Africa Rising Music Conference 2026 Wraps with Landmark International Collaborations & 2027 Dates Announced
Africa Rising Music Conference 2026 Wraps with Landmark International Collaborations & 2027 Dates Announced
Africa Rising Music Conference 2026 Concludes with Landmark International Collaborations, Artist Development Initiative, Future-Focused Industry Conversations and announces 2027 dates.
Johannesburg, South Africa – May 2026 – Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) 2026 concluded this past weekend at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, delivering two days of forward-thinking conversations, international networking, and cultural exchange that further cemented ARMC’s position as one of Africa’s most important music industry platforms.
Bringing together over 1000 artists, executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, creatives, and innovators from over 15 countries over the two conference days, ARMC 2026 focused not only on conversations about the future of music, but on creating tangible opportunities and real Industry Outcomes for African artists. The star-studded line-up and attendees featured leading voices from music, culture, and government, including Elaine, TRESOR, Kim Jayde, and Janesh, alongside key institutional representation from the Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the German Embassy Pretoria, the Australian High Commission Pretoria, and the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria.
One of the conference’s most significant announcements was the official launch of the Music Mentorship Program for South African Artists, a new collaboration between the German Embassy Pretoria, ARMC and Paradise Worldwide. Officially unveiled during the conference by representatives from all three organisations, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between creativity and professional music industry development for South African artists.
“Music and diplomacy share many traits. They connect people. They foster collaboration. When successful, they create something bigger than the sum of its parts. ARMC’s Mentorship Programme for South African Artists is about just that: connections between German and South African artists to create something beautiful. As the German Embassy, we are glad to be part of this.” – Marten Menger, Head of the Cultural Department at the German Embassy Pretoria.
Applications for the programme are now officially open, with five selected artists set to receive comprehensive support for an upcoming release project including professional mastering, release strategy support, one-on-one international mentorship paired with established German music industry professionals and artists, EP and single artwork design, professional press shots, in-studio promotional content production and visual storytelling support.
The launch marked a major step toward building stronger international creative exchange between South Africa and Germany while investing directly in the next generation of South African talent.
Another standout moment at ARMC 2026 was the introduction of the Berlin AI Think Tank in Africa, which created a critical platform for discussions around artificial intelligence, creator consent, licensing, attribution and fair remuneration within the rapidly evolving music landscape. With local and international stakeholders in attendance – including SAMPRA, CAPASSO, AIxchange, the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM), Fraunhofer IDMT and others – the Think Tank initiated critical conversations around the next steps toward a more independent and sustainable Pan-African AI ecosystem for music and the creative industries.
ARMC 2026 also strengthened international cultural ties to Australia, the official international focus tourney of this year’s edition, through the SA Meets Australia Networking Reception, presented in collaboration with the Australian High Commission Pretoria, Creative Australia, and Alchemy Music. The reception featured a special live performance by Australian artist DOBBY, whose appearance became one of the conference’s defining moments when he invited emerging South African rappers onto the stage for an improvised freestyle collaboration – creating an authentic and spontaneous exchange between young artists from both countries. The moment reflected ARMC’s broader vision of fostering meaningful global collaboration through music and culture.
“ARMC provides an important platform to bring together artists and industry from around Africa and the world to exchange experiences, knowledge and ideas. Alchemy Music is proud to bring the first Australian delegation to the event, highlighting common challenges and opportunities as well as showcasing the extraordinary talent of First Nation rapper DOBBY and alt-r&b/ambient electronica singer, songwriter and producer Milan Ring.” – Frank Rodi, Alchemy Music
Beyond the conference programme, ARMC 2026 delivered a dynamic live music experience with performances and showcases from artists including Henrik Schwarz (DE), Young Duragg (ZA), Mörda (ZA), Doowap (ZA), Rouge (ZA), HARUNA (UK), TIMANTI (UK) and many more, celebrating the diversity and global influence of contemporary African music culture.
“Having hosted a workshop on female empowerment at last year’s conference, returning to ARMC this year as an artist was incredibly special,” said Rouge. “I’ve made so many meaningful connections through this platform and witnessed firsthand how important these spaces are for African creatives. ARMC is more than just a conference; it’s a growing movement that the global music industry should be paying close attention to.”
The success of ARMC 2026 was made possible through the support of headline partner Paradise Worldwide as well as Mint Digital Services, Johnnie Walker AfroExchange, Jaecoo, SAMRO, Ray-Ban, KFC, SAMPRA, Billboard Africa, Hype Magazine, Music In Africa, Trace, Resident Advisor, sponsors, speakers, artists, delegates, media and collaborators who contributed to making this year’s edition one of the conference’s most impactful and internationally connected gatherings to date.
ARMC 2027 dates have officially been announced – save the date for 21 & 22 May 2027. Early bird tickets for next year’s conference are now officially available on Quicket.
ARMC 2027 Early Bird Tickets:
https://www.quicket.co.za/events/377148-africa-rising-music-conference-2027
Applications for the Music Mentorship Program are now officially open:
https://forms.gle/rUJUUj1wYZMjmTzf9
About ARMC
Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) is a female-led music conference taking place for the 6th time at Constitution Hill this year. The conference is dedicated to building bridges, knowledge exchange, driving innovation and sustainable growth across the African and global music industries. Bringing together artists, executives, and cultural leaders from Africa and beyond, ARMC serves as a platform for dialogue, innovation, and cross-continental connection. In partnership with organisations such as Paradise Worldwide and Mint Digital Services, ARMC continues to support the development of independent creative talent while building bridges between local scenes and international markets.
Paradise Worldwide
Paradise Worldwide is a Berlin-based music company connecting cultures through innovative music distribution and global rights management. With a strong focus on electronic music, we empower independent artists and labels to stay independent while reaching a worldwide audience. Our services span data-driven music distribution, licensing, and artist development, ensuring creators retain control of their work while accessing global opportunities. With hubs like ARMC in Africa and Paradise Americas, we bridge continents and scenes, fostering exchange and collaboration across borders.
Johnnie Walker AfroExchange
AfroExchange is Johnnie Walker’s flagship cultural platform in Africa – a sustained investment in the creative infrastructure through which Africa’s next cultural movements are born. Now in its second major iteration, the platform has evolved from a celebration of African creativity to a structured catalyst for it: building real collaborations, creating real pathways, and producing real work that outlives the event.
Mint Digital Services
Mint Digital Services is digital music administrator specialising in multi-territorial licenses and video on demand administration. Working with publishers, CMOs, and independent entities, Mint enables the use of musical compositions across global digital platforms. Through its dedicated units, Mint licenses both mechanical and performing rights on a multi-territorial basis, supporting online services worldwide.
