Sound diplomacy events
Music Cities Convention, Music Cities Tourism, and Sound Development,
Spotlighting & strengthening music & cultural ecosystems globally
In 2015, we launched Music Cities Events, alongside the first-ever Music Cities Convention, with the aim of showcasing the transformative power of music for cities.
Since its first edition, the Music Cities Convention has grown into a pioneering event series, hosting conferences and events around the world and welcoming over 10,000 participants.
Our events connect artists, policymakers and innovators, sparking international dialogue, learning and collaboration. The brand also includes the annual Music Cities Awards and the digital Music Cities Community.
Alongside our events, we design educational programmes, such as the 2023 European Music Cities Exchange, a 12-month virtual programme delivered as part of Kirklees 2023 Year of Music, and a programme for the Saudi Arabian Music Commission. We also support third-party events and projects, from curating high-level speakers for the Keychange U.S. launch to producing a networking event at Smart City Barcelona for City Lab Berlin.
Today, our work goes beyond hosting events. We use music and the creative industries to drive community development, tourism and economic growth worldwide.
upcoming events
9 February 2027 · Los Angeles
Sound Development Los Angeles 2027
One of Sound Diplomacy’s flagship events, Sound Development s an invite-only cultural infrastructure accelerator, bringing brings together visionaries from music, entertainment, real estate, and government to explore how cultural infrastructure can transform cities and economies across the USA and beyond.
Nominations opening soon
A global competition recognising the best uses of music to drive economic, social, environmental and cultural development in cities and places worldwide.
Since launching in 2020, the Awards have become a global showcase of projects using music to improve cities, and a source of inspiration for advocates working to create positive change in their communities.
Music Cities Awards
Our previous events
Alberta Music Cities Convention
September/October 2026 | Calgary, Alberta
Held at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, the Alberta Music Cities Convention brought together more than 250 policymakers, industry leaders and creatives across three days to explore how music drives jobs, wellbeing, sustainability and inclusive economic growth.
Sessions covered talent pipeline development, music in public health and social prescribing, and building destination value through music tourism and cultural infrastructure. The programme set Alberta's music community alongside international case studies, giving delegates practical ideas to take back to their own cities and regions.
Thank you to our Host Partners, West Anthem and the National Music Centre; our Supporting Partners, Alberta Music and Calgary Arts Development; the Government of Alberta; our Media Partnes CKUA; and our sponsors Spruce Meadows, The Scotlyn Foundation, and Walt and Irene DeBoni.
Hull Music Cities Convention
June 2026 | Hull, United Kingdom
Music Cities Convention returned to the UK in June 2026, bringing over 400 delegates from 24 countries to Kingston upon Hull. Hosted with Hull City Council, the convention spotlighted a city that has placed music at the centre of its cultural, social and economic transformation, from its year as UK City of Culture in 2017 to its ambition to become a UNESCO City of Music by 2030.
Across two days at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hull and Connexin Live, sessions covered measuring the impact of music, building resilient music ecosystems beyond capital cities, venue protection, artist housing, climate, tourism and the night-time economy. The Music Cities Awards were presented at Hull Minster, and Hull of a Night, a city-wide pop-up festival, filled grassroots venues including The Polar Bear Music Club, The Welly Club and The Adelphi Club.
Thank you to our Host Partners, Hull City Council and Legends Global, and to our Supporting Partners, including VisitBritain, Visit Hull and Hull City of Music.
OUR IMPACT
400+
40+
Cities represented
Countries represented
Presentations, panels & workshops
Events held
6
10000+
Continents represented
Attendees
350+
85+
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUR EVENTS
Our conferences generate 3 dollars of economic expenditure for every dollar invested by the host city
Social/Earned Media Impact From Recent Events
25+ million Social Media Reach
200+ million Earned Media Reach
OUR EXPERTISE
Music Cities Events
Since 2015, the Music Cities Convention has become the global space for sharing, defining and accelerating how music transforms urban life and creates better cities. Bringing together experts, policymakers and advocates, it is the premier forum to network and deliver solutions at the intersection of music and city planning, economic development, sustainability, community engagement, education, and real estate. This is the world’s most relevant event where leaders discover the power of music to improve the places we share.
Educational Programmes
Our Events & Education team provides world-leading cross-sectoral educational services for those looking to utilise music and the creative industries for community development, tourism and economic growth. Our past projects include capacity-building programmes, content planning for education cohorts and communities, and short engagements like workshops, roundtables, and presentations.
We can create tailored virtual or in-person educational programmes for any budget.
Third-Party Event or Project Support
We also offer our expertise & network in music cities, the creative industries and governments for support with content programming, growing audiences, and in global promotion.
CONNECT WITH US
Are you interested in learning more about hosting one of our events and educational programmes, or the different ways in which we can support your projects?
Get in contact with us at info@sounddiplomacy.com