26 January 2026 – Johannesburg, South Africa – The Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) will take place again at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, on 22-23 May 2026. This event serves as a prominent venue for connecting the African and global music sectors through meaningful discussions, creativity, and partnership. The Africa Rising Music Conference is distinguished by its female leadership and emphasizes leadership, the exchange between artists and executives, and the creation of connections across the music industry.
“ARMC continues to be about building real pathways – between artists, executives, markets, and ideas,” says Sarah Jane Nicholson, Founder and Conference Director of Africa Rising Music Conference. “Announcing our first speakers and genre spotlights sets the tone for a programme rooted in collaboration, cultural relevance, and long-term industry impact. We’re excited to reveal much more in the months ahead.”
ARMC has revealed its first set of speakers from various areas including music, technology, media, and culture, with more international figures scheduled to be announced in the near future. Among the confirmed speakers are Elaine (Artist), Nkosiyati Khumalo (Billboard Africa), Filah Lah Lah (Singer/Songwriter), and Rofhiwa Maneta (Meta). The lineup of international speakers includes Steffen Holly from Fraunhofer IDMT in Germany and Alex Jukes from Jukebox PR in the UK, with additional voices expected to join. This year, ARMC has partnered with the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA), which represents major and independent record labels in the country. This collaboration aims to facilitate ongoing discussions about rights, sustainability, and the future of the industry. Furthermore, ARMC 2026 will showcase Lekompo, a rapidly emerging genre from Limpopo that is effectively converting grassroots success into a broader digital presence. Prominent artists such as Shandesh and Kharishma have achieved over 70-80 million cumulative streams and are experiencing growth in Spotify charts and playlists, indicating an expanding national audience through streaming.
The conference will also highlight Maskandi, examining how traditional music, deeply rooted in community, is gaining recognition among new mainstream audiences through digital channels while maintaining its cultural integrity. The AI Think Tank Roundtable, an initiative started in Berlin by Paradise Worldwide, AIxchange, the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM), MusicTech Germany, and the Fraunhofer Institute, will make its debut in Johannesburg in May 2026. This segment of the programme will assemble leaders from the music and technology sectors to discuss ethical AI practices, fair attribution, creator rights, and Pan-African independence ecosystems.
Early bird tickets are available via Quicket
