Sicily Music Conference
The conference and showcase festival for emerging music, between Palermo and Catania
About Sicily Music Conference
A musical crossroads in the heart of the Mediterranean
In just a few years, the Sicily Music Conference has become an international benchmark for the Italian and European music industry. Born as a space for dialogue between artists, professionals, industry experts, and enthusiasts, the event takes place every May between Palermo and Catania, the two major cities of Sicily, turning the island into a creative hub that welcomes guests from all over the world.
Over four days, the conference weaves together panels, workshops, speed meetings, listening sessions, and, above all, the highly anticipated live showcases: true platforms for emerging bands and artists selected by a mixed Italian and international jury from hundreds of applications from across the globe.
The Catania days
In Catania, located in the Etna region of the province of the same name (Sicily Region), the second half of the program takes place. Cortile Murgo is one of the central venues for the Catania activities, alongside cultural spaces and clubs such as Frequenza, Gammazita, the Monk Jazz Club, and Easy Bistrot – Disco Mercato, home to the conference's official brunch. Here, professional meetings, roundtables, and evening showcases alternate, bringing live music to the heart of the city.
Themes and content
Each edition addresses major themes in the contemporary music sector: the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of live events, technological innovation and artificial intelligence, music journalism, artists' mental health, European cultural funding, and the international circulation of emerging projects. The discussion involves Italian and foreign professionals, festivals, labels, agencies, and institutions.
- Live showcases with bands and artists selected through an international call
- Panels and workshops on production, communication, sustainability, and new technologies
- Networking and speed meetings between artists and industry professionals
- A program spread across clubs, courtyards, and cultural spaces in Catania and Palermo
An event for the emerging scene
The Sicily Music Conference is aimed at those who make music and those who support it, but it remains open to curious audiences and enthusiasts alike. Access to panels and workshops is generally free upon registration, confirming the inclusive and professional vocation of an event that puts Sicily in dialogue with music scenes across Europe.
Sicily Music Conference — edition 2026
2026 Edition: The Fifth Edition
The fifth edition of the Sicily Music Conference was held from May 13 to 16, 2026, with the first two days in Palermo and the final days on May 15 and 16 in Catania. The 2026 program was developed around two main themes: the sustainability of music—economic, social, and environmental—and music as an expressive urgency and a tool for connection between people, territories, and cultures.
In Catania, Cortile Murgo hosted workshops on music journalism on Friday, May 15, the network lunch, the speed meeting powered by DICE, panels such as Caro Live and Per chi lo fai? (dedicated to mental health), as well as the evening showcase with the Monk Jazz Club. On Saturday, May 16, events moved between the University Theatre Centre (CUT), Easy Bistrot – Disco Mercato with the official brunch and DJ set, Frequenza (Creative Europe workshop, Islands of Festivals panel), and Gammazita for the closing showcase.
Showcases and guests
18 live bands and 3 Ready To Export artists performed on stage, selected from over 500 international applications. Announced names included: Lucy Dreams (Austria), Shkodra Elektronike (Albania), Madame Gandhi (USA), Celeste Caramanna, Gold Mass, Rossana De Pace, and numerous emerging Italian artists.
Programme Sicily Music Conference 2026
Catania – Friday, May 15, 2026 (Cortile Murgo)
- 11:30 "Music Journalism" Workshop
- 13:00 Network Lunch
- 14:00 Speed Meeting powered by DICE
- 15:30 "Great Events, Great Women" Workshop
- 17:00 "Caro Live" Panel
- 18:00 "Who are you doing it for?" Panel (mental health)
- 19:00 "Catania-Milan: An Indissoluble Bond" Meeting
- 21:00 Festival Showcase (Cortile Murgo / Monk Jazz Club)
Catania – Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 10:30 "Contemporary Popular Music" Panel (CUT University Theatre Centre)
- 12:30 Official Brunch & DJ Set (DiscoMercato @ Easy Bistrot)
- 17:00 "Creative Europe" Workshop (Frequenza)
- 18:00 "Do It Yourself" Meeting (Frequenza)
- 18:30 "Islands of Festivals Vol 5" Panel (Frequenza)
- 21:00 Festival Showcase (Gammazita)
Highlights Sicily Music Conference 2026
- 18 live bands and 3 Ready To Export artists selected from over 500 international applications
- Showcases at Cortile Murgo, Monk Jazz Club, and Gammazita
- Panels on mental health, sustainability, and European funding
- Official brunch with DJ set at Easy Bistrot – Disco Mercato
Prices Sicily Music Conference 2026
Practical information — Sicily Music Conference
How to get there
Catania is served by the Catania-Fontanarossa international airport, the central railway station, and the main Sicilian motorways. The Catania venues (Cortile Murgo, Frequenza, Gammazita, Easy Bistrot – Disco Mercato) are located in the city and can be reached on foot or by public transport.
Admission
Access to panels and workshops is free upon online registration. We recommend checking the official website for the updated program and registration procedures.
Information
Full program, showcase line-up, and details on the Palermo and Catania days are available at www.sicilymusicconference.com.
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Where does it take place — Sicily Music Conference
Cortile Murgo