NAMM Announces Expanded 2027 Show Schedule, New Summits and Awards at Anaheim Convention Center
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) has unveiled the full agenda for its 2027 Show, slated for January 26–30 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California. The five‑day gathering will fuse education, networking, live performances, and a three‑day exhibit floor that opens on Thursday, January 28.
Building on last year’s success—over 60,000 visitors from 122 nations and roughly $9.8 billion in buying power—the 2027 program promises fresh content and broader opportunities for the global music, audio, and entertainment technology community.
Program Overview
Tuesday, January 26 – Education Begins Here – The week opens with a focus on industry fundamentals, featuring a full day of financial training for music businesses presented by Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe. The day also hosts the NAMM Succession Summit, the NAMM Financial Summit, and the inaugural NAMM Music Education Advocacy Summit.
Wednesday, January 27 – Product Announcements, Education, Networking & Retail Awards – Education expands alongside the NAMM Retail Awards, which recognize excellence in the worldwide retail sector. The afternoon hosts Global Media Day, showcasing new product launches, business announcements, and live musical performances.
Thursday, January 28 – Exhibit Hall Opens – The main exhibit floor opens, offering three days of product discovery, demos, and business meetings. Industry insights sessions led by NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak bookend the opening. Evening events feature the TEC Awards, Backline Talk Awards, the Bass Magazine Awards—now held in the ACC Arena—and Yamaha’s Night of Worship concert.
Friday, January 29 – Grand Rally for Music Education – The day starts with the Grand Rally, a tribute to music education’s pivotal role in the industry, followed by a full day of exhibit floor activity. The evening hosts the Parnelli Awards, which honor achievements in live event production.
Saturday, January 30 – Final Show Day – The final show day concludes with the Best in Show and She Rocks Awards, celebrating the most outstanding exhibitor products and women making an impact in the music industry.
New Summits and Focus Areas
* NAMM AI Marketing Summit – Wednesday afternoon, this summit explores marketing strategies that harness artificial‑intelligence tools.
* NAMM Sync Summit – Thursday, the summit addresses sync and music placement, targeting the more than 24,000 artists who attend each year.
* Percussion Showcase – A new feature in Hall C, the showcase presents leading percussion brands with live demonstrations every hour.
These summits complement existing programs such as the TEC Tracks Studio and Live Sound Summits, the Entertainment Technology Summit, and the Women of NAMM Leadership Amplified summit.
Digital Engagement
NAMM’s digital footprint continues to grow. In 2026, the online exhibitor directory drew over 150,000 unique visits, and the NAMM Show mobile app logged 31,000 downloads and 330,000 launches. For 2027, the show map will drop in September, giving exhibitors and attendees early visibility and discovery tools.
Industry Impact
The 2027 Show is poised to reaffirm NAMM’s position as the industry’s largest trade platform. By intertwining product launches, education, awards, and live performances, the event seeks to spark collaboration among manufacturers, retailers, educators, artists, and tech professionals. The expanded schedule underscores a sustained focus on emerging technologies such as AI and sync, while renewing emphasis on music education and percussion.
Next Steps
NAMM will roll out further details over the coming months, including registration information, exhibitor listings, and session schedules. The organization encourages interested parties to visit NAMM.org for the latest updates.
The 2027 NAMM Show returns to Anaheim in January, offering a comprehensive calendar of experiences designed to connect and empower the global music community.
