ArtsQuest is proud to announce the return of its Music Industry Conference, now in its second year, taking place Aug. 2–4 at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Taking place during the nation’s largest free music festival, Musikfest, this three-day event brings together music educators, emerging artists, industry leaders and students for an immersive, hands-on experience that bridges education and the music industry.

Building on the success of its 2024 debut, the 2026 Music Industry Conference expands with new interactive programs, a larger scope of presenters and even more opportunities for attendees to learn, perform and connect.

Unlike traditional conferences, sessions at the Music Industry Conference blur the lines between classroom and stage. Plans currently include opportunities for attendees to engage in hands-on workshops, live coaching sessions, mentorship roundtables and technology labs designed to put real-world music industry tools and experiences into action. Conference strands will include:

• Production and Live Event Operations – sound, lighting, staging, event safety and tour management logistics, advances in production technology

• Performance and Artist Development – coaching, booking gigs, networking, branding, creative risk-taking, physical and mental health and collaboration across genres

• Music Business and Entrepreneurship – talent buying, contracts and negotiation, marketing/EPKs, financial literacy for musicians and entrepreneurship and startup models

• Innovation and Future Trends – AI, inclusive design, Web3, inclusive design in music, audience engagement and new learning models including modern/popular music education

Featured Additions in 2026

• Band Showcase Program: Selected youth and emerging bands (ages 10–adult) will receive coaching, perform on an official Musikfest stage and receive live feedback from talent buyers, agents and producers.

• The Green Room Mentorship Lounge: One-on-one and small group mentorship with industry veterans, modeled after NAMM’s “Networking with the Pros.”

• Museum Collaboration: A pop-up exhibit in partnership with the Museum of Music Technology highlighting the history of sonic innovation.

How to Get Involved

APPLICATIONS OPENING SOON for those who want to be involved in this year’s conference:

• Band Showcase – Applications opening soon, apply by Feb. 15 for the chance to receive coaching, perform on a Musikfest stage and get feedback from industry experts.

Registration

Conference registration opens in spring 2026. Pricing tiers will be available for educators, students, professionals and family members. A modest honorarium will also be provided to presenters in recognition of their time and expertise.

Why It Matters

“On behalf of both F-flat Books and West Chester University, I am thrilled to be partnering with the team at ArtsQuest to bring another year of high-quality, industry-driven professional development and live music experiences to industry professionals and educators,” said Dr. Sarah Gulish, assistant professor of Expansive Music Education Practices at West Chester University and CEO of F-flat books. “We so desperately need experiences that bring industry and education together, and I can’t think of a better place to do it than at ArtsQuest.”

“EMEAPP is excited to be back for the second annual Musikfest Industry Conference! We had a great experience presenting at the 2024 event, where we met some truly interesting and inspiring people,” said Lisa Platow from The Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project. “This time around, we’re planning a mix of sessions—some geared toward educators, others for industry pros—and we’ll be bringing a few gems from our collection to make our presentations hands-on and interactive. Education is a core part of what we do, and we’re proud to support a conference that brings people together to share ideas, spark creativity, and celebrate musical innovation.”

“Music Will/Association for Popular Music Education is thrilled to be a part of the 2026 Music Industry Conference,” said a representative of Music Will/APME. “This is an incredible opportunity to connect industry and education professionals around the shared goal of making music more accessible and relevant to today’s world. By bringing our work into this space, we hope to inspire and empower young people to see themselves in the music industry, not just as performers, but as creators, innovators and leaders. We believe this collaboration will have a lasting impact on the next generation of music-makers and the communities they serve.”

“We are thrilled to once again enrich the Musikfest experience with this Music Industry Conference,” said ArtsQuest’s Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. “Artists, entrepreneurs, educators and creatives of all kinds will find meaningful conversations around current topics designed to deepen their understanding of the space where performance and industry intersect now as well as providing context to the music industry of tomorrow. Musikfest offers the ideal palette from which to stir these creative and elevating dialogues.”

For more information and to apply for conference programs, visit Musikfest.org or contact Marissa Guarriello at marissa.guarriello@austin.utexas.edu or Grace Obert at gobert@artsquest.org.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Megan Bodmer at mbodmer@artsquest.org.

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