The multi-day celebration will bring 40 incredible global acts together for four massive nights of completely free live music from October 2 to 4, capping off with a final showcase on October 7 at CQ @ Clarke Quay.
As the excitement of Grand Prix season rolls in, Singapore’s legendary CQ @ Clarke Quay is set to transform into the city’s ultimate live music hub.
The monumental festival is made possible through the backing of key institutional partners, including CQ @ Clarke Quay, the Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS), and Universal Music. The event also receives proud international and cultural delegation support from Sounds Australia, TAFMA, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), alongside various global entities.
Marking a massive milestone, Music Matters is celebrating 21 years of championing live entertainment by bringing 40 incredible rising stars to the stage. Representing 15 different countries, these global acts will deliver four electrifying nights of completely free live music, offering fans a unique opportunity for sonic discovery.
The multi-genre lineup features a stellar crew of global boundary-pushers, including the Philippines’ very own hitmakers Lola Amour, New Zealand’s BORDERLINE, and homegrown Singaporean talent St. Humain. Joining them are Mexico’s indie darling Bratty, Australian folk-rock favorites Pierce Brothers and Flynn Gurry, Japanese power group KID PHENOMENON from EXILE TRIBE, Chinese sensation Runyu, and a massive slate of other rising global talents.
Music lovers can rev up their engines for the main event, as Music Matters Live takes over the iconic Mainstage at CQ @ Clarke Quay’s Fountain Square. The high-energy performances will run across the weekend from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4, before roaring back to life for a final mid-week show on Wednesday, October 7.
The festival boasts a massive global footprint, uniting artists from Australia, France, India, Indonesia, and Japan. Audiences will also get to discover incredible talent hailing from Malaysia, Mexico, Nagaland, the Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, and Vietnam.
Music Showcases:
Festival-goers can catch these rising stars across multiple spots at CQ @ Clarke Quay—including the central Mainstage at Fountain Square and the Swee Lee venue. A major highlight of the weekend is the special “Music Is Universal” showcase, curated and presented by Universal Music on Sunday, October 4.
• ‘MadeIN Philippines Spotlight Weekend’ presented by NCCA (2-4 Oct)
• ‘MadeIN Japan Spotlight’ presented by EXILE TRIBE (3 Oct)
• ‘MadeIN Nagaland, India’ presented by the Government of Nagaland and TaFMA (3 Oct)
• ‘Sounds Australia’ showcases at Music Matters Live (3 & 4 Oct)
• ‘Girls’ Night Out’ presented by It’s A Girl Thing, Branded (7 Oct)
• ‘MIC CHECK’ presented by Music Matters Live
• ‘MML SELECTS’ presented by Music Matters Live
Global Sounds Collide: Universal Music Presents ‘Music Is Universal’
The “Music Is Universal” showcase returns to the Music Matters Live schedule on Sunday, October 4, at CQ @ Clarke Quay, focusing on Universal Music’s prominent Southeast Asian talent pool. The event unites rising pop artists from across five regional nations—the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia—on a singular stage. The performance slate features DOLLA, LYHAN, MARBLES, VVV, and XONARA.
‘MadeIN’ – Music Matters Signature Country Showcases
The global stage is set as Music Matters prepares to debut its premier ‘MadeIN’ country showcases, dedicated to elevating exceptional international musicians.
October brings a series of major firsts with the launch of the ‘Made IN Philippines Spotlight Weekend’, presented by the NCCA in partnership with BSE and Music Matters. Built on the idea of music as a vehicle for cultural exchange, the event connects the regional industry network with premier Filipino talent. Taking the stage for special performances are P-Pop powerhouses KAIA and PIX!E, plus Lola Amour, who enters the event riding high as the most-nominated group at this year’s Awit Awards with 15 nominations.
Adding to the international excitement, the weekend lineup welcomes two rising powerhouse groups from Japan: LIL LEAGUE and KID PHENOMENON. Audiences can expect high-octane performances from these next-generation talents, with more event details and activities still to be revealed.
Music Matters is also launching its inaugural MadeIN Nagaland showcase, presented in partnership with TaFMa. Following the momentum of Trance Effect’s standout performance, this year’s stage is set to introduce even more rising talent from the culturally rich Indian province.
‘Sounds Australia’ @ Music Matters Live
Music fans in Singapore are getting a double dose of Australian talent this year as Sounds Australia rolls out two exclusive events at Swee Lee and CQ @ Clarke Quay. The showcases will mark the highly anticipated Singaporean debuts of a diverse group of rising stars, featuring live sets from Alice George, FVNERAL, Flynn Gurry, Holly Hebe, Lucy Sugerman, Mariae Cassandra, Peach Fuzz, Pierce Brothers, Reuben Del Melo, SAHXL, Squid The Kid, and TOWNS.
‘Girls’ Night Out’ – presented by It’s A Girl Thing, Branded
The ultimate wrap party arrives with ‘Girls’ Night Out’, a high-energy closing event set to conclude All That Matters and Music Matters Live in style. Curated by Branded’s own It’s A Girl Thing, the evening will shine a dedicated spotlight on powerhouse female artists making waves across the Asia-Pacific and the global music scene.
Audiences can look forward to a boundary-breaking night of live music spanning multiple genres. The lineup features Bratty, the event’s first-ever performing artist from Mexico, alongside Maisha Kanna (ID), Lucy Sugerman (AU), and SARINA (JP), with Singapore’s very own Haneri holding things down on the decks. Boasting even more names to be announced, ‘Girls’ Night Out’ promises to be an unforgettable finale to Music Matters Live 2026.
In an impressive milestone, Music Matters Live revealed that this year’s lineup is organically around 50% female-led. This natural balance underscores a strong commitment to spotlighting the diverse range of women currently shaping the global music scene.
A Milestone in Asia’s Music Calendar
Running alongside the 21st edition of All That Matters (Oct 5–7)—Asia’s premier entertainment industry conference—Music Matters Live returns as a cornerstone event of the Singapore Grand Prix Season (GPSS). Reflecting on the milestone, Branded CEO Jasper Donat shared: “Music Matters Live has always been about creating a bridge for global talent to discover and be discovered within Asia and beyond. This 21st edition is a true celebration of incredible music, culture, and innovation, all coming alive at CQ @ Clarke Quay in the very heart of Singapore.”
Event Rundown at a Glance
STAGES & SHOWCASES
Mainstage, Fountain Square CQ @ Clarke Quay
2 Oct (Fri), 6:55pm: Music Matters Live (MML)
3 Oct (Sat), 4:00pm: MML / MadeIN Nagaland / MadeIN Philippines Spotlight / MadeIN Japan
4 Oct (Sun), 4:00pm: Music Is Universal
4 Oct (Sun), 6:00pm: Sounds Australia at CQ @ Clarke Quay
7 Oct (Wed), 6:45pm: ‘Girls’ Night Out’
Swee Lee @ Clarke Quay
Sat 3 Oct – Sounds Australia @ Swee Lee Sun 4 Oct – Music Matters Live
Wed 7 Oct – Music Matters Live
And more to be announced.
All dates and times are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change. For the latest updates and information on the full showcase schedule, please visit www.musicmatterslive.asia and follow @musicmatterstome on Instagram.
