Music Advocates Head to Capitol Hill: NAMM's 20th Annual D.C. Fly-In

March 31, 2026

For two decades, music industry leaders and education champions have made the journey to Washington, D.C., to do something deceptively simple: talk with their elected representatives. This May, that tradition continues when NAMM convenes its 20th Annual D.C. Fly-In, bringing together delegates from across the country for four days of training, community and action.   
Scheduled for May 10-14, the Fly-In marks a milestone anniversary for one of the music industry's most distinctive advocacy traditions. What began as a modest gathering of industry voices has grown into a coordinated, multi-day effort that puts music retailers, manufacturers, educators and industry partners face-to-face with the legislators who shape federal policy.   
 

Why It Matters

The stakes in 2026 are significant on two fronts. Federal funding for music education — through Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act and related programs — remains a perennial pressure point in appropriations debates, even as research continues to demonstrate that music instruction improves academic outcomes, reduces absenteeism and equips students with the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills essential for college and career success. Delegates will carry clear asks to preserve and increase that funding, grounding their conversations in student workforce-development outcomes and the long-term health of the music products industry.   
At the same time, escalating tariffs have placed enormous financial pressure on the industry. In 2025, American music product companies paid $1.34 billion in tariffs — more than five times what they paid the year before. NAMM delegates will also urge Congress and the administration to provide targeted tariff relief for musical instruments, their components and the raw materials used to manufacture them.   
 

More Than Meetings

The Fly-In has always been about more than policy briefings. The third annual NAMM Jam brings delegates and congressional staffers together in an informal setting, turning advocates into collaborators and reinforcing the human story behind the policy. This year, a Day of Service at McKinley Technology High School will also give delegates the opportunity to connect directly with students and educators in the D.C. community — a reminder of exactly who benefits when music programs are funded and protected.

Congressional Record and America250

A new partnership will further amplify the week's message. Congressional Record, a bipartisan evening event to be held May 13 on Capitol Hill, will highlight the unifying power of America’s musical heritage and the positive impact that access to music and art education has on communities nationwide, showcasing the musical talents of bipartisan, bicameral Members of Congress — featuring the Congressional Musicians Caucus and the Congressional Arts Caucus.   
 

Two Decades of Showing Up

Twenty years of Fly-Ins represents 20 years of relationships built and funding protected. Congressional offices recognize NAMM delegates not as lobbyists passing through, but as constituents who keep coming back — because the issues they care about don't go away.   
As the 20th Annual D.C. Fly-In approaches, NAMM members interested in joining the delegation are encouraged to connect with us to learn how to get involved. Advocacy works best when more voices are in the room — and this May, there's plenty of history worth showing up for.