Are You an Independent Artist? Here Are 6 Billboard Latin Music Week 2026 Panels You Can’t Miss

Billboard Latin Music Week 2026 is just around the corner, and if you’re planning to attend as an independent artist, there are tons of panels and events that will catch your interest.

Scheduled from Oct. 19 to 22 at the Faena Forum in Miami Beach, the longest-running, most prestigious and influential gathering in the Latin music industry offers an exclusive lineup of artist conversations, business panels with executives, the celebrated Billboard En Vivo showcases and countless networking opportunities.

Among others, there’s a panel titled “Latin Music’s Independent Revolution,” where executives Nat Pastor and Victor Gonzalez from Virgin Music Group will discuss how independent labels and artists are driving much of the success Latin music has achieved globally.

There’s also the highly anticipated “Building the Tour With Rawayana” presented by Live Nation, where the successful Venezuelan trippy pop band will share the secrets behind their international breakthrough as an independent act. As well as “From Local Creativity to International Expansion: The Grupo Frontera Case Study” presented by The Orchard, featuring members of the popular Mexican group and their independent label, BorderTown Records.

In its 37th edition, Latin Music Week features a star-studded lineup, including Ana Mena, Anuel AA, Bebeshito, Carlos Rivera, Clave Especial, Conep, Emmanuel Cortes, Ela Taubert, Erick Brian, Greeicy, Grupo Cañaveral, Grupo Frontera, Grupo Niche, Hermanos Espinoza, Jay Wheeler, Kidd Voodoo, Kristina, Lali, Lorna, Maluma, Mar Solís, Mau y Ricky, Pitbull, Quevedo, Rawayana, Rey Tony & Helabusador, Ryan Castro, Santos Bravos, Trueno and Wow Popy, among others.

The event coincides with the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will take place on Oct. 22 in Miami and will be broadcast live on Telemundo. This year, Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 17 mentions, followed by Tito Double P with 15, Fuerza Regida with 12, Karol G with nine, Prince Royce with eight and Bad Bunny with seven.

Below are five panels you can’t miss if you’re starting your career and plan to attend — in addition to the networking sessions! — listed in chronological order. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.

• Beyond the Algorithm: From Viral Moment to Global Fanbase presented by UnitedMasters

  Date: Monday, Oct. 19

  Location: Faena Theater

  What to expect: A conversation about how to turn the 15 seconds of attention generated by the internet into a sustainable global fanbase without relying on the traditional radio machinery of major labels.

  Speakers to be announced.

• Latin Music’s Independent Revolution

  Date: Monday, Oct. 19

  Location: Faena Theater

  What to expect: A wide-ranging conversation about the global rise of Latin music and how independent labels and artists are the driving force behind much of this global success.

  Speakers:

  • Nat Pastor, Co-CEO, Virgin Music Group
  • Victor Gonzalez, EVP, President of Latin America, US Latin, and Spain, Virgin Music Group

• From Local Creativity to International Expansion: The Grupo Frontera Case Study presented by The Orchard

  Date: Monday, Oct. 19

  Location: Faena Theater

  What to expect: A conversation about how artists form industry alliances to scale their businesses without losing their creative perspective.

  Speakers:

  • Adelaido “Payo” Solís III, Grupo Frontera/Co-Founder of BorderTown Records
  • Alberto Acosta, Grupo Frontera/Co-Founder of BorderTown Records
  • Juan Javier Cantú, Grupo Frontera/Co-Founder of BorderTown Records
  • Miguel Ramírez, GM, BorderTown Records
  • Claudia Ochoa, SVP, México and US-MEX, The Orchard

• Networking Sessions

  Date: Monday, Oct. 19

  Location: Faena Forum Attendee Lounge

  What to expect: Latin Music Week attendees will have the chance to meet with the experts who run the business in these exclusive, intimate roundtable sessions.

  Participating companies and speakers to be announced.

• Buenos Días con: Cristina Perpiñá-Robert presented by SGAE

  Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20

  Location: Faena Forum Main Stage

  What to expect: A discussion on AI generated music and the future of creativity.

  Speakers:

  • Cristina Perpiñá-Robert, CEO, SGAE

• Building The Tour with Rawayana presented by Live Nation

  Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20

  Location: Faena Forum Main Stage

  What to expect: The successful Venezuelan trippy pop band will share what led to their international breakthrough as an independent act and offer a glimpse into their creative process.

  Speakers:

  • Alberto “Beto” Montenegro, Rawayana
  • Andrés “Fofo” Story, Rawayana
  • Hans Schafer, SVP of Global Touring, Live Nation