Day one of IMS Ibiza, in partnership with AlphaTheta, delivered. With bold ideas and a programme that moved from industry research and cultural debate to community, wellbeing, and on to the first dancefloors of the week, today has set the pace nicely.
The State of the industry
IMS opened with introductions from co-founder Ben Turner, Danny Whittle and Pete Tong and co-hosts Jaguar and Katie Knight before Mark Mulligan presented the IMS Electronic Music Business Report 2025/26, the definitive snapshot of the cultural, financial and economic trends shaping electronic music worldwide.
Steven Braines, co-founder of HE.SHE.THEY., delivered the opening keynote, Reclaim the Dancefloor, setting out the bigger challenge facing the culture as electronic music navigates increasing pressure from capital, consolidation, AI and shifting audience behaviour.
That thread continued in the opening discussion with voices from CAA, Resident Advisor, Secret Cinema, and Teletech asking what must be protected if electronic music is to scale without losing its foundations.
Icons, innovators and enduring influence
Later in the day, IMS Ibiza welcomed a rare keynote interview with 2manydjs / Soulwax, as David and Stephen Dewaele reflected on boundary-pushing curation, cultural longevity and what it means to stay relevant across decades of change.
That was followed by a special RA Exchange with pioneering composer Suzanne Ciani, before Pete Tong closed the day with a Keynote Interview with Yann Pissenem, founder and CEO of The Night League and Ushuaïa Entertainment and the recipient of the IMS Legends Award 2026, on vision, innovation and his lasting impact on Ibiza’s evolving club culture.
Pressure, legacy and the future taking shape
On the Summit Stage – Outdoor, and fittingly on Earth Day, day one explored another set of urgent questions, from sustainability and accountability in music with contributors including EarthPercent, TuneCore and IbizaPreservation, to conflict, community and resilience in conversation with figures including Sama’ Abdulhadi, Emmanuel Jal and EXIT Festival founder Dušan Kovačević.
There was also a celebration of long-term independence through 35 Years of Nervous Records, featuring Todd Terry, Josh Wink, Oscar G, Harry Romero, and Nervous Records president Michael Weiss, alongside further discussion on rights, royalties and regional momentum through sessions with AFEM, BMAT, KUVO and Telekom Electronic Beats.
Culture, care and the wider conversation
Across The Brave Space, presented by HE.SHE.THEY., the programme tackled legacy, identity, welfare and online abuse, with sessions featuring artists Suzanne Ciani, Kangding Ray and Tinie Tempah, continuing to challenge the industry on who it serves, how it protects and what accountability really looks like.
The Art of Areté, presented by AlphaTheta, offered a different kind of focus, with sessions spanning nutrition, Ayurveda, transcendence and somatic recovery, creating space for pause, reflection and nervous system reset within the intensity of the wider summit.
The next generation in focus
At IMS Academy, presented by Pete Tong DJ Academy and AlphaTheta, the spotlight turned to the next wave. Sessions with AlphaTheta, Pete Tong, Sasha, 36db, Pointblank, Beatport and EMPIRE Dance & Dirtybird brought practical insight into how the industry works now, how careers are being built, and what it takes to stand out in 2026.
Alongside keynotes, masterclasses and demo listening, the 10 in 10 DJ sets brought a rapid burst of new talent and fresh energy to the programme throughout the afternoon.
As the daytime programme gave way to evening, the energy shifted across the island, from Dirtybird Social poolside, to the IMS Legends Award Dinner in honour of Yann Pissenem, before continuing into opening parties at Akasha with 2manydjs and at Chinois with Nervous Records.
Credits: cover picture by IMS 2026
