Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 10th – The MDLBEAST Foundation is proud to announce the fifth edition of XP Music Futures, taking place from Thursday, December 4 to Saturday, December 6, 2025, in Riyadh. Marking its five-year anniversary, XP Music Futures continues to lead the region as the most influential platform for advancing the music and creative industries, blending daytime knowledge exchange with vibrant nighttime performances that together create a 360-degree cultural experience.
This year’s program brings together an outstanding lineup of speakers and performers, with global innovators and regional icons set to headline. Among the first names announced are Palestinian-Jordanian rising star Zeyne, Khaliji music superstar Shamma Hamdan, Palestinian-Jordanian composer, singer, performer, and producer Aziz Maraka, DJ duo Moontalk, American-Palestinian artist Lina Makoul, and Moroccan-French rock band Bab L’ Bluz.
By day, XP unites artists, creators, and industry leaders for an exchange of ideas and skills through panels, workshops, and networking opportunities. By night, the focus shifts to live showcases where record labels and emerging talent take center stage, placing the spotlight firmly on the vibrant music scene in the Middle East and beyond, with India as XP’s spotlight country for 2025.
Reflecting on the evolution of XP Music Futures, Nada Alhelabi, General Manager at MDLBEAST Foundation, comments: “Reaching our fifth year is a milestone that reflects the incredible growth of XP Music Futures and the wider music ecosystem in our region. What began as a bold idea has evolved into a global platform that attracts artists, innovators, and leaders from every corner of the industry. This anniversary is not just about celebrating our journey so far, but about looking ahead with even greater ambition to inspire, empower, and elevate music culture in the region.”
As it celebrates this milestone year, XP continues to be guided by its four pillars: talent, scene, impact, and innovation. Building on its legacy of fostering community, the 2025 edition will also highlight the MDLBEAST Foundation’s initiatives designed to empower the next generation of music professionals. These include HUNNA, a groundbreaking program offering mentorship and networking opportunities for women in the music industry, and the continuation of Hearful, a hearing health awareness campaign that will expand in partnership with Arabtone to provide tests and earplugs at both XP and Soundstorm. Alongside these, Sound Futures will once again connect startups with investors, crowd-favorite contests PWR CHORD, XPERFORM, and Storm Shaker will host their semi-finals and finals at XP, and the Artist Management Bootcamp will showcase its program highlights focused on nurturing future industry leaders.
XP Music Futures’ strategic partnership with the Saudi Music Commission returns at this year’s conference. The Saudi Music Commission ensures that the development of the local music ecosystem remains equitable and anchored in the promotion of Saudi talent, values which are at the core of the MDLBEAST Foundation. Through strong programming, education, talent incubation and policy development, the Saudi Music Commission and XP Music Futures aim to fortify the future of the music industry in the Kingdom. Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Saudi Music Commission comments: “Over the past five years, Saudi Arabia’s music ecosystem has grown at an extraordinary pace. It is a testament to the talent, creativity, and collaboration driving this transformation. At the Music Commission, we are proud to partner with platforms like XP Music Futures that empower artists, inspire innovation, and strengthen the professional foundations of our industry. Together with MDLBEAST and our wider network of partners, we are building the future of music in the Kingdom; one defined by opportunity, diversity, and global connection.”
The 2024 edition welcomed 5,130 attendees across three days, hosted 23 partners, featured 121 daytime sessions, showcased 100 nighttime acts, and brought together 380 speakers from across the global industry. With its continued growth, XP Music Futures returns bigger and bolder than ever, standing as the pulse of the region’s fast-growing nightlife industry — a place where creativity, collaboration, and culture converge to inspire the future of music.
By day, XP unites artists, creators, and industry leaders for an exchange of ideas and skills through panels, workshops, and networking opportunities. By night, the focus shifts to live showcases where record labels and emerging talent take center stage, placing the spotlight firmly on the vibrant music scene in the Middle East and beyond, with India as XP’s spotlight country for 2025.
Reflecting on the evolution of XP Music Futures, Nada Alhelabi, General Manager at MDLBEAST Foundation, comments: “Reaching our fifth year is a milestone that reflects the incredible growth of XP Music Futures and the wider music ecosystem in our region. What began as a bold idea has evolved into a global platform that attracts artists, innovators, and leaders from every corner of the industry. This anniversary is not just about celebrating our journey so far, but about looking ahead with even greater ambition to inspire, empower, and elevate music culture in the region.”
As it celebrates this milestone year, XP continues to be guided by its four pillars: talent, scene, impact, and innovation. Building on its legacy of fostering community, the 2025 edition will also highlight the MDLBEAST Foundation’s initiatives designed to empower the next generation of music professionals. These include HUNNA, a groundbreaking program offering mentorship and networking opportunities for women in the music industry, and the continuation of Hearful, a hearing health awareness campaign that will expand in partnership with Arabtone to provide tests and earplugs at both XP and Soundstorm. Alongside these, Sound Futures will once again connect startups with investors, crowd-favorite contests PWR CHORD, XPERFORM, and Storm Shaker will host their semi-finals and finals at XP, and the Artist Management Bootcamp will showcase its program highlights focused on nurturing future industry leaders.
XP Music Futures’ strategic partnership with the Saudi Music Commission returns at this year’s conference. The Saudi Music Commission ensures that the development of the local music ecosystem remains equitable and anchored in the promotion of Saudi talent, values which are at the core of the MDLBEAST Foundation. Through strong programming, education, talent incubation and policy development, the Saudi Music Commission and XP Music Futures aim to fortify the future of the music industry in the Kingdom. Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Saudi Music Commission comments: “Over the past five years, Saudi Arabia’s music ecosystem has grown at an extraordinary pace. It is a testament to the talent, creativity, and collaboration driving this transformation. At the Music Commission, we are proud to partner with platforms like XP Music Futures that empower artists, inspire innovation, and strengthen the professional foundations of our industry. Together with MDLBEAST and our wider network of partners, we are building the future of music in the Kingdom; one defined by opportunity, diversity, and global connection.”
The 2024 edition welcomed 5,130 attendees across three days, hosted 23 partners, featured 121 daytime sessions, showcased 100 nighttime acts, and brought together 380 speakers from across the global industry. With its continued growth, XP Music Futures returns bigger and bolder than ever, standing as the pulse of the region’s fast-growing nightlife industry — a place where creativity, collaboration, and culture converge to inspire the future of music.
Early bird tickets to XP Music Futures 2025 are already available on NOFOMO via this link.
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For editorial inquiries, please contact Jaëlle-Laurence Günther mdlbeast@themediananny.nl
Please find the press kit with additional imagery here.
Please find the press kit with additional imagery here.
About the MDLBEAST Foundation
The MDLBEAST Foundation is dedicated to fostering a human-centric, innovative, and sustainable music ecosystem that prioritizes well-being, diversity, and education through impactful initiatives and strategic collaborations.
The MDLBEAST Foundation is dedicated to fostering a human-centric, innovative, and sustainable music ecosystem that prioritizes well-being, diversity, and education through impactful initiatives and strategic collaborations.