Africa Rising Music Conference 2027 Opens Global Call for Artists and Speakers
ARMC returns to Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 21–22 May 2027, with applications now open to artists, speakers and music industry voices worldwide.
Last updated: 5 October 2026
The Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) is officially gearing up for its 2027 edition, opening a global call for artists and speakers as it prepares to return to Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill on 21 and 22 May 2027.
Applications open on 5 October 2026 and will remain open until 31 December 2026, giving artists, music professionals, executives, founders and industry thinkers across Africa and the diaspora an opportunity to put themselves forward for the programme.
Alongside the open call, ARMC has also launched early-bird tickets for the 2027 conference.
ARMC 2027: Key Details
Event: Africa Rising Music Conference 2027
Dates: 21–22 May 2027
Venue: Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa
Artist applications: 5 October–31 December 2026
Speaker applications: 5 October–31 December 2026
Early-bird tickets: Now available
Apply as an Artist
ARMC is looking for artists, live acts, DJs and music-makers who are ready to introduce their work to new audiences.
The conference is particularly interested in distinctive artists with a strong creative identity, spanning emerging voices through to established independent talent.
Artist applications:
APPLY HERE
Who Should Apply?
The call is aimed at artists who reflect the depth and evolution of contemporary music coming from Africa and its diaspora.
That includes:
- Emerging artists
- Independent musicians
- Live performers
- DJs
- Music-makers
- Artists developing distinctive sounds and creative identities
For artists, ARMC provides an opportunity to place their work in front of an audience connected to the wider African music ecosystem.
The emphasis is not simply on finding the biggest names, but on discovering distinctive voices and new perspectives that can contribute to the next chapter of African music.
ARMC 2027 Opens Speaker Applications
The conference is also looking beyond performers.
ARMC is inviting music executives, founders, industry professionals and thinkers to apply for opportunities to contribute to its 2027 programme.
The speaker call is designed for people actively shaping the business, culture and future of music across Africa and its global diaspora.
Speaker applications:
APPLY HERE
Why ARMC 2027 Matters
Africa’s influence on global music continues to expand, but the conversations around the industry are becoming just as important as the music itself.
From the growth of African artists internationally to new approaches to independent music, technology, live entertainment, publishing, rights and creative entrepreneurship, the continent’s music ecosystem is entering an increasingly global phase.
ARMC positions itself within that conversation by bringing together the people building, performing, financing and shaping the industry.
The 2027 edition will once again take place at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, placing the conference in one of South Africa’s most historically significant spaces.
Early-Bird Tickets Are Now Available
For people who want to attend ARMC 2027, early-bird tickets are now on sale.
Buy early-bird tickets:
BUY HERE
With the conference still months away, early booking gives music industry professionals and fans the opportunity to secure their place ahead of the full programme announcement.
Important ARMC 2027 Dates
5 October 2026 — Artist and speaker applications open
31 December 2026 — Artist and speaker application deadline
21–22 May 2027 — Africa Rising Music Conference returns to Constitution Hill, Johannesburg
Africa Rising Music Conference 2027
ARMC 2027 is shaping up as another meeting point for the artists, executives, entrepreneurs and creative minds contributing to Africa’s rapidly evolving music landscape.
With the global call now open, the conference is looking for the people who should be part of that conversation.
Whether you’re an artist looking for a new platform or an industry professional with ideas that can help shape the future of African music, applications are open until 31 December 2026.
Artist applications: Apply here
Speaker applications: Apply here
Early-bird tickets: Buy here
