Over the past few decades, dance music has flourished from a fringe cultural awakening to a booming global juggernaut - and there's an awful lot to talk about.
Since 2007, the dance music industry's leading players have congregated on Ibiza for the International Music Summit (IMS). Boring down into the nitty-gritty, we take this opportunity to discuss the state of play across the business.
IMS consists of three days of conferences, panels, networking and occasional partying, with plenty of laughs, heated debate and interesting insights. The annual business report has become the industry's leading data study, while extended interviews with legends such as Nile Rodgers, Brian Eno, Giorgio Moroder, Sven Väth, Seth Troxler, the late director David Lynch, and even rave hero Bradley Gunn Raver, have all caused stirs, as well as laughs, in their time.
Although many who attend IMS come by invitation, there are also delegate badges available to purchase for those who wants to mingle with the industry's influential figures, learn about different facets of the business, hear directly from their favourite artists and generally be a part of an event which reflects on and celebrates dance music.
In 2026, the conference celebrates its 17th edition returning to the twin hotel complex of Mondrian & Hyde in Cala Llonga where it debuted in 2024. As ever, IMS will cover a catalogue of hot topics.
These include a continued focus on health and wellbeing, diversity on the dancefloor, the politics of dancing, intersectionality, the prominence of social media, gender balance, Ask Me Anything (the repackaged Great Annual Ibiza Debate) and so much more.
Topics covered at the last edition included The Future of Global Nightlife, The Silent Epidemic: Tinnitus, Hearing Loss & Listening Responsibly, Mentor Matching: Empowering the Next Generation, Africa Is Not A Country, Four Decades of Jungle & D&B and a Market Focus on Spain.
International Music Summit next takes place between Wednesday 22 April to Friday 24 April.
See below for all the latest news on the summit.
Along with the meticulously crafted three-day summit, delegates can experience dynamic networking sessions and a pretty full on party schedule.
Other events taking place are the IMS Legends Dinner, wellness retreat The Art of ARETÉ and, not forgetting, the holy grail, the IMS Grand Finale closing celebration in Dalt Vila likely to take place on Friday 24 April, and usually followed by an official After Party (all currently TBA).
Venue: Mondrian & Hyde Complex
