Connecting the live music industry
SoAlive Music Conference & Festival Returns to Sofia
September6
Sofia will host the third edition of the SoAlive Music Conference & Festival from October 14–17, 2025.
The event, which combines a professional conference, live performances, and business networking, aims to connect Balkan talent with the international music industry.
This year’s program includes the first official visit to Sofia by Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, as well as a keynote from Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation.
For the first time, Bulgaria will also host WINCON – the Worldwide Independent Network Conference – organized locally by the Association of Independent Music Publishers and Producers. The gathering is expected to bring independent labels, networks, and executives from around the world to Sofia.
Participants include representatives from YouTube, Bandcamp, TikTok, Universal Music Group, Beggars Group, Partisan Records, Domino Records, and Sub Pop, alongside music journalists, supervisors, and agents such as Thomas Golubic, Daryl Bamonte, David Fricke, and Anna Gaca. Major European festivals including Primavera Sound, EXIT, Colours of Ostrava, Roskilde, MadCool, Electric Castle, and the EFG London Jazz Festival will also be represented.
Sessions and performances will take place across multiple venues, including Sofia Live Club, Mixtape5, Kino Kabana, bar Soda, and the Azaryan Theatre at the National Palace of Culture. Topics on the agenda include new technologies, the future of festivals, sustainable business models, and regional development. Masterclasses and workshops will cover areas such as music synchronization, YouTube strategies for artists, and cross-border collaborations in the Balkans.
“SoAlive Music Conference & Festival 2025 is not just a platform but a true celebration of music and the industry, where Sofia becomes a stage for global dialogue on the future of culture. It is also the greatest opportunity yet for Bulgarian artists to grow internationally,” said Ruth Koleva, founder and artistic director of the event.
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