Music Commission News

GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2026
Dates: Thursday 27 & Friday 28 August 2026
Venue: Q Theatre, Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
Tickets here via Q Theatre
Festival only tickets here via UndertheRadar

We’re excited to announce that Mirik Milan – Amsterdam’s inaugural night mayor and co-founder of VibeLab – will join the Going Global Music Summit for a keynote conversation on nightlife, culture and how cities come alive after dark. Mirik transformed Amsterdam’s approach to its nighttime economy, and now works with cities and governments around the world to help them treat nightlife as the cultural and economic powerhouse it is. He’ll be in conversation with Shaquille Wasasala – HALFQUEEN – for a session not to be missed.

Also just announced – hot off the plane from the United States, The Beths will discuss taking their fourth album Straight Line Was a Lie to the world stage and the 100 shows they’ve played since last August … and the day before she jets off to Nashville again, Kaylee Bell will be in conversation about her amazing year in country music export, and joins the Recorded Music NZ panel all about the Global Framework You Need to Succeed.

We’ve got a different kind of session in the programme this year too – Unlocking Music Export Opportunities For Aotearoa: The Politicians Panel. Coming up to Election 2026, we have invited political parties from across the spectrum to participate in a moderator-led panel with the framing question: If elected in November, what would your party do to support New Zealand music export?

And with that, the full Going Global 2026 programme is now live on our website – panels, keynotes and industry conversations covering everything from breaking into Asia, the UK, Europe and Australia, our keynote with super-agent Tom Windish, to managing global careers, the opportunities in India, US visas, and a special conversation on Māori and Welsh language music export and much, much more. The good folk from BELIEVE are putting on a breakfast each morning for ticket-holders, and each day ends with a mixer brough to you by GYRO.Group on Thursday and Concord Music Publishing on Friday.

Head to the Going Global website to see the full line-up and start planning your day – tickets are still available and you can grab yours from the Q Theatre website here.

Check out all things Going Global below:
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Going Global Music Summit is Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier international music industry event, presented annually by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) in partnership with the New Zealand Music Commission. The summit connects leading international figures in A&R, booking, licensing, management, marketing, promotion, and publishing with New Zealand artists and industry.

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) serves as the primary representative organisation for the independent music sector in Aotearoa, representing the interests of independent artists, labels, publishers, and music businesses. IMNZ advocates for a healthy, sustainable independent music ecosystem and delivers events, education, and initiatives that support the growth and global reach of New Zealand music.