Together Again at The 2026 NAMM Show, Honoring 125 Years
2026 is a special year for NAMM, marking the 125th anniversary of the association’s service to the music products industry. What started in 1901 as a group of piano dealers who wanted to unite music merchants has today become a global convention featuring education sessions, keynote speakers, live music on multiple stages, and the biggest draw of them all — musical products bursting through the seams of the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California.
From pianos and percussion to marching band instruments, pro audio and live sound products, The NAMM Show continues to hold its place in history as the prime event for the music industry. Here’s our recap of the show, which was held January 20-24. Enjoy reliving some moments, and be sure to check out our full 2026 photo album.
Music Products Found on the Floor
Whether you’re looking for a piano or thumb piano, you can find it at The NAMM Show. Traditional musical instruments and the lesser-known ones — plus tech and tools for the music industry pro — all have a place to be demoed and discovered. Here are a few highlights from the trade show floor:
Showgoers were dialed in during this Orange Amps demo.
In ACC North, an attendee tests Skaa Pro’s wireless audio tech.
A Fazioli piano responds to its player.
Luthier Dylan Arant of Ryan Guitars holds his stunning piece inspired by Grimms’ Fairy Tales.
A jam session at the JodyJazz booth shows the company’s saxophone mouthpieces in action.
Turn a corner, another jam. This one was at Viscount: The Art of Sound booth.
Maleficent, mistress of all evil, appears on a Giulio Negrini guitar at the Boutique Guitar Showcase, which celebrated 10 years at The NAMM Show.
Percussion made a comeback this year, featuring around 80 brands. An attendee plays a marimba in the Tama booth.
Education Sessions Designed for Every Niche in the Music Industry
The pro audio community gathers at TEC Tracks
Wednesday’s TEC Tracks Studio Summit was filled with studio owners, producers, engineers and operations professionals, and an expert panel gave attendees insights into studio design trends, AI tools and their impact on recording, and additional revenue streams.
Independent singer-songwriter Eric Jackson attended because he’s considering building an at-home studio. His key takeaway, he said, is “nobody’s denying it’s a tough industry to be in. It’s full of ups and downs. But [the panelists] talking about how they got through those moments, how they were able to turn studios around, was really beneficial.”
Mix With the Masters: Catching inspo with Charlie Puth
One of the most popular sessions of the show was put on by Mix With the Masters, “Turning Ideas Into Hit Songs,” with Charlie Puth. Famous for his hits like "Attention" and "We Don't Talk Anymore," Charlie addressed a packed room of NAMM Show attendees looking to gain insights into songwriting and production. Puth deconstructed an original track and connected with attendees through a Q&A.
“Music is such an amazing thing, everybody,” Charlie said to the hundreds of fans smiling at him. “We’re so fortunate to be here. I hate to be a broken record, but we have such an important role as artists, producers and songwriters in a day and age where people are having birthday parties and they’re just typing in ‘birthday party music’ and it’s all artificially made. This is the most important time to be human.”
Safe lifts for live events
There were several sessions for live events professionals as well, including “Electric Chain Motor Safety, Operation and Maintenance.” An ESTA-curated session presented by Mathias Grob and Jason Waller, it provided an overview of GIS electric chain hoists. Attendees learned about the design, features and options of GIS LP hoists and how to properly equip standard hoists, troubleshoot issues and perform maintenance.
David Strausberger, owner of Event Design Lab based in Redlands, CA, said it was a helpful general overview and made him think about “what things are positives or negatives from a design standpoint if I’m purchasing a chain hoist.”
AI in music production
Sandy Violin from Anaheim wrote a song using Suno, an AI music creator — she input her original lyrics and had the tool generate a band for it, which included a clarinet she wanted. Her excitement about AI tech motivated her to attend the A3E session, “AI for Instruments: Instruments Becoming Intelligent Co-Creators.”
“AI is a great tool. I highly recommend everybody give it a shot,” said Sandy. “If you’re a creative person, no matter what tool you’re using, you’re going to be creating.” But, she said, “There is a moral question. You can’t let AI overtake your life. Any tool … can exhaust you.”
For the DJs in the house
In a session designed for DJ professionals, speakers DJ Hapa and Henry Strange talked about how they got into DJing, their shift to live performances, challenges of the profession and tools of the trade. The crowd connected with points they made about reading a room, how to recover when the dance floor clears, and developing a connection to other artists you’re collaborating with live so that you gel in the moment.
