WMC 2026 Second Wave Adds Beatport Live Pool Parties, SoundOn at TikTok & Industry Leaders

Winter Music Conference 2026 is building serious momentum, and if you care about where dance music is headed, this second wave of programming makes it clear that WMC is leaning fully into both culture and career. Taking place March 24–26, 2026 at the Kimpton EPIC Hotel in Downtown Miami, the 36th edition expands its speaker roster, deepens its industry conversations, and rolls out full details for the three-day Beatport Live pool party series. What stands out this year is how deliberately WMC is balancing inspiration with infrastructure. You have artists like Sara Landry, Radio Slave, DJ Minx, Junior Sanchez, Arielle Free, and OOKAY stepping into speaking roles, and you also have executives from SoundCloud, Interscope, TikTok’s SoundOn, Ultra Records, mau5trap, Dirtybird, and more joining the conversation. That mix matters, because the future of electronic music is not being shaped in one lane. It is happening at the intersection of performance, technology, monetization, and community. Beatport Live Pool Parties and Label Showcases Take Over the EPIC View this post on Instagram A post shared by Winter Music Conference (@wintermusicconference) WMC and Beatport Live have locked in full programming for the official three-day pool party series at the EPIC, and this feels like a centerpiece moment for Miami Music Week. Each day is anchored by a curated label showcase that reflects a different corner of house and techno culture. Tuesday opens with Mood Child, the imprint helmed by Sirus Hood and Manda Moor, featuring DJ Sneak, Jean Pierre, Ms. Mada, and more. Wednesday marks a 20-year celebration of Rekids, founded by Radio Slave, with Danny Tenaglia, Radio Slave b2b DJ Minx, Doc Martin b2b Tal Fussman, and Anja Schneider b2b William Kiss. Thursday closes with Hot Creations in collaboration with Three Six Zero Recordings, with full lineup details still to come. The pool series is powered by L-Acoustics, AlphaTheta, and FEVER, and it also doubles as a showcase for L-Acoustics DJ, a spatial audio system that uses machine learning-based source separation to create multi-channel mixes from traditional DJ sets. I like that WMC continues to make the technology part of the conversation rather than an afterthought, because this is exactly where performance innovation is moving. Panels, Workshops, and Direct Access to the Industry Beyond the parties, WMC 2026 continues to refine its two-track format with WMC // INDUSTRY and WMC // CREATORS. New panels tackle topics like AI ethics in electronic music, sustainability in club culture, spatial audio design, fan ownership, and global touring shifts. Sessions such as Beatport Presents: DJs Are The Original Influencers and Artificial Music, Real Consequences signal that WMC is willing to address the harder questions shaping the business. Workshops expand the hands-on side of the conference, with additions like SoundOn powered by TikTok and Zen and the Art of DJing featuring Sydney Blu, Junior Sanchez, and Doc Martin. The Label Radar A&R Pop-Up Lounge returns with imprints including Balance Music, Dirtybird, Spinnin’ Records, Ultra Records, and Create Music Group, giving badge holders real face time with decision-makers. New for 2026, the SoundOn at TikTok Indie Label and Industry Mixer introduces a structured tabletop format designed for meaningful conversations rather than rushed elevator pitches. In my opinion, that shift toward practical, relationship-driven networking is exactly what artists need right now. WMC 2026 badges are on sale, discounted rooms are available at the EPIC, and more speakers and sessions are expected through March. If Miami Music Week is your annual reset button, this lineup suggests that Winter Music Conference intends to anchor it again in 2026. As the electronic music industry’s most influential gathering, Winter Music Conference curates programming that brings together the world’s leading artists, executives, creators, and innovators to explore the future of global dance culture. The post WMC 2026 Second Wave Adds Beatport Live Pool Parties, SoundOn at TikTok & Industry Leaders appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.