Billboard Latin Music Week 2026 will bring the business of Latin music into focus through a series of conversations about the forces reshaping the industry — from artificial intelligence and independent distribution to global touring, cross-platform storytelling and the rise of creator-led media.
Taking place Oct. 19-22 at Faena Forum Miami Beach, the annual gathering will unite executives, artists, managers, distributors, venue operators, technology leaders and other key players from across the music ecosystem. While the event will include Superstar and Icon Q&As, showcases and performances, its daytime programming will also address the infrastructure behind Latin music’s continued expansion.
The conversations arrive at a pivotal moment for Spanish-language music. Latin music is reaching more listeners in more countries than ever before, but that growth raises important questions: How can the industry turn streaming momentum into long-term artist development? What does independence look like in an increasingly consolidated business? How will AI affect creativity and ownership? And, as artists build audiences across borders, what venues, partnerships and strategies will help them sustain international careers?
The week’s programming will also look beyond music’s traditional boundaries. Panels on Brazil’s growing global influence and the intersection of film and music will explore how local creativity travels, while conversations about podcasters and digital fan communities will consider who gets to shape the story around an artist.
From a keynote on Latin music’s global rise to discussions about viral discovery, the Spanish-speaking touring corridor and the future of Brazilian music, these sessions offer a map of where the business is headed — and the challenges it must navigate along the way.
Here are 10 panels to watch at Billboard Latin Music Week 2026.
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By the Numbers
Image Credit: Maarten de Boer* Date: Monday, Oct. 19
Session: By the Numbers: The State of Spanish-Language Music WorldwideBefore the week dives into the big questions facing the business, Luminate CEO Rob Jonas will set the stage with a data-driven look at the global performance of Spanish-language music. The session will examine the numbers behind Latin music’s continued expansion, from audience growth and streaming habits to the markets and artists driving its international momentum.
In an increasingly borderless music business, the data can reveal where Spanish-language music is growing fastest, how listeners are discovering it and what opportunities — and challenges — lie ahead for the industry.
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Beyond the Algorithm
Image Credit: Gustavo Caballero Date: Monday, Oct. 19
Session: Beyond the Algorithm: From Viral Moment to Global Fanbase
Presented by: UnitedMastersA viral clip can put an artist in front of millions of people overnight. The harder part is turning those 15 seconds of attention into a lasting fanbase.
Lyanno, UnitedMasters’ head of Latin artist marketing Maria Gracia and TikTok’s head of music operations for Spanish-speaking Latin America, Gabriel Llano, will explore how artists can build the cultural infrastructure needed to move beyond a fleeting digital moment. The conversation will look at audience development, platform strategy and the intentional work required to convert online discovery into a sustainable global career.
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Latin Music’s Independent Revolution
Date: Monday, Oct. 19
Session: Latin Music’s Independent RevolutionThe independent sector is no longer operating on the margins of Latin music’s growth. It is helping power it. Virgin Music Group co-CEO Nat Pastor and Víctor González, the company’s executive vp and president of Latin America, U.S. Latin and Spain, will discuss how independent artists, labels and music entrepreneurs are reshaping the business. Moderated by Billboard‘s co-chief content officer Jason Lipshutz, the conversation will touch on distribution, artist development and the changing relationship between creators and traditional music companies — as well as why independence has become such a powerful force in the global Latin market.
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Brazil on the Rise
Image Credit: Mauricio Santana/Getty Images Date: Monday, Oct. 19
Session: Brazil on the Rise: The Sound, Scale & Future of Brazilian Music
Presented by: BelieveBrazil’s music market is too big — and too influential — to be treated as a side conversation in the global Latin music business. This panel will examine the country’s expanding reach, the sounds shaping its next wave and the infrastructure needed to bring Brazilian music to more listeners around the world. Alejandra Olea, managing director of the Americas at Believe; Marcela Moreira, country director of Believe Brazil; and Bruno Duque, head of Latin America and Brazil at TuneCore, will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing artists and music companies in the country. Moderated by Billboard’s executive editor of business, Dan Rys, the conversation will explore how local creativity can scale internationally while preserving the cultural identity that makes Brazil’s music scene so distinctive.