Healthy hearing for music industry pros
With dozens of sessions addressing the artistry and business of music, The NAMM Show also offered a session with a health angle: “Healthy Hearing for Lifelong Music-Making,” presented by audiologist Dr. Melissa Heche.
Dr. Heche offered the audience expert insights into how hearing works and the cumulative effects of unsafe volume levels and covered two ways to protect your hearing — passive earplugs, which take down the loudness of the sound, and custom plugs, which have a filter. “The filter will be nonlinear attenuation across all frequency bands, so it allows you to hear the sound but with the same integrity as the music’s designed but at a safer level,” she said.
To encourage healthy hearing starting that day, Dr. Heche provided free earplugs to all participants.
Bands at NAMM
With seven stages across The NAMM Show Campus and 175 live bands over five days, there were plenty of ongoing performances to satisfy every musical taste bud. These were some of the artists featured:
The audience at the Hilton soaked in the thrilling and dramatic desperado-style playing of artist Roland Grant, a guitarist who blends rock, flamenco and cinematic guitar music.
At the Sheraton lobby stage, the L.A.-based Angel City Fiddle Squad got audience members stomping to their originals and a fiddle-lover’s favorite, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
On the Yamaha stage, NiNi gave attendees a unique musical experience by playing the ruan and the three-string sanxian.
Adelaide Pilar sings “Me Gusta” on the DAS AUDIO Arena Plaza Stage.
Related Content: Meet the Artists Performing at The 2026 NAMM Show
Industry Recognition at Awards Nights
On Wednesday evening at the NAMM Retail Awards, Spicer’s Music won 2026 Retailer of the Year. See the NAMM Top 100 Finalists >>
Thursday evening at the Hilton, the Backline Talk Bash and Awards celebrated backline professionals who are the behind-the-scenes crews for live music events.
The Pacific Ballroom at the Hilton was packed for Thursday night’s NAMM TEC Awards, celebrating the best in pro audio and live sound. See the 2026 NAMM TEC Awards winners.
The She Rocks Awards was held Friday night and featured inspirational talks from honorees and thrilling performances.
Live events and entertainment tech professionals gathered Saturday evening at the Parnelli Awards, with a wide range of tours represented in the pool of nominees.
Other Notable Events
Industry Insights session celebrates NAMM’s 125 years
The Industry Insights breakfast session kicked off Thursday morning with a collection of speakers who represent the music products industry and its evolvement over the decades, including CEO of Martin Guitar, Thomas Ripsam, President Whitney Brown Grisaffi of Ted Brown Music, and CEO of Thomann Music, Hans Thomann.
“There are two reasons we are here stronger than ever,” said NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak during opening comments. “One, music-making is a core function of humanity. No matter how much changes, society will always desire to make music. And two, our association, since 1901, has been consistently guided by the best minds in our industry who come together, even as competitors, to ensure their association is helping the entire industry grow.”
At the close of the session, Rick Beato was presented with the NAMM Music for Life Award for his influential work as a YouTube educator, music industry commentator and highly effective content creator.
Students steal the show at The Grand Rally for Music Education
A highlight of the Grand Rally for Music Education breakfast session was the performance by the teenage jazz group from The Roots of Music. A recipient of a NAMM Foundation grant, The Roots of Music is a New Orleans-based program serving children ages 3-18 from low-income households by providing music education, hot meals and round-trip transportation to reduce barriers to musical participation.
125-year NAMMiversary bash with Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns
The band, based in Las Vegas, closed out The 2026 NAMM Show with funky tunes and a high-energy performance on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage. With a 6-piece horn section, 6-piece rhythm section and multiple lead vocalists, Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns delivered an unforgettable performance celebrating 125 years of NAMM and all the people who make up the music industry.
Stay Connected With NAMM All Year
We thank all our members and global attendees for joining us at our 125-year celebratory NAMM Show. The show may be over, but there’s a lot to do with NAMM year-round.
Explore NAMM Year-Round Events & Benefits >>
Jump Back in Time: Explore NAMM’s 125-Year Historical Timeline >>
Get Your 2027 NAMM Show Booth >>
Sign Up to Be Notified for 2027 NAMM Show Registration >>
About the Author
Jessica A. Baris is a writer on the marketing team at NAMM and editor of Playback Blog. She shares member stories, covers The NAMM Show and collaborates with industry experts to create content that educates and informs NAMM members. Baris leads a musical life as a Latin dancer, growing singer and player of instruments, including castanets, clave and tongue drum.