Our most powerful audio interface just got better. The latest generation of iD44 sees improved audio performance, additional must-have features and a beautiful new smoke-grey finish. The addition of audio loop-back and a dual headphone output, combined with four Audient Console mic pre’s, class-leading converters, instrument inputs, ADAT expandability and balanced inserts - means iD44 delivers the audio performance of an Audient console straight to your desktop.
NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the largest global not-for-profit music trade organization, celebrated 125 years of NAMM at The 2026 NAMM Show — a powerful week that concluded on Jan. 24 and set the music industry’s narative for years ahead. Featuring five days of incredible education, live concerts and special events, alongside three days of extraordinary exhibits and brand activations, this year’s show featured 1,650-plus exhibitors representing over 5,400 brands and more than 200-plus educational sessions for NAMM member communities.
The 2026 NAMM Show highlighted innovative music technologies, product introductions and trends that will shape the future of the music industry during a five-day-long platform for networking, connections and meetings that are critical for uniting and growing music makers globally.
“The 2026 NAMM Show once again delivered an incredible week of unity and energy for our global NAMM members, showcasing products, partnerships and networking for the entire music industry,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “NAMM continues to be the global stage for our industry to announce groundbreaking products, establish transformative partnerships and gain valuable education that drives success for our industry for the rest of the year.”
NAMM SHOW 2026 BY THE NUMBERS
60,000+ show attendees, including 8,760+ international attendees from 122 countries, regions and territories
1,650+ exhibitors representing 5,400+ brands, which is 25% more than 2025
Nearly 15,000 artists demonstrating and endorsing products and brands
1,600+ media, influencers and content creators reaching over 200+ million followers, which is 50% more than 2025.
NAMM SHOW 2026 SET LIST HIGHLIGHTS
Product Launches
The NAMM Electronic Press Kit, an online book of product and show announcements, tripled in size from 2025, with nearly 400 brands and companies using the platform to launch new products at The NAMM Show.
NAMM Global Media Day
Now in its third year, NAMM’s Global Media Day featured iconic brands spanning music, sound and entertainment technology categories to announce more than 500 ground-breaking products and business news to an exclusive media/creator/podcast-only audience of 750-plus guests.
NAMM Events and Awards Shows
Providing the platform for some of the industry’s best awards shows and live events, The 2026 NAMM Show saw sold-out crowds all week long, starting with the TEC Awards, followed by The Bass Awards Show, She Rocks Awards and The Parnelli Awards. Each show catered to a thriving professional community that gathered to honor the best of the best in each category.
Looking Back on NAMM, 125 Years Later
NAMM has been consistently guided by the best minds in the music business, who share a common desire to grow the industry and music making. Ever since 1901, NAMM leaders have come together, even as competitors, to ensure their association is helping the entire industry expand. The 125-year timeline is fully digitized and available to everyone on NAMM.org
NAMM’s Music for Life Honor Awarded to Industry Icon Rick Beato
NAMM presented globally acclaimed producer, educator, musician and YouTube creator Rick Beato with its highest honor, the Music for Life Award, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to music and commitment to inspiring music makers. In an exclusive Thursday morning Q&A with NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak, Beato discussed his early musical influences, the music products that have helped define his career and the future of the music business in the age of AI.
NAMM’s Grand Rally for Music Education
NAMM rallied the industry around its mission Saturday morning, highlighted by magical moments with Grammy Award-winning artists Victor Wooten and Chad Smith. The session, hosted by John Mlynczak and Julia Rubio, brought the audience to its feet with inspirational performances, conversations and messages, as well as live performances from Roots of Rhythm.
The NAMM Foundation
In honor of our 125th “NAMMiversary,” and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the NAMM Foundation — with a generous $125,000 matching donation from Chris Martin, past chair of NAMM — announced at the 2026 show a total of $250,000 in funds to give back.
The Return of NAMM NeXT Europe and New NAMM NeXT Latin America
Coming off the success of last year's inaugural event, NAMM NeXT Europe will return and NAMM NeXT Latin America will debut in 2026. These NAMM NeXT events are one- to two-day leadership conferences that will gather our industry to focus on how we can grow the industry and address common challenges.
The 2027 NAMM Show is already in the works for January 26-30, 2027, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Booths with early bird rates and discounts are available now at NAMM.
