Global Music Giants Billboard & Starlite Reignite Spain with Iconic No. 1s Event!
Billboard and Starlite Music Group announced a strengthened strategic alliance, extending their Billboard No. 1s events in Spain through 2026 and 2027. Revealed at Billboard Latin Music Week, this collaboration aims to bridge Latin and Spanish music markets, with the next event in December at Starlite Occident Madrid. This builds on the success of the first non-U.S. edition, which celebrated Spanish music.
Billboard and Starlite Music Group, the Spanish company known for organizing prestigious annual festivals in Marbella and Madrid, announced on Tuesday, October 20, their renewed collaboration for Billboard No. 1s events in 2026 and 2027. This extension further solidifies a strategic alliance that was first established last year with the inaugural edition of the Billboard event held outside of the United States.
The significant announcement took place during Billboard Latin Music Week at the Faena Forum in Miami Beach, Florida. It was made during a panel discussion led by Leila Cobo, Billboard’s co-executive director of content, and Sandra García-Sanjuán, co-founder and executive president of Starlite Music Group. García-Sanjuán articulated the strengthening of this partnership, confirming that Billboard No. 1s would return to Starlite Madrid this Christmas as part of Starlite Occident, scheduled from December 11-23. She emphasized the intention of this three-year commitment to serve as a vital “bridge” between America and Spain, fostering opportunities for Latin artists to find a home in Spain and enabling Spanish artists to gain visibility in America through Billboard, which she referred to as “the Bible of music.”
Leila Cobo echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the partnership aligns with Billboard’s broader strategy to expand its brand into international markets, with Spain serving as a crucial “gateway to Europe.”
The upcoming edition of Billboard No. 1s Spain is slated for December at IFEMA, Madrid. It will be integrated into the programming for Starlite Occident Madrid, a series of concerts extending over two weeks in the Spanish capital. The event promises performances from artists who have achieved a top 10 position on the Billboard Hits of the World Spain Songs chart, along with special recognitions. The precise date for this highly anticipated event will be announced soon.
The first groundbreaking edition of Billboard No. 1s, held in December 2025, drew over 5,000 attendees. This event marked a historic milestone as both the first time Billboard No. 1s was staged outside the U.S. and the first time it celebrated music entirely in Spanish. Its star-studded lineup included international Spanish artists such as Ana Mena, Pablo Alborán, Rozalén, India Martínez, and Vanesa Martín, alongside acclaimed figures like legendary Cuban jazz musician Chucho Valdés, American pianist Arthur Hanlon, and Lebanese-born violinist Ara Malikian. For more comprehensive information, interested individuals are directed to visit the official website of Starlite Occident Madrid.