Winter Music Conference is officially returning to Miami from March 24 to 26, 2026. For the first time in its history, the conference will take place at the Kimpton EPIC Hotel in Downtown Miami, which now serves as the official home of Miami Music Week. This marks a new era for WMC, bringing the conference back into the center of the city with a hotel venue that can host programming, networking, and poolside events in one place.
WMC remains the longest-running electronic music conference in the world and the 2026 edition continues that legacy with a sharper focus on music, technology, education, and culture. The event will feature two programming tracks designed for different parts of the industry: Industry and Creators. Alongside panels and workshops, WMC will also host daily rooftop pool parties, exhibitor showcases, and curated networking sessions overlooking Biscayne Bay.
Industry and Creators Programming
WMC // Industry is structured for professionals working in labels, live events, agencies, tech, and music business infrastructure. The track includes panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions focused on revenue, touring, event production, licensing, marketing, AI, and emerging business models. The goal is to facilitate collaboration between the people responsible for building the infrastructure behind electronic music.
WMC // Creators is dedicated to DJs, producers, and online creators who stand on the creative side of the culture. Programming includes gear demonstrations from major brands, artist-led masterclasses, production workflow breakdowns, and career-focused conversations for artists at different stages of development. This format gives upcoming talent access to practical knowledge and resources.
The full conference schedule spans three days. Tuesday opens with badge collection and the first rooftop pool party at the EPIC Hotel. Wednesday and Thursday include panels, workshops, exhibitors, networking, and afternoon pool events. The final evening is reserved for the Bridges for Music x International Dance Music Awards Gala.
Bridges for Music x IDMA Gala
WMC 2026 closes with a new collaborative gala between Bridges for Music and the International Dance Music Awards. Bridges for Music is a nonprofit focused on education and community development through music, with a growing footprint in South Africa and across Africa. The IDMAs have been honoring artists, producers, and industry professionals since 1985.
The gala will include live award presentations, performances, and fundraising efforts that support Bridges for Music programs. This is a separately ticketed event and is not included with WMC badges. Additional information will be released closer to the conference.
Badges for WMC 2026 are available now through WinterMusicConference.com. Discounted hotel rates at the Kimpton EPIC are also available for registered attendees.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
