Meet the Artists Performing at The 2026 NAMM Show (Bands at NAMM)
There is nothing in the world like a NAMM Show. Where else could you be with tens of thousands of humans driven by the shared passion of everything music?
Yes, there’s business to be done, plans to make, and educational sessions you can’t miss. But the show’s organizers also do a terrific job keeping IRL music-making front and center with Bands at NAMM. Interested in some numbers? Over five days on seven stages, there are 175 bands performing. You’ll find the talent on parade truly inspiring.
And varied. We are part of an international community of music makers, and you’ll certainly hear that during your time at the show. As eclectic as they are entertaining, acts of every genre and even a few genre-bending ones will perform. Yes, those acts on the big outdoor stage are there for a reason, but you’ll also appreciate the smaller stages, especially in the hotels.
One piece of advice, if I may, from someone who has looked forward to The NAMM Show for three decades: While hurrying from one meeting to another, give yourself pause to listen, if only for a few moments. And if you’re a gearhead of epic proportions like me, you won’t be able to keep yourself from checking out what instruments they are playing and what amps they are playing through.
The music you’ll hear will remind us why we do what we do. To encourage you, here are conversations with four of the acts you can catch. As for the other 171? We’ll leave that to kismet and the joy of stumbling upon and discovering your new favorite artist.
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NiNi
Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage | Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 10 am
What are your musical influences?
My roots are deeply grounded in traditional Chinese music — the sounds of my instruments, the ruan, sanxian and liuqin, formed my musical language from the beginning. At the same time, I’ve always been curious about what happens when those ancient sounds collide with the modern world, which ultimately led me toward creating folk metal and genre-bending music of my own.
I’ve been heavily inspired by musicians who refuse to follow the rules or stay in one lane. Artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Dick Dale and Frank Zappa, along with modern rule-breakers who honor their traditions and culture — such as the Hu, Bloodywood and BABYMETAL. I’m equally inspired by non-Western, boundary-breaking artists who challenge tradition from within and push their cultures forward, rather than preserving them in a museum.
What have been a couple of your musical performance highlights so far, and why?
Playing Pol’and’Rock Festival [in Czaplinek, Poland] in front of tens of thousands of people was unforgettable — the crowd was singing along to my songs, and the energy coming back from the audience was unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It was powerful and overwhelming in the best way, and deeply emotional to feel that kind of connection on such a massive scale.
Performing on America’s Got Talent live on television was another unforgettable experience. Walking onto that stage knowing millions of people were watching in real time was surreal. There’s an intense mix of adrenaline, focus and vulnerability that comes with live TV — you have one moment, one chance, and everything becomes clear. It pushed me in a way that few performances ever have.
The tens of thousands who attend The NAMM Show are musicians themselves — are you looking forward to playing for others who play?
Playing for musicians is special because they listen in a different way — they hear intention, technique and nuance; but they’re also open to being surprised. I think it becomes more of a conversation than a performance. NAMM feels like a place where curiosity and respect for sound live side by side, and I’m excited to share my instruments and my musical world with people who understand the dedication behind making music.
The NAMM Show features a gathering of the world’s greatest instrument makers — is there anything you’re especially looking forward to seeing?
I’m really looking forward to connecting with fellow musicians at NAMM. It’s a rare opportunity to be surrounded by so many artists who are passionate about instruments and sound, and those conversations are always inspiring.
Gear-wise, I’m always on the hunt, but I’m especially excited about what Xiaodaodashu (Music Area International) will be bringing to NAMM. They’re showcasing some new electric ruans, which is not something you normally see at a show like this and is completely in my lane. I can’t wait to get my hands on them, try them out, and jam — seeing traditional instruments pushed into new territory like that is exactly what excites me most about NAMM.
Too Hot for Leather
JAM Experience Hilton Stage, powered by Allen & Heath and BASSBOSS | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 9 pm
Not many rock bands hail from Nashville — what about that music community influenced you in creating your brand of classic rock?
It’s the worst-kept secret that Nashville really is the “Music City,” not just the “Country Music City.” So many of our favorite artists have worked either in the city itself or with people heavily associated with the scene here (think the Killers, Paramore, Kings of Leon). So many of the talented hired-gun musicians that perform for country artists are themselves incredible rock songwriters and players! And above all else, there’s something inherently “rock” about being in a band, and we are surrounded by so many friends in Nashville starting their own bands. They inspire and push us every day to be the best version of ourselves, and we’re so proud to be representing that in spirit at NAMM. And don’t forget, rock really is the music of rebellion — there’s something pretty fun about subverting the Nashville-Country expectation.
What have been a couple of your musical performance highlights so far, and why?
We played our first major festival stage in May of this past year at the Lovin Life Music Festival in downtown Charlotte. There’s something special about being on a stage that size and feeling your music being pumped out at that volume. It’s pure magic. And what a kind, appreciative and energetic crowd! Charlotte is a wonderful city for live music, and we can’t wait to get back there this winter.
We also recorded our new upcoming EP at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana. The town sits on the border with Mississippi along the Pearl River, and it really is “out in the country.” We had the studio for the whole week and really got to dig into the songs in a way we never have with our own writing before.
The tens of thousands who attend The NAMM Show are musicians themselves — are you looking forward to playing for others who play?
We love playing for other musicians! Getting to perform for people who themselves have dedicated years of their lives to the same craft is a great reward. We can’t wait to meet as many people as we can and hopefully make some friends along the way! The musician-to-musician connection is like no other.
