Electrónica en Abril 2026: Panel discussion: How do you put together a line-up?

Elisa Luengo (Dekmantel, De School), programmer and curator for Electrónica en Abril, will moderate a discussion between key figures on the international scene to analyse how a line-up is put together today: what criteria come into play, what tensions arise during the process, and how the context, the market and the identity of each project influence the outcome. Music programming involves much more than simply selecting names. It entails defining a narrative, taking risks, negotiating within budgetary constraints and responding to a specific cultural ecosystem. This panel will address the structural characteristics of music programming in European
contexts, as well as funding dynamics, relationships with agencies, identity building and the balance between local and international talent. Programmers from various European festivals, such as Rutger Smitshuijzen (Dekmantel) and Bia de Sousa (Kiosk Radio), will offer their perspectives on curatorial models in other regions and the criteria that define their respective artistic visions.