ARMC unveils first speakers and programme focus for 2026

ARMC has positioned itself as a platform connecting African and global music industries through discussions on innovation, collaboration and long-term sustainability. The 2026 conference will bring together artists, executives and technology leaders from South Africa and abroad.

The first headline speakers announced include South African artists Elaine, Simmy and Filah Lah Lah, alongside Nkosiyati Khumalo of Billboard Africa and Rofhiwa Maneta from Meta. International speakers confirmed to date include Steffen Holly of Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology and Alex Jukes of UK-based Jukebox PR. Organisers indicated that additional speakers will be announced in the months leading up to the conference.

ARMC 2026 will be held in partnership with the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA), which represents both major and independent record labels. The partnership is expected to support discussions on intellectual property rights, sustainability and the long-term growth of the local music industry.

The conference programme will include dedicated spotlights on lekompo and maskandi. Lekompo, a genre that originated in Limpopo, has seen rapid growth through digital platforms, with artists such as Shandesh and Kharishma collectively recording between 70 and 80 million streams. Sessions will explore how regional sounds are translating local popularity into national audiences through streaming. Maskandi will also be examined, with a focus on how traditional music continues to reach wider audiences via digital platforms while maintaining its cultural roots.

The 2026 programme will be structured around four main pillars: live performance and entertainment, innovation and music technology, education and employment, and export development and international collaboration.

A significant technology-focused component will be the expansion of the AI Think Tank Roundtable to Johannesburg for the first time. Developed from ARMC’s Music in Tech (Africa) format introduced in 2025, the roundtable was launched in Berlin by Paradise Worldwide, AIxchange, the Association for Electronic Music, MusicTech Germany and the Fraunhofer Institute. The Johannesburg edition will convene music and technology leaders to discuss ethical artificial intelligence use, fair attribution, creator protection and the development of Pan-African music technology ecosystems.

ARMC has also released its 2026 theme song, ‘3NRGY’, a collaboration between South African artist Money Badoo and Swiss producer Bony Fly. The track emerged from the conference’s annual studio sessions, which are intended to encourage meaningful creative exchange between artists from different regions.

Commenting on the announcement, ARMC founder and conference director Sarah Jane Nicholson said the early confirmations reflect the direction of the 2026 programme. “ARMC continues to be about building real pathways – between artists, executives, markets and ideas,” she said. “Announcing our first speakers and genre spotlights sets the tone for a programme rooted in collaboration, cultural relevance and long-term industry impact.”

The conference is supported by headline partners Paradise Worldwide and Mint Digital Services. It will again extend beyond daytime sessions into a curated night-time programme of showcases and live performances across Johannesburg, with further details to be announced.

Early bird tickets for ARMC 2026 are available via Quicket, with general conference tickets priced at R50 and VIP tickets at R400. Further announcements are expected ahead of the May 2026 event.