The Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) returns to Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 22 – 23 May, unveiling a powerful new lineup of speakers and a new strategic partnership with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation, as well as official focus countries for its 2026 edition.
Newly announced speaker headline names include Grammy‑Recording Academy‑inducted producer and award‑winning artist TRESOR, alongside Janesh and Hitboss SA, two architects of the emerging Lekompo sound, and Brenda Mtambo, celebrated vocalist and mental health advocate bringing critical conversations around wellbeing in the creative industry to the forefront. Together, they represent a cross-section of artists and industry leaders shaping contemporary African music while engaging with global audiences through songwriting, production and cultural exchange.
In line with its mission to build an inclusive, accessible industry, ARMC has also launched its Community Access Pledge, in partnership with initiatives including Bridges for Music, shesaid.so South Africa, The Cradle Crew (CoSemo Collective) and BTCH$ LUV. This program is designed to provide ticket access for aspiring artists and entrepreneurs who may not otherwise be able to attend. Through this pledge, ARMC invites brands and organisations to pledge tickets, which are then distributed via partner initiatives.
ARMC’s 2026 edition also adds Australia and Uganda as official focus countries, incorporating a curated delegations of artists, executives and cultural leaders. The Ugandan delegation, led by Amplify Ugandan Music Expo (AUMEX), builds on connections formed at previous editions, while Australia’s inclusion signals ARMC’s growing ties beyond the African continent. Additional delegates from the UK are supported by the PRS Foundation while more from Germany, the United States and Sweden further strengthen the conference’s global reach.
Phase two tickets are now available via Quicket, with further programme announcements to follow.
