Press release
BIME Bilbao 2026 Moves Forward with New Confirmations and Opens Nominations for the AUPA! Awards
The 14th edition of BIME, to be held October 27–30 in Bilbao, continues to expand its program with new artists, industry professionals, and content. In addition, it has opened submissions for the third edition of the AUPA! Awards and is reinforcing its commitment to knowledge creation by hosting the second edition of the International Congress on Research in Creative Industries (CIIIC), which will take place on October 28 From October 27 to 30, BIME will once again transform Bilbao into the meeting point for the global music industry. Founded in Bilbao and established as one of the sector’s leading international gatherings, BIME will connect the voices that shape music, making Bilbao and Bizkaia the hub for fostering conversations, partnerships, and new opportunities for the industry. BIME Pro: The Key Questions for Understanding the Present and Future of Music What can music tell us about the world to come? That is the question that will guide the professional program at BIME Pro, which will take place on October 27, 28, and 29 at Euskalduna Bilbao. The agenda will revolve around the big questions that are currently shaping the future of the music industry. Through these questions, the sector’s main challenges and opportunities will be addressed, ranging from creativity and artificial intelligence to production, sustainability, internationalization, technology, cultural policies, and music’s relationship with fields such as sports, branding, science, and the audiovisual sector. Joining the already confirmed speakers—including Jorge Drexler, Brandon Young (Activision), Ángeles Toledano, Raül Refree, Chanela Clicka, Yassir, and Justin O’Connor—are professionals such as Lena Ingwersen, executive director of Music Cities Network and an expert on the intersection of music, urban development, and cultural policy; Malentxo Zeberio, a member of Mirua—one of the most promising emerging acts on the local scene following the release of their acclaimed debut album *Miruenea*; and Patricia Hermida, founding partner of MIM (Women in the Music Industry) and current president of AGEM (Galician Association of Music Companies). In addition, the following will take part in the networking activities: Jaime Torrego, co-director of Observatorio Festival; May Carrión, artistic director of Sala Musik; Quique Medina, director of Agència Districte; Desirée Huete Castillo, director of Distortiongirl Eventos; and Nicolas Bonnard, production director at Viavox Producciones. BIME Live continues to expand its international roster of new talent BIME Live continues to add names to its showcase lineup. Joining the lineup announced a few weeks ago are new artists, sounds, and regions: Ana De Llor (PT), the rising voice of dark and sensual avant-pop who fuses Portuguese mysticism with London’s queer club culture; Aeronave Adolescente (ES), presenting their *Sueño con salones llenos*, which explores a universal experience: not knowing what to do with your life; and Angeladorrrm (ES), one of the best-kept secrets of the emerging Catalan indie scene with his sharp guitars and dreamlike lyrics. Also on the lineup is Duplat (CO), whose music uses the piano to convey the emotions and contradictions of an entire generation, and whose latest album, Dulce y Amarga (2026), has established him as one of the most promising artists on the new Colombian music scene; Odd Mami (AR), part of the Rip Gang collective, who—following her latest album *Dónde van los perros*—delves deeper into an increasingly defined sonic exploration; Ouineta (ES), showcasing the perfect fusion of music, dance, and performance, influenced by urban culture and pop icons from the late 2000s; and singer-songwriter Paco Pecado (ES), a bon vivant with the spirit of a bandit, ’70s tastes, and a special fondness for kitsch, retro, and vintage. BIME Live will also feature special lineups on its circuit organized by labels such as Universal Music Spain, which will present a night featuring the power trio 1111 (ES), the indie and autobiographical project by Martin (ES), and the pop-rock of Avenida (ES). Altafonte will bring together the Spanish-Argentine artist Sofía Gabanna (ES), who will showcase her natural blend of rap, jazz, and singer-songwriter styles; María Peláe (ES), with her electrifying stage presence and flamenco fusion; Tatiana Delalvz (ES), with her contemporary reinterpretation of southern sounds; and Zahara presenting ZAHARAVE: LITE (ES), the club version of the artist’s electronic universe. This lineup is further enhanced by acts curated by Jägermeister, such as Kiliki (ES), with his unclassifiable blend of folk, electronic, punk, and rap; Dalila (ES), a Seville-based DJ and producer who bridges early ’90s British rave culture with flamenco roots; and Azuleja (ES), a pop artist who captivated the Spanish music scene with her debut album, C.R.I.N.G.E.. The BIME Live lineup is supported by some of the leading drivers of musical talent development and internationalization, including Sounds from Spain; Idartes; BASQUE. MUSIC.; the Navarra Music Commission; AIE; the Region of Murcia; Catalan Arts; the National Institute of Music of Argentina (INAMU); Dutch Music Export; Valencia Music City; the Institut d’Estudis Baleàrics and Fira B; AGADIC; the Ministry of Education and Culture; the National Directorate of Culture of Uruguay (INMUS); the Regional Government of Extremadura; Swiss Music Export; and Pro Helvetia. BIME reinforces its commitment to recognition and knowledge generation BIME has opened the call for nominations for the third edition of the AUPA! Awards, an initiative created to recognize and highlight the individuals, companies, and projects that drive the collective advancement of the music industry through creativity, innovation, commitment, and transformation. Awarded by an independent jury of industry professionals, the AUPA! Awards were created to publicly celebrate contributions that inspire new ways of working and strengthen the music ecosystem through values such as ethics, sustainability, and equality. The call for entries will remain open at this link until July 31 and will allow participants to submit as many nominations as they wish, as well as propose new categories aligned with the spirit of AUPA!. The awards ceremony will be held on October 29 at 12:15 p.m. at Euskalduna Bilbao, as part of the official BIME program. This commitment to the industry’s development also extends to the academic sphere. Thus, on October 28, BIME will host the second edition of the International Congress on Research in Creative Industries (CIIIC), organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Communication Sciences at the International University of Catalonia (UIC Barcelona). The conference has already opened the call for academic papers and applied studies, aimed at researchers, educators, and professionals interested in addressing the major challenges facing the cultural and creative industries. The deadline for submitting proposals is July 31. You can find all the information here. A Shared Vision for Building the Future of Music Beyond its program, BIME continues to establish itself as a platform built alongside the voices that drive music forward. Institutions, companies, associations, media outlets, artists, and professionals are part of a community that, year after year, fosters new connections, projects, and opportunities for the sector as a whole. This network of partnerships, built over more than a decade, reflects a shared vision of music as a driver of cultural, economic, and social development—capable of generating knowledge, strengthening the creative industries, and contributing to collective well-being. For this 14th edition, BIME is supported by the Department of Economic Promotion of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the City of Bilbao, the Spanish Ministry of Culture, and Heineken—strategic partners committed to further consolidating, from Bilbao and Bizkaia, one of the music industry’s leading international gatherings.
