Futures 2026, registration deadline postponed

There will be time until February 28th to submit your application for the 2026 edition of Futures, growth path dedicated to young artists, producers and aspiring professionals in the music industry.

The initiative, born from an idea by Woodworm Publishing, in collaboration with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, Gemma Concerti and SIAE, “is – explain the promoters – much more than a contest: it is a path designed to give tools, connections and concrete opportunities to those who want to grow in music. Its spirit is contained in the new payoff: ‘Take it slow, follow your music. Here music finds the space and time to become great’. An invitation to slow down, to really listen to yourself and own proposal, to patiently build something unique, which will last”.

After an initial listening phase by music business professionals, those selected will have the opportunity to make themselves known to professionals in four geographical areas – North-East, North-West, Center and South – on dates and locations that will be communicated shortly, with the aim of making participation accessible to everyone, regardless of where they are located. The tutors of the 2026 edition of Futures will be the producer Tommaso Colliva, the composer and multi-instrumentalist Rodrigo D’Erasmo and Dario Mangiaracina and Veronica Lucchesi, owners of the La Representative di Lista project.

“What’s new this year is greater attention to the production phase”, explained the managers at the presentation of the project: “The artists will have the opportunity to enter the studio and work closely with leading authors and producers, facing a real ‘field test’ together with the tutors of this edition. It will be a crucial moment to understand attitudes, mentality and talent, and to experiment with creative work in the studio as it happens in the professional world”.

“Futures is an alternative path to the music business highway, a possible and concrete detour through which to develop one’s talent in a sustainable and long-lasting way”, added Marco Gallorini, CEO of Woodworm Publishing: “Respecting the artist and the uniqueness inherent in each artistic project, with times and methods unrelated to the strong pressures that the market imposes in recent years with deleterious effects on the artistic quality and often on the mental and physical health of those who make music”.

In the first year of activity, Futures collected over 600 applications from artists and 200 aspiring professionals, leading to 44 live performances in 7 Italian cities, and creating connections between emerging artists, managers, record companies and industry professionals. “Some of these talents have signed contracts with partner companies, others have had the opportunity to work with authors and producers to give life to new projects”, specify the organizers.

All information and the form to submit your application are available on the site www.futuresitalia.com.