are the main challenges faced by those who enter the organisational centres of the music sector at a young age in their search for opportunities? Consider new artistic trends and modes of cultural consumption from the new generation's perspective.

The Venezuelan artist residing in Berlin will share her experiences regarding her adaptation to the European cultural landscape and how this transition is unfolding. What are the most challenging aspects of continuing to develop your cultural framework outside your original context, and what influences have you embraced along the way? What does this destination represent as a new artistic and cultural starting point?

In this session, WHY Portugal organizes a series of project presentations, artists, and organizations operating in the creative field and fostering musical talent with internationalization potential. It is a representative showcase of the music landscape that allows us to explore new possibilities for professional relationships and exchanges that generate new business opportunities.

The music industry is evolving, striving for greater diversity and equal opportunities. Tiffany Fukuma and Naomi Palmer are two leading figures in this field, working toward a healthier and more sustainable ecosystem. This conversation will offer insights, guidance, and advice on the urgent need to transform the music industry into a more polyphonic and inclusive space.

One of the hottest topics today is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in creative processes. Two experts in the field—filmmaker Edgar Pêra, who has just produced Portugal’s first AI-generated film, and Turo Pekari from Music Finland, who has been exploring AI’s potential in music and technology—will take the stage. This highly futuristic panel will dive into AI’s creative potential and its ethical implications. The question is no longer whether AI will change music and cinema, but rather, how it will reshape these artistic fields.

ARDA is a benchmark space for music education in Portugal and for many professional pathways linked to the music industry. In this session, we'll learn more about this training center that fosters talent and how it integrates into the market, alongside its diverse, interconnected activities. The challenges, opportunities, and vision of the sector will be explored from the perspective of a talent hub that transmits knowledge.

Canal 180 is one of the boldest audiovisual projects in Portuguese television. Its ability to place artistic expression at the forefront of its editorial approach—delivering innovative content and unexpected formats—stands out in a world increasingly standardized and driven by compulsive consumption. João Vasconcelos, the man at the helm, joins us to share insights into this adventure and reveal whether his vision is born from utopia or sheer determination.

Close relationships in the context of sustainability and circularity are becoming increasingly important. The connection between Portugal and Spain has seen ups and downs, but the goal now is to foster greater collaborative consistency in strengthening Iberian synergies within the music industry. Key figures from both countries come together to exchange ideas and reinforce objectives aimed at opening new horizons for artistic and business development.

Ricardo Bramão (Talkfest) and Michel Attia (FM4), talk about a broad and essential look at forming collaborative chains, whose diverse formats are fundamental to generating knowledge transmission and multiple interactions. The art of meeting through different channels and the strength of thinking together are essential practices to continue leveraging the changes we want in the sector. The vision of two people involved, with the desire to contribute to the good development of the music ecosystem.

Talent scouting is at the heart of the music industry's development. Two key figures from major European festivals (SPOT and Reeperbahn) will discuss the future and share their visions on how to discover and promote talent within a festival format. What are the challenges and strategies for renewing originality in music and the associated arts? A conversation with two seasoned professionals who play a crucial role in championing emerging talent.

The music industry’s cycle shifts are happening at an increasingly fast pace, forcing agents and managers to continuously adapt. José Costa, besides being a musician (Ecos da Cave), is the mastermind behind Banzé, a company that has represented numerous artists over the decades, organized high-profile events (e.g., Sons de Vez), and built an international career through a wide range of projects. In this session, we will explore his journey through captivating stories, uncovering how he has achieved such longevity in an industry marked by uncertainty and fluctuation. Finally, we’ll take a look at what the future might hold from his perspective.

In this segment of the program, we will discover Tó Trips and his stories. An authentic, honest artist, deeply familiar with the many transformations within the industry, he captivates us with his visions and multiple projects (e.g., Lulu Blind, Dead Combo, Club Makumba). We will listen attentively, in an organic way, to his wisdom rooted in independent practice and dialogue with constantly evolving social and artistic contexts, capable of generating unique new imaginations. This session will be a verbal road trip through his career and ideas that can guide and inspire the new generation of artists in a time of rapid change.

The WHY Portugal curation at Westway MEETING fosters encounters and exchanges among all music industry professionals, connecting the national and international scenes through speed meeting sessions. These sessions aim to enhance mutual understanding between entities and professionals present, opening the door to strengthening relationships or even initiating new collaborations across Europe. It's about encouraging the empowerment of diversity and the exchange of knowledge to generate new projects, new businesses, towards a sustainable circularity.

The final session of the Westway MEETING kicks off with a friendly breakfast, followed by an info session covering practical matters about the current edition. It wraps up with a roundtable discussion to reflect on the experience of the 12th edition, announcing the new dates as well as the key focus areas that will guide the advisory council’s work in May. An epilogue that sets the stage for a new beginning, building momentum all the way to 2026.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there. By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.