Editorial
Fun Business Days 2026 Brings 3,000 Leaders to Valencia
Fun Business Days 2026 brings 3,000 leaders to Valencia as global nightlife industry gathers for its fifth edition
The global nightlife industry is entering a new phase, one defined by structure, scale, and strategic decision-making. That shift played out at Fun Business Days 2026, where more than 3,000 industry leaders came together at Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia, marking a clear jump from the event’s early years. What began with a smaller group has now grown into a meeting point for clubs, festivals, artist management, and large-scale event teams, all focused on how the business side of nightlife is expanding across different markets. This edition made it clear that Fun Business Days is no longer just a conference setting, but a space where operators and decision-makers are directly exchanging how they run events, manage artists, and keep their brands consistent while working across multiple countries.
Inside Fun Business Days 2026 as Global Nightlife Leaders Shared How They Operate
At Fun Business Days 2026, the focus stayed on how established names are managing long-term growth across different markets. On the Fourvenues Stage, Rocco Veenboer and Tim Middelesch from Awakenings spoke through nearly three decades of decision-making behind one of techno’s most recognised brands, pointing to how consistent programming and a defined audience have allowed the brand to stay relevant internationally. In another session, Tamás Kádár of Sziget Festival, Alek El-Kazal from Ultra Europe, and Bernd Dicks of Parookaville broke down how large-scale festivals operate across countries with different regulations, while still keeping production levels and audience expectations aligned year to year.
The conversation around artist management showed how the role now extends far beyond bookings. Rachel Strassberger working with Black Eyed Peas, alongside Chris Braun of ARTBAT and Cristiana Votta representing Black Coffee, spoke about how artists are now managed across branding, partnerships, and long-term positioning as part of a wider business structure. That same approach carried into the session with Indira Paganotto and her manager Alex Avanzato, where they explained how their project has expanded through international residencies and into areas like fashion and creative direction, showing how artist development now moves across multiple industries at once. These discussions reflected how teams are building artist careers with a broader focus that goes beyond touring and releases alone.
How Fun Business Days 2026 Kept the Industry Connected Beyond the Sessions
Beyond the sessions, Fun Business Days 2026 extended into structured networking that ran throughout the two-day schedule. Attendees had access to a dedicated expo area, curated meeting zones, and a digital system that allowed professionals to arrange meetings in advance based on roles, markets, and business focus. This meant conversations were already in motion before people even arrived in Valencia, with promoters, agencies, and service providers moving straight into discussions that were directly relevant to their work.
The event also introduced formats such as speed meetings, giving booking teams, festival organisers, and suppliers short, focused time slots to connect without long gaps between conversations. Outside the main venue, smaller group activities across the city kept those interactions going in a more informal setting, allowing relationships to continue developing without the structure of a panel or scheduled session. Together, these elements made it clear that Fun Business Days is organised around ongoing interaction across the entire schedule, where connections are made continuously instead of being limited to specific networking slots.
Fun Business Days 2026 Partners Supporting the Event
Fun Business Days 2026 was supported by The Coca-Cola Company, Monster Energy, IQOS, Maison Saint Aix, and DAS Audio Group, with each partner contributing across different areas of the event as part of its wider industry backing.
As Fun Business Days continues to expand, this fifth edition in Valencia shows how quickly it has moved from a smaller gathering into a recognised meeting point for the global nightlife and live events sector. With more than 3,000 professionals now attending, the event reflects how the industry is organising itself around shared knowledge, cross-market operations, and long-term collaboration. The direction is clear, Fun Business Days is becoming a space where decisions are shaped, partnerships begin, and the next phase of nightlife business is being worked through in real time.