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AI-Generated Music and the Future of Creativity
Image Credit: Luis Camacho Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
Session: Buenos Días con Cristina Perpiñá-Robert: AI-Generated Music and the Future of Creativity
Presented by: SGAEArtificial intelligence is already changing the way music is created, distributed and debated. But as the technology advances, the industry is still grappling with fundamental questions about authorship, consent, copyright and the future of human creativity.
Cristina Perpiñá-Robert, director general of SGAE, will address those questions in a conversation focused on AI-generated music and its implications for creators and the wider business. The session arrives at a pivotal moment as artists, publishers, labels and rights organizations work to determine how innovation can move forward without compromising artistic ownership.
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Building the Tour With Rawayana
Image Credit: Courtesy of Sound of Light Ent. Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
Session: Building the Tour With Rawayana
Presented by: Live NationA global tour is built long before the first ticket is scanned. For Rawayana, taking its music to international audiences requires a combination of creative vision, logistics, market strategy and a deep understanding of its fanbase.
The Venezuelan band’s Alberto “Beto” Montenegro and Andrés “Fofo” Story will join Billboard Latin Executive of the Year, Hans Schafer, Live Nation’s senior vp of global touring, for a behind-the-scenes look at how an international tour comes together. Moderated by Billboard Español‘s deputy editor, Sigal Ratner-Arias, the conversation will offer a practical view of the decisions, partnerships and infrastructure needed to take a Latin act from local favorite to global touring force.
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Film and Music
Image Credit: Jesús Solo Fuentes Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20
Session: Film and MusicAs Latin artists expand into acting, storytelling and other forms of entertainment, the lines between the music, film and television industries continue to blur. Actor Carlos Sanson Jr., 1Community CEO and film and television producer Scott Budnick, and artist Tokischa will explore the intersection of music and film in Latin storytelling. Moderated by Lionfish Entertainment CEO Rebeca León, the conversation will examine how artists and executives are building careers across multiple screens, developing new creative opportunities and bringing Latin stories to wider audiences.
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The Spanish-Speaking Touring Corridor
Image Credit: Cheery Viruet Date: Wednesday, Oct. 21
Session: The Spanish-Speaking Touring Corridor: How Arenas Are Powering the Global Growth of Latin Music
Presented by: Movistar Arena Madrid and the Asociación Hispanohablante de Arenas del EspectáculoLatin music’s global growth is creating new routes between Spanish-speaking markets — and arenas are becoming essential links in that network. Melanie García Vélez of Coliseo de Puerto Rico and Paz Aparicio of Movistar Arena Madrid will examine how venues across the Spanish-speaking world are helping artists build international careers. The panel will focus on the touring infrastructure connecting Latin America, Spain and the U.S., while exploring how arenas can create stronger opportunities for artists and audiences across borders.
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The New Wave of Podcasters
Image Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Sony Pictures via Getty Images Date: Wednesday, Oct. 21
Session: Talking Music: The New Wave of PodcastersMusic conversations are no longer confined to radio, television or traditional editorial platforms. A new generation of podcasters and digital personalities is creating its own spaces to interview artists, shape narratives and connect with highly engaged audiences. The trio behind Agushto Papa and Juancito will join Billboard Español’s associate editor Isabela Raygoza for a conversation about the changing role of music-focused podcasts and the creators driving that shift. The session will explore how podcasters are building communities, influencing discovery and giving artists new ways to speak directly with fans — making them an increasingly important part of music’s most important conversations.
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The Rise of Latin Music Globally
Image Credit: Denise Truscello/Getty Images for HBO Latino Date: Monday, Oct. 19
Session: Keynote: The Rise of Latin Music GloballyLatin music’s global expansion will take center stage in this keynote conversation featuring Alex Gallardo, president of Sony Music U.S. Latin, and Tommy Mottola, founder and chairman of Mottola Media Group. Moderated by Billboard’s co-chief content officer, Leila Cobo, the discussion will examine how Latin music has evolved from a regional powerhouse into one of the most influential forces in the global music business. Gallardo and Mottola will offer perspectives from different generations of the industry, addressing the artists, markets, partnerships and strategies driving Latin music’s international growth.
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