From 18–20 June, the city of Sunderland, UK, will host the international Music Cities Network (MCN) Summer Summit, bringing together representatives of music cities from around the world. Last year, the Summit took place in Vilnius, with Sunderland taking over hosting duties in 2026.
Vilnius joined the international Music Cities Network in October 2024 and has been actively involved in its activities ever since. At this year’s Summit, representatives of the city will join partners from across Europe and beyond to discuss music ecosystem development, cultural policy, international collaboration, and the role of music in building vibrant, creative and economically resilient cities.
Music Cities Gather in Sunderland
Sunderland is one of the newest members of Music Cities Network and the first UK city to host the Network’s Summer Summit. Taking place during the closing week of the city’s Year of Music programme, the event will serve as an important platform for discussions about the future of music in cities.
Over three days, participants will explore topics ranging from the integration of music into urban strategies and cultural policy to technology, international cooperation, and the long-term sustainability of the music sector. The Summit will bring together city leaders, cultural organisations, festival organisers, music industry experts, and representatives of the creative industries from across Europe and other regions of the world.
Vilnius Hosted the Summit Last Year
In 2025, the MCN Summer Summit was held in Vilnius. Members of the Network and invited partners gathered in the Lithuanian capital to discuss the night-time economy, live music, creative industries, and international collaboration, while also experiencing Vilnius’ music and cultural ecosystem first-hand.
“Music plays a vital role in shaping city identity, cultural policy and international collaboration. Music Cities Network allows cities not only to learn from one another, but also to create real opportunities for artists, organisations and audiences. We see that connections formed through gatherings like these often develop into new projects, partnerships and artist exchanges across different countries,” says Gabija Liaugminaitė, representative of the Vilnius Night Office and Board Member of Music Cities Network.
Today, the Network brings together cities from across Europe and beyond, including Berlin, Hamburg, Manchester, Edinburgh, Groningen, Reykjavik, Valencia, Sydney and Vilnius. Its mission is to strengthen local music ecosystems, foster international collaboration, and increase the role of music in urban development.
Migluma to Represent Vilnius
One of the public events taking place alongside the Sunderland Summit is MCN Live, an international showcase featuring emerging artists from different Music Cities Network member cities. This year, Vilnius will be represented by electronic music producer and performer Migluma.
Together with artists from Hamburg, the Netherlands and Sunderland, she will present her work to an international audience as well as music industry professionals attending the Summit.
“This will be my first performance in the UK, so I’m excited to share my music with audiences in Sunderland. I’m also looking forward to meeting other artists and music industry professionals. I believe that performing at the MCN festival will be the beginning of meaningful creative connections and future collaborations,” says Migluma.
Artist exchanges are one of the ways Music Cities Network supports collaboration between member cities, creating new opportunities for musicians, cultural organisations and audiences while strengthening international connections across local music ecosystems.
