Excited to share that I participated as a speaker at the 13th edition of TALKFEST – Music Fest Summit!
Held on March 21, 2025, at the Hotel Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto, the summit brought together leading voices in the music and events industry for a day of thought-provoking debates and shared experiences.
I contributed with a talk titled “Mass Festivals and Cultural Management,” where I reflected on the sociocultural dynamics, governance challenges, and creative responsibilities involved in organizing large-scale festivals. Drawing from my research and fieldwork, I discussed how mass events shape urban life, cultural narratives, and audience experiences — and how we might imagine more inclusive and sustainable futures for the sector.
It was an honour to share the stage with amazing professionals such as Ana Teresa Ventura, Carlos Manaça, Elisa Almeida, Mallu Magalhães, and Paulo Santos. Their insights and perspectives added depth to an already rich conversation on the evolving landscape of music and cultural events.
A huge thank you to APORFEST – Associação Portuguesa de Festivais de Música for the invitation and the excellent organization of this key meeting point for the music and festival community.
Manuel Garcia-Ruiz 