Music Cities Convention Alberta Announces Second Wave of Speakers as Ticket Deadline Approaches
Download high-resolution images and logos
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 22 July 2026 — Music Cities Convention Alberta 2026 today announces its second cohort of confirmed speakers, continuing to build a program that brings together some of the world's leading voices in music policy, economic development, and urban development. Taking place 29 September – 1 October 2026 at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary, the convention has brought together leaders from over 30 countries since its founding in 2015 and returns to North America this autumn for its Alberta edition.
Delegate registrations are open. Second release ticket pricing ends 24 July, after which tickets move to full price at $349 CAD.
A GROWING SPEAKER LINEUP
Chip Adams (Texas Music Office)
Cory Crossman (London Music Office & UNESCO City of Music)
Moira Demorest (Kingston Music Office, Kingston Ontario)
Andrea Dempster-Chung (Kingston Creative, Jamaica)
Todd Dupler (Recording Academy)
Juanita Hardy (Tiger Management Consulting Group, LLC)
Lisa Hresko (A2IM)
Raheem Manning (City of Philadelphia)
Eliana Prada (Inter-American Development Bank Group)
Shannon Sutherland (Canadian Council for Indigenous Business)
Brenton Thorvaldson (Indigenous Music Office).
Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
CALGARY AT THE CENTRE: TEN YEARS OF NMC
The convention arrives at a milestone moment for its host venue. This year, the National Music Centre marks a decade as Canada's home for music, ten years of preserving musical heritage, developing artists, and building a stronger music ecosystem from Calgary's East Village.
"Ten years ago, National Music Centre opened Studio Bell with a bold vision to create a home for music in Canada and help build a stronger music ecosystem from our home base in Calgary," said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre. "Welcoming the Music Cities Convention and leading voices in music policy from around the world is a meaningful next step in that journey. It gives Calgary an opportunity to share what we have built, learn from other cities and regions, and strengthen the ideas, relationships, and policies that will help music play an even greater role in our city's cultural and economic future. As NMC enters its next decade, we see Studio Bell not only as a home for Canada's music story, but also as an international gathering place where the future of music policy can be shaped."
In ten years, Studio Bell has welcomed over one million visitors, preserved 450 years of music history across 119 exhibitions, and created 70–100 full-time jobs in the music sector. It is home to four of Canada's music halls of fame and houses rare instruments, artifacts and memorabilia spanning decades of Canadian musical life.
Music Cities Convention Alberta 2026 will bring together 300+ policymakers, industry leaders and city builders for three days of programming. Sessions will cover workforce development, the talent pipeline, Indigenous music economies, music tourism, health and wellbeing, and the future of music policy across AI, climate action and land use.
SECURE YOUR PLACE
Second release tickets are available now at $249 CAD. From 25 July, tickets move to full price at $349 CAD. Register before the deadline to secure the best available rate.
More information: musiccitiesevents.com/alberta
Buy tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/musiccitiesevents/1961861
SPONSORS
This convention is made possible with the support of our sponsors.
Host partner: West Anthem
Supporting partners: National Music Centre and Alberta Music
Sponsors: Calgary Arts Development, City of Calgary, Government of Alberta, The Scotlyn Foundation, Spruce Meadows and Walt and Irene DeBoni
Download high-resolution images and logos
#MusicCities #AlbertaMCC2026 #MusicPolicy
— ENDS —
Media Contact
Hattie WynterMarketing and Communicationshattie@sounddiplomacy.com
Download high-resolution images and logos
For press accreditation, please contact hattie@sounddiplomacy.com
Land Acknowledgement
Alberta Music Cities Convention is located on the traditional lands of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region, including the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6.
Sound Diplomacy and the National Music Centre are committed to honouring the sovereignty and traditional territories of the First Peoples and acknowledging the treaties that have shaped this land. Guided by this commitment, NMC is dedicated to forging creative bridges of understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, recognizing and celebrating Indigenous voices from all regions of Canada, and inspiring positive change.
About Music Cities Convention
The Music Cities Convention is the global stage for city leaders, decision-makers and music industry innovators shaping how music drives sustainable development, urban planning, economic growth and positive local impact.
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.
About Sound Diplomacy
Sound Diplomacy is a global consultancy specialising in music, culture and the creative economy. Advising more than 150 clients across over 30 countries, Sound Diplomacy uses research, data and strategy to help cities and organisations unlock the economic and social value of culture.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
National Music Centre (NMC) is a registered charity dedicated to amplifying the love, sharing, and understanding of music in Canada. More than a museum, NMC focuses on five key areas: Exhibitions and Collections, Artist and Professional Development, Performance and Recording, Education and Learning, and Music and Wellness. From its headquarters at Studio Bell in the heart of Calgary’s East Village neighbourhood and satellite location in Montreal, NMC celebrates Canada’s rich musical legacy, honouring legendary artists, nurturing new voices, and bringing people together through music. NMC also houses a vast collection of rare instruments, artifacts and memorabilia, world-class recording studios, and four of Canada’s music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s Adisq Hall of Fame. National Music Centre marks its 10th anniversary as Canada’s home for music in 2026, with a year-long lineup of exhibits, events, and programs planned.
Visit studiobell.ca/10 to explore the full list of anniversary activities happening now through summer 2027. To check out the NMC experience online, visit amplify.nmc.ca.