ARMC 2026 Is Going to Be One for the Books - And Here's Everything You Need to Know
- Molly Morulane
- May 7
- 3 min read
The Africa Rising Music Conference has officially dropped its full 2026 programme, and it is bigger and bolder than ever. The sixth edition of the continent's premier music industry gathering returns to Constitution Hill in Johannesburg from 22 to 23 May, and between a night lineup that stretches across five countries, a day programme packed with industry heavyweights, new partnerships, two major partnership reveals, and a new ticket tier for the evening, this is shaping up to be the biggest ARMC to date.
Here is everything in the programme, and why each piece of it matters.
ARMC by Night: The Lineup, the Venue, the Vibe
ARMC by Night 2026 brings together artists from across the world in what may be the conference’s most globally diverse lineup yet. South Africa's Ney The Bae, Mörda, Rouge, and BrotherKupa anchor the evening locally. Germany's Henrik Schwarz, internationally recognised for his work across live performance and electronic music, alongside Vini Mercy from Uganda and Milan Ring and Dobby from Australia, all global talents representing ARMC's cross-continental talent exchange focus countries for 2026.
The evening takes place inside Constitution Hill's Women's Prison, which Lucid Sets, a creative production with over 800 events across festivals, brands, and cultural events, are converting into a live music and cultural space.
ARMC by Day 2026: What is on the programme
The ARMC by Day schedule spans panels, workshops, showcases, exhibitions, and curated networking. Industry sessions include TikTok, Meta, and RiSA. The keynote conversation with Elaine, in partnership with SAMRO, is the headline session of the daytime programme. An Australian Music Market Spotlight extends the conference's international scope into specific market knowledge. The Turnkey Music & Multimedia Demo Lab offers practical tools to attending creatives.
The AI Think Tank, developed with Paradise Worldwide and Fraunhofer IDMT, and a dedicated AI-focused panel give the technology conversation the prominence it deserves. Kim Jayde and Filah Lah Lah feature in the panel programme. Curated networking sessions run across both conference days. And the Sound Bridges Access Fund, in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Pretoria is the most significant structural addition to the ARMC programme in years: institutional support for African artists pursuing international careers.
The Partners Behind It
Johnnie Walker AfroExchange joins as presenting partner of ARMC by Night, and Jaecoo comes on as official mobility partner. Ifeoma Agu of Diageo summed up the philosophy behind AfroExchange's involvement:
"Real cultural progress happens when purpose meets collaboration, when brands don't just show up, but build with communities in meaningful and enduring ways. That's the philosophy behind our brand-owned culture platform, Johnnie Walker AfroExchange, and it continues to guide how we embed our portfolio brands in culture across Diageo."
— Ifeoma Agu, Group Head of Culture, Influencers and Advocacy, Diageo South, West and Central Africa
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to amplifying African creative voices, enabling cross-cultural exchange, and supporting the broader ecosystem of artists and creatives.
ARMC's founder, SJ Nicholson, has been building toward exactly this kind of programme from day one:
"ARMC exists to create real opportunity – connecting artists, markets and ideas across borders, while building systems that support long-term growth in African music."
— SJ Nicholson, Founder, Africa Rising Music Conference
Start Early: The 21 May Pre-Conference Gathering
Before the official conference programme opens on 22 May, ARMC and the Music Business Network are co-hosting a pre-conference gathering on the evening of 21 May. This networking event is open to artists, delegates, and music industry professionals, and is designed to give early arrivals the chance to connect before the structured programme begins. If you have ever been to a conference, you know that some of the best conversations happen in the hours before anyone is officially trying to have important conversations – a way of warming up the room and building connections before the formal programme begins.
Tickets and How to Get Them
Full conference access is available via Quicket. The new ARMC by Night-only ticket tier is priced at R100, giving access to the full evening music programme across both nights.
Full programme: africarisingmusicconference.com/our-program
Follow ARMC on their website and socials – Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for updates in the lead-up to the conference.
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