Music Summit Malta makes its debut, bringing music and technology’s next generation together
Music Summit Malta makes its debut from 7–10th October 2026 at the Hard Rock Hotel in St Julian’s, bringing together up to 150 of the people shaping the future of music – from artists and founders to technologists, investors and industry leaders. Across four days, the summit will combine intimate conversations, fresh ideas, new connections and a programme of pre and after parties designed to bring the community together beyond the conference room and into Malta’s vibrant music scene. Deliberately limited in size, Music Summit Malta offers an alternative to the scale and formality of a traditional industry conference or trade show. The focus is on meaningful connections and candid conversations around the technologies, business models and cultural shifts transforming how music is made, funded, distributed and experienced.
Among the speakers confirmed for this year’s edition are Detroit techno pioneer Kenny Larkin, Italian-Candian DJ and producer John Acquaviva and electronic music producer Robert Babicz, alongside Musika Malta’s Jeanine Rodgers Scerri, 242 Managing Director James Cassar, entrepreneurs Yaw Asamani and Dan Tsu, Glitch Festival’s Co-Founder Kevin Ellul and 141 Records founder Luke “Funky Monkey”. The lineup also features Tristan Perrin, founder of Maltese music platform Pulse, Maltese techno artist Human Safari, Dutch DJ and producer Christian Xerri, Maltese DJs Acidulant and Yasmine Farrugia, alongside entrepreneurs Wesley Ellul, Orwell McGubbins and Victor Guell. Together, the speakers span electronic music, media, technology, entrepreneurship and the wider music industry.
Across four sectors – Investment & Capital, Ecosystem & Policy, AI & Technology, and Media & Industry – 45 speakers will explore everything from how music businesses are funded and developed to the impact of AI and emerging technologies, the role of policy and ecosystems, and the changing relationship between music, media and audiences. The summit is built around the idea that these conversations are increasingly connected. Technology is changing how music is made and distributed, investment is influencing how artists and companies build sustainable careers, while new platforms and business models continue to reshape the relationship between artists and audiences.
The summit has brought together a broad network of organisations from across music, technology and culture, with attendance from Music Tech Europe, Ten87 Studios, SheSaidSo, MEIA, Musika Underground Malta and 141 Records, alongside technology and investment partners including ElevenLabs, Plus 8 Equity Partners, Best Nights VC and Amplitude Ventures. Together, the partners reflect the increasingly connected worlds of music, technology and capital, and the wider ecosystem shaping the future of the industry.
Music Summit Malta continues beyond the daytime programme with four nights of live performances, showcases and official afterparties, created in collaboration with local promoters Neolitika, Oracles and Big Ron’s Records. The programme brings together established international names alongside some of Malta’s emerging talent. Wednesday opens with the live, jazz-inflected sounds of Niko Jay and Melchior Sultana, followed on Thursday by Owen Jay b2b Sean Rickett. Friday brings a heavyweight electronic lineup, with Gabriella joined by Detroit techno pioneer John Acquaviva and acid house legend Rob Acid, alongside Dafne, Sound Synthesis, Alias 1 and PHYNKS. The week closes on Saturday with Luca Cordina b2b Norark, Mato and Victor Guell. Together, the programme creates a more informal space to connect, discover new music and continue the conversations sparked during the summit.
Aidan Somers, founder of Music Summit Malta and AISO Academy, said: “The summit grew out of what we’ve been building through AISO Academy and the conversations we were already having with people working across music. There’s a lot happening in Malta, but there wasn’t really a space bringing together the wider music industry with technology, investment and entrepreneurship. We wanted to create something that felt useful – small enough that people can actually talk to each other, rather than just move between panels.”
Founded by Somers, AISO Academy is Malta’s music production and education academy. Music Summit Malta grew from that work, creating a wider platform connecting Malta’s music community with the international music industry and the worlds of technology, entrepreneurship and investment. The summit also reflects a wider shift in the music industry, where artists and music companies are increasingly operating across traditionally separate worlds. For Malta, it provides a meeting point between the island’s growing creative community and an international network of artists, founders, investors and technology professionals. With around 150 attendees, the deliberately limited capacity is central to the format. The aim is to create an environment where conversations can continue beyond the stage, connecting people who might otherwise only encounter each other through different parts of the industry.
Tickets are available at €179 for general admission and €279 for startups, with day passes available for €97 per day. Exhibitor packages start from €600 + VAT, while discounted places for students and emerging artists are available on request. Early-bird pricing runs until 14th September. Music Summit Malta takes place on 8–9 October 2026 at the Hard Rock Hotel, St Julian’s. Full speaker lineup and information: https://musicsummitmalta.com/
