The Great Escape conference has announced a major expansion for its 20th anniversary edition in 2026, revealing a new line-up of industry collaborators, daily themes and partners, plus New Zealand as its Lead Country Partner. The UK-leading music industry conference will run from Wednesday 13 May to Friday 15 May 2026 in Brighton, with delegate passes on sale now at https://greatescapefestival.com/buy-delegate-passes/.
First introduced two years ago, The Great Escape’s Conference Collaborators programme brings key industry networks directly into the programming process, shaping panels and debates via their communities of experts and practitioners. For 2026, the scheme is being scaled up, with a broader range of organisations helping to curate discussions on live music, artist careers, mental health, sustainability and the future of the industry.
New collaborators for the 2026 conference include BPI, PPL, EarthPercent, CALM, IQ Magazine, Music Venues Alliance Brighton (MVAB) and Audio Active. They join returning collaborators the Association of Independent Music (AIM), BBC Introducing, the Council of Music Makers (CMM), the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and Youth Music. Together they are intended to represent the full breadth of the modern music ecosystem, from labels and rights-holders to venues, artist support organisations and youth development programmes.
The conference will also start earlier than in previous years, with the programme now running across three full days from Wednesday to Friday. Delegates are being encouraged to arrive in Brighton in time for a full afternoon of sessions on Wednesday 13 May, as The Great Escape positions its 20th anniversary as its most ambitious industry gathering to date.
Each day in 2026 will have a distinct theme. Wednesday 13 May will focus on the evolving live landscape, looking at the pressures, opportunities and innovations affecting venues, touring, audiences and night-time culture. Sessions on this first day will be curated with IQ Magazine, the NTIA and Music Venues Alliance Brighton. Thursday 14 May will pivot to artist careers in 2026, covering creative development, rights, financial resilience, artist health and new business models, with input from the Council of Music Makers, PPL, AIM, CALM and more.
On Friday 15 May the spotlight will shift to the future of the industry, platforming emerging artists, young professionals and next-generation leaders. Programming on the final day will tackle early career development, new pathways into the sector and the innovations that could shape tomorrow’s music landscape. Youth Music, Audio Active, EarthPercent, BBC Introducing and BPI are among the organisations contributing to Friday’s content, with more collaborators yet to be announced.
Rory Bett, CEO of MAMA Festivals, said the 2026 edition marks a step change for the event: “The Great Escape conference returns in 2026 powered up with a phenomenal group of collaborators, each bringing world class expertise from across the music landscape. Their involvement ensures we continue to lead essential conversations that shape the future of our industry. Every year we work to evolve The Great Escape, and this edition represents our most ambitious vision yet. We look forward to welcoming the music community back to Brighton for the UK’s standout industry event of the year.”
The Great Escape has also confirmed the first wave of partners set to host networking brunches, showcases, cocktail parties and other satellite events around the 20th anniversary conference. Lead Education Partner BIMM and Charity Partner CALM will both return in 2026, alongside ACS, Audio Network, Sounds Australia, Austrian Music Export, Bandcamp, BIMM, CD Baby, CIMA, Music From Ireland, Dutch Music Export, the New Zealand Music Commission, Portuguese Discovery Initiative, Qobuz, SESAC, Swiss Music Export, The Spanish Wave, The Orchard, Showcase Cymru, Zeitgeist Germany and Waterbear.
Michelle Humphreys, Careers Manager at BIMM, said: “We are proud to continue our relationship with The Great Escape in 2026 as Lead Educational Partner. This reflects our commitment to empowering the next generation of creative talent and championing new music. We look forward to another year of inspiring experiences, meaningful connections, and unforgettable performances from BIMM University students.”
New Zealand has been named The Great Escape’s Lead Country Partner for 2026. Led by The New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand, the country will present a full programme including two official showcases, panels on the New Zealand music industry and a series of industry receptions. Ringlets, a post-punk quartet signed to legendary New Zealand indie label Flying Nun, are the first performers from Aotearoa/New Zealand to be announced for the festival. The Great Escape’s New Zealand partners include The New Zealand Music Commission, Live Nation New Zealand and The British Council.
Alan Holt, International Manager at the New Zealand Music Commission, said: “We are excited for this opportunity for Aotearoa/New Zealand to be lead nation at The Great Escape 2026. The Great Escape has long been a pivotal event for us and we relish the opportunity to draw a giant spotlight upon the amazing talent that our country has to offer.” Media partners BBC Introducing, Notion, The Independent, DIY, Pollstar, IQ Mag, Dork, Clash, Billboard UK and So Young will also return in 2026, helping to amplify coverage of both the conference and the festival’s 20th anniversary edition.
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