With full details now unveiled for its second edition, IIMW 2026 will return from 10–12 February in Mumbai, expanding its scope and ambition as both an international music conference and showcase festival rooted in discovery, exchange and long-term industry impact.
Following a successful debut in Goa last year, the move to Mumbai feels symbolic. India’s entertainment capital becomes the backdrop for a programme designed to connect emerging artists with global industry players, while positioning India as an active force in shaping the future of music culture and commerce. Across three days, IIMW will bring together artists, delegates and organisations from more than 30 countries, creating a rare meeting point between South Asia and the wider international music ecosystem.
The newly announced showcase line-up reflects that global outlook, spanning electronic, jazz, soul, rock, pop and experimental music. Artists include Italy’s Agenda Dei Buoni Propositi, Spain’s post-punk outfit BELAKO, Indonesia’s psychedelic rockers Clever Moose, Canada’s Edwin Raphael and Jasmine Kiara, France’s electronic jazz duo J-Silk, South Africa’s Siki Jo-An and Australia’s Reuben De Melo, alongside a strong contingent of Indian talent such as Easy Wanderlings, Tamil Jazz Collective, Tejas, Two Summ and Ro Maiti. It’s a deliberately diverse bill, prioritising originality and cross-cultural dialogue over genre boundaries.
Alongside the live programme, the IIMW Pro conference at Lower Parel’s Museum of Solutions will run across 11 and 12 February, tackling topics ranging from global touring pathways and emerging market strategy to AI, rights management and audience development in South Asia. With participation from organisations including Live Nation, YouTube, PRS for Music, GEMA and the British Council, the conference underscores IIMW’s role as a serious space for policy, trade and collaboration.
With its expanded format and international reach, IIMW 2026 feels less like a festival finding its feet and more like a statement of intent: India is not just open for music business, it’s ready to lead the conversation.
