Africa Rising Music Conference 2026

Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) 2026 returns to Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, on 22–23 May 2026, bringing together artists, executives, technologists, policymakers, brands, and cultural leaders from across Africa and the world. As one of the continent’s leading music and creative industry platforms, ARMC continues to shape the future of African music through innovation, dialogue, cultural exchange, and real-world collaboration.

Over two days and nights, ARMC 2026 will deliver a fully integrated programme spanning conference sessions, workshops, networking, music technology showcases, live performances, and cross-border cultural collaborations.

This year’s programme features conversations and workshops around:

• Music technology and AI in the creative industries
• Rights, publishing, and revenue generation
• Artist development and export strategy
• Audience growth and digital marketing
• Creative wellness and sustainability
• Independent artist ecosystems and infrastructure
• African genres and digital communities
• Cross-continental collaboration and market access

Featured programme sessions include:

• Elaine: Authenticity in Music presented by SAMRO
• The Future of Culture & Communities Online
• Release Day Is Dead: Using Data to Build an Always-On Music Story on TikTok
• The Sound Mind: Creative Wellness & Sustainability
• Rights & Revenues Masterclass
• Amplifying Your Audience on Meta
• Building an Artist: Sound, Story, Team & Strategy
• Innovation / AI in the Creative Industries
• Australia Music Market Spotlight
• Friends of the SAMAs – Roots to the World Stage

ARMC 2026 brings together a diverse mix of artists, executives, media leaders, technologists, and innovators from across Africa and internationally, including:

Elaine, Simmy, Filah Lah Lah, Tresor, Henrik Schwarz (DE), Milan Ring (AUS), DOBBY (AUS), Mörda, Rouge, Ney The Bae, Young Duragg, Vini Mercy (UGA), DJ Buhle, Haruna (UK), Sebastian & Leena (CH), Timanti (UK), Brother Kupa, The Big Samba, Rofhiwa Maneta (Meta), Steffen Holly (Fraunhofer IDMT, Germany), Alex Jukes (Jukebox PR, UK), Nkosiyati Khumalo (Billboard Africa), and many more.

Strategic Industry Partnerships:

ARMC 2026 is delivered in partnership with leading local and international organisations including the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA), Fraunhofer IDMT, MusicTech Germany, Paradise Worldwide, AIxchange, and multiple global cultural and export partners helping drive innovation, rights awareness, artist development, and sustainable growth across Africa’s music ecosystem.

Programme Pillars for 2026

ARMC 2026 is built around four core pillars:

• Live & Entertainment
• Innovation & Music Technology
• Education & Employment
• Export & Building Bridges

These pillars support ARMC’s mission to create sustainable pathways between African talent, international markets, technology, infrastructure, and opportunity.

Genre Spotlights: Lekompo & Maskandi

This year’s programme places a spotlight on the rapid growth and cultural relevance of regional African genres. Lekompo, emerging from Limpopo, has become one of South Africa’s fastest-growing genres through community-driven digital growth and streaming culture. At the same time, Maskandi continues to demonstrate how traditional music can evolve and scale within modern digital ecosystems without losing its identity.

AI & Music Think Tank Roundtable.

ARMC’s AI & Music Think Tank expands significantly in 2026 through collaborations with international technology and research partners.

The initiative explores:

• Ethical AI implementation
• Creator protection and fair attribution
• Digital rights and transparency
• Independent African infrastructure
• Future-facing music ecosystems and policy

The programme brings together music executives, policymakers, technologists, and creatives to engage in practical conversations around the future of music and technology on the continent.

ARMC 2026 Theme Song

The official ARMC 2026 theme song, “3NRGY” by Money Badoo (South Africa) and Bony Fly (Switzerland), reflects the conference’s commitment to meaningful international collaboration and creative exchange.

Listen to “3NRGY”:

https://paradise.ffm.to/3nrgy

ARMC by Night

ARMC by Night, presented by Johnnie Walker Afro Exchange, extends the conference experience into a curated nighttime programme featuring live performances, DJ showcases, artist collaborations, and cultural activations across Johannesburg. Across two nights, the programme features artists from South Africa and around the world, including:

Henrik Schwarz (DE), Milan Ring (AUS), DOBBY (AUS), Mörda (ZA), Rouge (ZA), Ney The Bae (ZA), Vini Mercy (UGA), Haruna (UK), Timanti (UK), Sebastian & Leena (CH), Young Duragg (ZA), DJ Buhle (ZA), Brother Kupa (ZA), Rarri (ZA) featuring a special appearance by Money Badoo (ZA), The Big Samba (ZA), Cradle Crew (ZA), and more.

Who Should Attend?

ARMC 2026 is designed for:

• Artists and managers
• Labels and publishers
• Promoters and venue operators
• Music and technology startups
• Media professionals
• Cultural policymakers
• Investors and development partners

Whether you are building, supporting, investing in, or shaping Africa’s music ecosystem, ARMC offers a space to connect, learn, collaborate, and experience the future of African music and culture in real time.

Join us in Johannesburg and help shape the next chapter of Africa’s music industry.