ISPA 2025 Lugano Congress
When: 10–13 June 2025, Lugano, Switzerland
ISPA’s mid-year congress “Art and Social Political Change”, explores how the arts promote wellbeing, address contemporary challenges faced by artists, and highlights the role of curators in polarised global environments. Four key sessions include: Culture and Wellbeing: Arts and Healing Communities; Arts in Conflict: Resistance and Hope; Upholding Artistic Integrity in a Polarized World; and Can the Arts Make a Difference Today?
Speakers include Pier Luigi Sacco (Professor, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy), Kateryna Botanova (Independent Cultural Researcher and Curator, Ukraine and Switzerland), Jonathan Harper (Chief Executive, Paraorchestra, UK), Cindy Van Acker (Artist, Compagnie Greffe, Switzerland), Jurriaan Cooiman (Founder and Artistic Director, Culturescapes, Switzerland), Fizza Hassan (Founder and Artistic Director, Theatre Wallay, Pakistan), Cathy Levy, CM (Independent Dance Producer/Advisor/Mentor, NAC Dance Producer Emerita, Canada) and Łukasz Twarkowski (Associate Artist, and Onassis Stegi (Athens), NewError Productions, Poland).
Online registration ends 23 May 2025.
https://www.ispa.org/page/congress_lug25
League of American Orchestras 2025 National Conference
When: 11–13 June 2025, Salt Lake City, US
Join leaders and professionals in the orchestral music industry at the League of American Orchestras’ 2025 National Conference, hosted by Utah Symphony | Utah Opera. This year’s theme is ASCEND, focusing on aspiring to new heights and imagining a bold future for orchestral music. The conference offers three days of learning, networking and discovery through conference sessions, workshops and panel discussions. Additional highlights include live performances by the Utah Symphony and Utah Youth Symphony and an outdoor concert among nature.
69th WFIMC General Assembly
When: 25–29 June 2025, Harbin, China
Hosted by the Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition, this international conference will be the first of its kind in China and spotlight the dynamic blend of history, culture and music that defines Harbin. Nicknamed the “Paris of the East”, Harbin boasts a rich cultural heritage influenced by Russian, Chinese and Jewish traditions, but is also home to the Harbin Symphony Orchestra, an outstanding conservatory, concert hall and a futuristic opera theatre. Delegates will engage in various forums and round tables on digital marketing, AI, music education and career support. A large part of the conference will be open to the public. Join the WFIMC in Harbin to meet leaders of the world’s leading international music competitions as well as music professionals from China and beyond! wfimc.org/
Manchester Classical
When: 27–29 June 2025, Manchester, UK
Award-winning festival Manchester Classical returns to The Bridgewater Hall for a weekend of music, collaboration and discovery. From 27 to 29 June, Manchester’s world-class ensembles—including the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, Riot Ensemble, Manchester Collective and RNCM—unite to celebrate the city’s vibrant classical scene. The programme features headline concerts,
free performances, family activities and a grand finale with a new commission by Iain Farrington. Highlights include Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood performing Steve Reich, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and a live performance
of Box of Treasures with film.
Pacific Contact 2025
When: 2–5 October 2025, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Pacific Contact is British Columbia’s annual performing arts showcase conference and brings together hundreds of performing arts professionals for approximately 40 live, multi-disciplinary performances, including music, dance and theatre. Attendees can explore the Contact Room exhibit hall, participate in networking events, panels, meetings, and workshops, and discover new artists. Highlights include the ‘Pitch & Perform’ sessions, offering artists five-minute opportunities to showcase or pitch their work. The conference also features a gala awards dinner with live performances and dancing.
bclive.ca/pacific-contact-2025/
Classically Black
When: 18 October, London, UK
Presented by Black Lives in Music (BLiM), Classically Black returns to Kings Place for a powerful one-day festival reimagining the future of classical music through Black and global majority perspectives. The programme features performances by Sabi Ensemble, Simmy Singh and The Jollof House Party Opera, a keynote from Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, a panel discussion on equity in classical music, and Evolving Sounds – a showcase for emerging artists. A youth workshop led by composer Pete Letanka nurtures the next generation, while DJ Spoony leads a special fifth anniversary celebration for BLiM with live UK garage and R&B performances.
kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black
WOMEX
When: 22–26 October 2025, Tampere, Finland
WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo) is celebrating its 31st edition in Tampere, Finland. With over 2,600 professionals (including 260 performing artists) from 90 countries, it is the most international and culturally diverse music meeting in the world. The conference features a trade fair of over 700 exhibitors, talks, films and showcase concerts from around the globe.
