The 13th edition of Westway – LAB, LIVE, MEETING takes place from 8 to 11 April 2026 in Guimarães.

A living organism within the music ecosystem, a laboratory and stage for emerging talent as well as the affirmation of many others, and simultaneously a forum for knowledge and reflection on music and the creative industries, Westway is Portugal’s first showcase festival & conference, continuing to stand out for its spirit of discovery and its international reach since the very beginning.

In 2026, a year in which the city of Guimarães simultaneously holds the title of European Green Capital, Westway expands to four days (8–11 April) with multiple strands of activity: LAB (artists-in-residence), LIVE (showcase festival), and MEETING (conferences & networking).

Westway LIVE features names such as MXGPU (PT), PVA (UK), Smag På Dig Selv (DK), TRAVO (PT), xauxau dodô (PT), Carlos Maria Trindade (PT), GANS (UK), DITTER (FR), Scúru Fitchádu (PT), Gaia Banfi (IT), and XEXA (PT), who will perform across several stages at Centro Cultural Vila Flor and Teatro Jordão.

Hate Moss (IT), Hause Plants (PT), Hofe (ES), Humana Taranja (PT), MonchMonch (BR/PT), and Tiago Sampaio & Cody XV (PT) will perform in the City Showcases at several venues across Guimarães, including Ramada 1930, Convívio Associação Cultural (Salão Nobre), and CAAA – Centro para os Assuntos da Arte e da Arquitectura. Also noteworthy is one of the new features of this edition: the first-ever presentation in Portugal of The Portuguese Discovery, an initiative dedicated to the international representation of new Portuguese music, through which Ana de Llor, Summer of Hate and Sunflowers will perform in Guimarães.

Within the MEETING strand of Westway, and in collaboration with WHY Portugal, several (inter)national guests will visit Guimarães during these inspiring four spring days. Jess Partridge (European Music Managers Alliance), Hélio Morais (Primavera Tours), Paulo Silva (MED), João Rufino (Bons Sons), Terry Costa (Festival Cordas), Nadine Saize (Freelance), João Lemos (Sonus), Gabriel Nery (Pointlist), Mariana Lois (Festival A Porta), Paola Wescher (Last Tour), Stefan Schurter (Music Managers Forum), Yves Tattevin (Persona Grata), Yvan Soyouz (Soyouz Music), Jorge Dias (GIG Rocks), Miguel Augusto Silva (Armoniz), Carlos Maria Trindade (artist), Jorge Bizarro (WHY Portugal), Dalse Yoonyoung Kong (Zandari Festa, South Korea), Robin Werner (Reeperbahn, Germany), Jordi Fosas (Fira Mediterrània Manresa, ES), Jordi Casadesús (Mercat de Música Viva de Vic, ES), Joyce Jenny Loir (Ancienne Belgique, BE), Eugenio González (La Mar de Músicas, ES), Ísleifur Thorhallsson (Sena Live / Iceland Airwaves, IS), and Cíntia Marques (ARCUPS, the organisation behind the Ti Milha festival, PT) will share knowledge and reflect on the present together with Westway participants in Guimarães.

Westway MEETING also features the participation of moderators Gordon Masson, Isilda Sanches and Vítor Belanciano.