Photo by Billboard
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From October 20 to 24, 2025, Billboard Latin Music Week takes over the Fillmore Miami Beach, cementing Miami once again as the global capital of Latin music. With more than 100 confirmed artists and over 30 panels and performances, this year’s edition will be the largest in its 36-year history.
For Leila Cobo, Billboard’s Chief Content Officer for Latin, the event is a cultural engine. “We’re creating a space that’s useful, relevant, and tuned into what’s happening right now,” she says in conversation with New Times. “This is not just a party for insiders anymore. It’s for anyone who wants to understand and shape where Latin music is going.”
Latin music has already crossed over to the world, and the world embraced it in Spanish. “Global audiences now expect artists to sing in Spanish,” says Cobo. “Latin artists aren’t adapting to the industry anymore, the industry is adapting to them.”
Artists like Karol G, Bad Bunny, and Peso Pluma dominate global charts without altering their sound or language. “That’s power,” she says. “That’s where we are.”
For emerging artists, Billboard Latin Music Week offers rare access, not just to the stage, but to real career-building tools.
The event kicks off with Industry Roundtables, where artists can sit one-on-one with executives in distribution, digital marketing, publishing, and more. “If I were an up-and-coming artist, that’s where I’d start,” says Cobo. “Come prepared. Pitch. Learn. Connect.”
This year also includes a live immigration Q&A with an attorney to guide attendees on artist visas, legal work status, and navigating a post-pandemic, AI-disrupted industry.
More than 100 artists, creators, and executives have been confirmed, making this year’s lineup the biggest ever. The list includes: Gloria & Emilio Estefan, Anuel AA, Carín León, Mike Towers, Kali Uchis, Danny Ocean, and more.
A Glimpse at the Program
Monday, October 20
- El Poder de la Independencia (with Lenny Tavárez, Yan & Yon MadMusick)
- El Efecto Influencer (with Karime Pindter, La Segura)
- Música y Cine, La Globalización de las Giras, and Networking Roundtables
- Night showcases by Platoon and Boombastic
Tuesday, October 21
- Superstar Q&As with Kali Uchis, Carín León, and Laura Pausini
- From the Roots: Soledad & Silvestre Dangond
- The Globalization of Latin Music with Interscope execs
- Rompiendo Estereotipos with Tokischa & Ivy Queen
- Afrobeats panel with Ozuna, Goyo, and Venesti
- Night showcase with Anuel AA
Wednesday, October 22
- Fireside Chat with Lyor Cohen of YouTube
- Selena y Los Dinos (Netflix preview with Suzette Quintanilla)
- Cumbia Explosion with Guaynaa, Olga Tañón, and Luck Ra
- Icon Q&A with Gloria & Emilio Estefan
- The Future of Música Regional Mexicana with Xavi, Neton Vega
- Night showcase with Rawayana and Santos Bravos
Thursday, October 23, leads into the Billboard Latin Music Awards, airing live on Telemundo and Peacock, followed by an afterparty with Danny Ocean at LIV Miami.
Friday, October 24, closes the week with BRESH MIAMI at M2.
You can view the full schedule and RSVP for showcases on the event’s website.
Miami: Still the Beating Heart of Latin Music
Why Miami? “Because it is Latin music,” says Cobo. “This is where Spanish is mainstream. It’s where artists record, labels operate, and fans show up.”
This year’s event also reflects the city’s creative energy, from legacy figures like the Estefans to rising Gen Z stars shaping the next wave.
This year also features a Women’s Panel: The Global Rise features stars like Aitana, Ela Taubert, Silvana Estrada, Yailin, and Yami Safdie. “We’ve come a long way,” says Cobo. “But it’s still important to carve out space for women to be seen, heard, and celebrated in this industry.”
Cobo doesn’t take the success of the event for granted. “I rethink every panel, every year. I ask myself: Would I pay to sit in this audience? What would inspire me? What would teach me something new?”
That attention to detail shows. Artists frequently approach her with stories of sitting in the crowd five years ago, and now returning as speakers or performers.
Billboard Latin Music Week. Monday to Friday, October 20-24, at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-7300; fillmore-miami.com.Tickets cost $196.87 to $885.68 via universe.com
