DJ News: October 2026
Serato goes mobile, a new Technics flagship, Guetta's sixth crown and Spotify's war on AI spam. Everything a working DJ needs from this month, in 3 minutes.
Serato DJ is now on iPhone and iPad
Serato launched its first full DJ app for iOS on October 20, alongside Serato DJ 5.0 on desktop. It's free to download, with the full version as a $149 in-app purchase or included if you already pay for Serato DJ Suite. It runs two decks with stems, connects to more than 120 controllers, mixers and turntables, and moves your crates and cue points over from your laptop.
Technics revealed the SL-1210MKX
Unveiled at Amsterdam Dance Event on October 21, the MKX is the new flagship above the MK7. It's the first SL-1200 with a dedicated ±4% pitch range for fine beatmatching, adds a ±50% mode, and is about 2 kg heavier for better isolation in loud booths. Sales start in January 2027 at €1,499 / £1,299. US pricing isn't confirmed yet.
David Guetta is DJ Mag's No. 1 for a record sixth time
The Top 100 DJs 2026 results were revealed on October 6 at [UNVRS] Ibiza. Guetta now has six wins, the most in the poll's history. Genre winners: Charlotte de Witte (techno), FISHER (house), Armin van Buuren (trance), Sara Landry (hard), Indira Paganotto (psytrance). Josh Baker was the highest new entry at No. 40.
Spotify pulled 50 million AI and spam tracks from recommendations
On October 20, Spotify said it has taken more than 50 million AI "slop" and spam tracks out of its recommendations this year, on top of 75 million spam tracks removed entirely. AI persona artists are now labelled and kept out of recommendations by default.
Amsterdam Dance Event turned 30
ADE ran October 21 to 25 across Amsterdam for its 30th edition. By September more than 1,500 artists were announced, with over 3,000 expected across 200+ venues, and Jean-Michel Jarre opened the week as guest of honour.
AlphaTheta launched wireless DJ headphones
The HDJ-F9 uses AlphaTheta's low-latency SonicLink wireless, so you can cue without a cable. Price is $349 / £329 / €379. Mixers without SonicLink need a separate transmitter.
A State of Trance is coming to Los Angeles
Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance announced its first two-day US festival: June 11 and 12, 2027, at Ace Mission in downtown LA, with Insomniac. Lineup still to come.
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