Calgary, Alberta, Canada, July 22, 2026 — Music Cities Convention Alberta 2026 today announces its second cohort of confirmed speakers, continuing to build a program that brings together some of the world’s leading voices in music policy, economic development, and urban development. Taking place September 29 – October 1, 2026 at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary, the convention has brought together leaders from over 30 countries since its founding in 2015 and returns to North America this autumn for its Alberta edition.
Delegate registrations are open. Second release ticket pricing ends 24 July, after which tickets move to full price at $349 CAD.
A GROWING SPEAKER LINEUP
Joining our first wave, we’ve now confirmed a further group of policymakers, sector leaders and city builders from across the world.
Including: Chip Adams (Texas Music Office), Cory Crossman (London Music Office & UNESCO City of Music), Moira Demorest (Kingston Music Office, Kingston Ontario), Andrea Dempster-Chung (Kingston Creative, Jamaica), Todd Dupler (Recording Academy), Juanita Hardy (Tiger Management Consulting Group, LLC), Lisa Hresko (A2IM), Raheem Manning (City of Philadelphia), Eliana Prada (Inter-American Development Bank Group), Shannon Sutherland (Canadian Council for Indigenous Business) and Brenton Thorvaldson (Indigenous Music Office).
Further speakers and the full programme will be announced in the coming weeks.
CALGARY AT THE CENTRE: TEN YEARS OF NMC
The convention arrives at a milestone moment for its host venue. This year, the National Music Centre marks a decade as Canada’s home for music, ten years of preserving Canadian musical heritage, developing artists, and building a stronger music ecosystem for Alberta and Canada from Calgary’s East Village.
“Ten years ago, National Music Centre opened their new facility Studio Bell with a bold vision to create a home for music in Canada and help build a stronger music ecosystem from our home base in Calgary,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre. “Welcoming the Music Cities Convention and leading voices in music policy from around the world is a meaningful next step in that journey. It gives Calgary an opportunity to share what we have built, learn from other cities and regions, and strengthen the ideas, relationships, and policies that will help music play an even greater role in our city’s cultural and economic future. As NMC enters its next decade, we see Studio Bell not only as a home for Canada’s music story, but also as an international gathering place where the future of music policy can be shaped.”
In ten years, the National Music Centre has welcomed over one million visitors through the new building, preserved Canadian music history across 119 exhibitions, and created 70–100 full-time jobs in the music sector. It is home to four of Canada’s music halls of fame and houses a rare living collection of instruments and equipment, artifacts and memorabilia spanning decades of Canadian musical life.
Music Cities Convention Alberta 2026 will bring together 300+ policymakers, industry leaders and city builders for three days of programming. Sessions will cover workforce development, the talent pipeline, Indigenous music economies, music tourism, health and wellbeing, and the future of music policy across AI, climate action and land use.
SECURE YOUR PLACE
Second release tickets are available now at $249 CAD. From 25 July, tickets move to full price at $349 CAD. Register before the deadline to secure the best available rate.
More information: musiccitiesevents.com/alberta
Buy tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/
SPONSORS
Host partners: West Anthem and Sound Diplomacy are proud to be host partners for this convention
Supporting partners: National Music Centre and Alberta Music
Sponsors: Calgary Arts Development, City of Calgary, Government of Alberta, The Scotlyn Foundation, Spruce Meadows, Irene and Walt Deboni
Partners: Canadian Independent Music Association, Folk Canada, International Economic Development Council, International Indigenous Music Summit, Indigenous Music Office, Music • Musique NB, Music NWT, Music Yukon, SaskMusic
TICKETS & INFORMATION
Information: musiccitiesevents.com/alberta
Buy tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/
Download high-resolution images and logos
Photo credit: Tom Arran
Local Media Contact:
Marc Tran, Bird Creatives
Project Consultants for West Anthem
marc@birdcreatives.com
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