We met up with Gibson's VP of Product, Mat Koehler, to check out the new Century Collection, celebrating 100 years of flat-top guitars with three 12-fret body styles (L-00, J-45, J-185) featuring featherweight construction, thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer, Gibson's 24¾" scale length, and Art Deco tweed cases. On the Epiphone side, a lineup of new models headlined by the Futura series, boasting color-shifting finishes, hot pickups, and stainless steel frets.
Chris Kies heads to Blackstar to take in a demo of the Beam Mini, a USB-C rechargeable desktop amp with 18 hours of battery life and a companion app featuring amp models, effects, IR speaker simulation, YouTube integration for practice, and upcoming neural amp model support via Tone 3000 with access to over 200,000 captures. Also new: the ID:X Floor series modelers with 18 voices, over 35 effects, all parameters controllable on-unit, and the Artist FR active FRFR cabinets in 50-watt and 100-watt versions.
Blackstar
Beam MINI
Blackstar announces the BEAM MINI, a compact desktop amplifier designed for electric, bass and acoustic guitar players seeking high-quality tone, portability and intuitive control. Previewing at NAMM 2026 and launching worldwide on 24 March 2026, BEAM MINI combines Blackstar’s decades of amp design expertise with advanced component-level digital modelling, powerful DSP and a sealed, acoustically tuned cabinet to deliver immersive sound in a small, portable format suitable for home, studio and on-the-go use.
Vox came fully stocked to NAMM '26. During our visit we checked out the new hand-wired AC30 head and 2x12 cabinet with Celestion Alnico Blues, plus the Treble Booster and Fuzz pedals featuring silicon transistors voiced for AC30s. Also new: the VT20X and VT40X Valvetronix amps celebrating the series' 25th anniversary with circuit-level modeling, deeper 12AX7 tube integration, Class A/AB switching, and (very cool) vintage-style Classic Blue grille cloth.
VOX
AC30
Few amplifiers have shaped music history like the VOX AC30. With the AC30 Hand-Wired, that legacy lives on – reborn with painstaking attention to vintage accuracy and updated with modern refinements that make it stage- and studio-ready.
This is more than a reissue. It's a complete reconstruction of a vintage legend – hand-wired and fine-tuned to bring the '60s sound back to life. Featuring hand-wired circuitry, custom transformers, and vintage-accurate cabinet construction, this amplifier aligns classic British tone with modern necessities including bypass-able master volume, a transparent effects loop, and custom-voiced spring reverb.
Now, the unmistakable sound of a vintage VOX is finally within reach. Built for vintage enthusiasts, aficionados, and modern players alike. The AC30 Hand-Wired delivers the unmistakable voice of VOX!
We met up with Boss' Matt Knight to dive deep into the GX-1, an ultra-portable multi-effects unit with intuitive one-touch controls, 23 amps, and 140 effects featuring Gear Suite for saving individual effect presets within your patches. The unit includes built-in Bluetooth for app connectivity with librarian and session player, looper, stereo outs, USB-C audio interface, IR import capability, and battery power for up to six hours of use.
Boss
GX-1
Ultra-portable amp/effects processor for guitar with premium BOSS sound and features
Authentic tube amplifier tone and touch response with AIRD technology
Straightforward operation with a color display and intuitive effect category buttons
Exceptional audio quality with 24-bit AD and 32-bit DA conversion, 32-bit floating-point processing, and 48 kHz sampling rate
Explore 23 amplifier types and over 140 BOSS effects
Eight simultaneous effect blocks plus volume pedal and noise suppression
Gear Suite feature allows you to quickly configure each amp and effect with the turn of a knob
Includes 99 ready-to-play preset memories and 99 user memories for storing custom sounds
Three footswitches and an expression pedal with toe switch, all freely assignable
Play along with songs from your mobile device via onboard Bluetooth®
Record and play tracks in music production software on a computer or mobile device* via a USB-C®
BOSS Tone Studio for GX-1 app (macOS/Windows/iOS/Android) with powerful practice features and sound-editing tools
Download and share Livesets on BOSS Tone Exchange
Support for loading WAV speaker IRs
Jack for expanded control with up to two footswitches or an expression pedal
Tap into wireless foot control with the FS-1-WL Wireless Footswitch and EV-1-WL Wireless Expression Pedal
Versatile power options: three AA batteries, AC adaptor, or USB (computer bus power or mobile battery)
Compact, lightweight design fits easily in the pocket of a guitar case or bag
![Rig Rundown: Russian Circles’ Mike Sullivan [2025]](https://www.premierguitar.com/media-library/youtube.jpg?id=62303631&width=1245&height=700&quality=70&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