The NAMM Show features a gathering of the world’s greatest instrument makers — is there anything you’re especially looking forward to seeing?
We can’t wait to see what’s out there whether it’s the newest updates to the Sabian cymbal lines, special Les Paul models … and maybe we’ll pick up a second jazz bass for John??? [Blackstock, bass player]. We are very excited to see and meet the people who drive the innovations forward that make our lives so musically satisfying!
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Shelby Natasha
Meyer Sound Westin Stage | Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 5 pm
You grew up in the Pacific Northwest and China — how would you describe your music and what are your influences?
I would describe my music as the intersection of Chinese and Western folk music, with an R&B & lo-fi beats production twist. I grew up in a mixed household of artists, as both parents introduced me to great poetry, and they really encouraged me from a very young age to connect with my roots and creativity. A huge influence on my art was growing up doing Chinese traditional folk dance, which introduced me to a world of beautiful Chinese folk music from a variety of minority regions in China.
For a big part of my life, I’d spend half the year in China and the other half in Seattle, and while that shaped my taste a lot, I think the homesickness for "the other half" and also the “third culture” aspect of that upbringing led to a yearning to express those feelings through music. I really do try to make my music sound like a love letter to all the places and people that shaped me.
What have been a couple of your musical performance highlights so far, and why?
My band and I got to perform at the Oregon Country Fair [Eugene, OR] and it was genuinely one of the most delightful experiences of my life. It was the first big festival I've ever gotten to play. I made so many friends, and it was just so playful and magical. The connective aspect of playing music feeds me really deeply, as a formerly very shy kid. I really love my band, and I really love getting to meet other musicians and music lovers.
Another musical highlight was playing this really cool EDM festival called Any Patch of Grass [Darrington, WA], and it was such a surprisingly meaningful experience for me. I had been really nervous about playing all weekend, hearing set after set of music that was so sick but so, so different from my own.
The tens of thousands who attend The NAMM Show are musicians themselves — are you looking forward to playing for others who play?
I'm so, so excited. I've heard of NAMM forever, as it’s the mecca for gearheads and such a music producer’s wonderland, but I’ve never actually been. I’m just beyond delighted to get to meet other musicians, and hopefully some fun jams will break out. I think my favorite thing about being around other musicians is that most of us like to play with each other. It would be really cool to meet some new collaborators and find new artists to listen to!
The NAMM Show features a gathering of the world’s greatest music instrument makers — is there anything you’re looking for or are especially looking forward to seeing?
There isn’t a ton of gear at a lot of stores that can cater to the guzheng but, I figure if there’s any place I can find new toys that play well with it, it’s NAMM. I'm just going with an open mind! I'd love to hear my guzheng run through new pedals and maybe find a tuning pedal that actually works for it. My secret wish is to find an electric guzheng. I don't think anyone makes those, but a girl can dream. I also am terrified to fly with my guzheng but, I am curious if there is anybody that makes hard cases for guzhengs. So far, I haven't found any.
Los Wizzards
DAS Audio Arena Plaza Stage | Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 4 pm
What are your musical influences?
We’re a multicultural funk band based in Miami. The band defies the boundaries of Latin alternative music with a trilingual, genre-blending sound that celebrates authenticity over algorithms. It’s a project driven by rhythm, soul and cultural fusion — a perfect fit for listeners who crave innovation and global vibes.
The audience can expect an engaging and fun performance; they should get ready to dance, jump and have a great time! We speak several languages, so they will also enjoy some Italian, Jamaican, Spanish and English lyrics and chants.
What have been a couple of your musical performance highlights so far, and why?
The NAMM Show is part of our all-time highlights precisely because of the well-educated audience with high standards and appreciation for live music. Any stage is important to us, but if we need to mention a second one, it’s the Miami Heat games when we were the house band for the NBA team back in 2020.
FYI: Los Wizzards just got our first Grammy nomination. That’s the main highlight of our careers so far. We’ll be at The NAMM Show right before the Grammy week celebrating this huge milestone.
The tens of thousands who attend The NAMM Show are musicians themselves — are you looking forward to playing for others who play?
We’d love to perform for or with Jon Baptiste one day. He’s definitely one of the musicians that we look forward to. My personal favorite one is the incredible Cory Wong. [Baptiste and Wong played NAMM last year.]
The NAMM Show features a gathering of the world’s greatest instrument makers — is there anything you’re especially looking forward to seeing?
Fun fact: This is a funk band without guitars; we have a Venezuelan cuatro instead, and I found the factory to launch my own brand at The NAMM Show two years ago, so we’ll be showcasing the instrument this time. We also have a relationship with Lutefish, Studiologic, CTM and other amazing brands.
Register for The 2026 NAMM Show and Experience Bands at NAMM Live
Held January 20–24, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California, The 2026 NAMM Show is the most anticipated event for the global music industry. Register today to explore the latest product innovations, engage directly with music brands, grow your career through education sessions — and take in all the music from the Bands at NAMM performing on multiple stages. It’s all happening January 2026 across the electric NAMM Show Campus. Register now >>
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About the Author
Kevin M. Mitchell is a multi-instrumentalist Conservatory grad who plays in several St. Louis–based bands. He teaches piano, guitar and bass, and is a fierce advocate of music education. He’s worn a NAMM badge since the early 1990s when he worked the booth for Alfred, a music education publisher. Kevin went on to write for many related MI trade magazines, including MMR. He’s been Senior Writer for PLSN and FOH magazines since their inception. This is his 20th year producing the Parnelli Awards. Ask him about the 1995 Baldwin baby grand he just bought.