January 28, 2026 I Event
NAMM Reports 60K-Plus Attendees, 5.4K Brands at 2026 Show
NAMM celebrated its 125the anniversary at The 2026 NAMM Show — a nearly weeklong event that concluded on Jan. 24 and set the music industry’s narrative for years ahead. Featuring five days of education, live concerts and special events, alongside three days of exhibits and brand activations, this year’s show featured 1,650-plus exhibitors representing over 5,400 brands and more than 200-plus educational sessions for NAMM member communities.
The 2026 NAMM Show highlighted innovative music technologies, product introductions and trends that will shape the future of the music industry during a five-day-long platform for networking, connections and meetings that are critical for uniting and growing music makers globally.
“The 2026 NAMM Show once again delivered an incredible week of unity and energy for our global NAMM members, showcasing products, partnerships and networking for the entire music industry,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “NAMM continues to be the global stage for our industry to announce groundbreaking products, establish transformative partnerships and gain valuable education that drives success for our industry for the rest of the year.”
This year’s show saw some 60,000-plus attendees, including 8,760-plus international attendees from 122 countries, regions and territories. There was 1,650-plus exhibitors representing 5,400-plus brands, which is 25% more than 2025. Nearly 15,000 artists demonstrating and endorsing products and brands attended the show with some 200-plus education sessions with 550-plus speakers. NAMM also reported 1,600-plus media, influencers and content creators reaching more than 200 million followers, which is 50% more than 2025.
Now in its third year, NAMM’s Global Media Day featured iconic brands spanning music, sound and entertainment technology categories to announce more than 500 ground-breaking products and business news to an exclusive media/creator/podcast-only audience of 750-plus guests.
Providing the platform for some of the industry’s best awards shows and live events, The 2026 NAMM Show saw sold-out crowds all week long, starting with the TEC Awards, followed by The Bass Awards Show, She Rocks Awards and The Parnelli Awards. Each show catered to a professional community that gathered to honor the best of the best in each category.
NAMM presented globally acclaimed producer, educator, musician and YouTube creator Rick Beato with its highest honor, the Music for Life Award, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to music and commitment to inspiring music makers. In an exclusive Thursday morning Q&A with NAMM’s Mlynczak, Beato discussed his early musical influences, the music products that have helped define his career and the future of the music business in the age of AI.
In honor of our 125th “NAMMiversary,” and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S., the NAMM Foundation — with a generous $125,000 matching donation from Chris Martin, past chair of NAMM — announced at the 2026 show a total of $250,000 in funds to give back.
