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.
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 headed to Cort to hear all about the new Space G6MS multiscale with dual humbuckers and the Space G6TR tremolo model with HSS configuration. They both feature okoume bodies, bolt-on roasted maple and walnut necks, roasted maple fingerboards with compound radius, 24 stainless steel frets, and custom headless hardware. Weighing just over 5 lbs., the models include glow-in-the-dark side dots and matte neck finish, with the TR adding a flame maple veneer top.
Cort
G6MS & G6TTR
A headless guitar with multi-scale precision — optimized for ergonomic feel, low-end clarity, and effortless reach across all 24 frets.
The CUBE Street Mini is a 10-watt 2.1 portable PA system with a 5-inch speaker and two tweeters, featuring dual channels, Bluetooth audio, individual effects per channel, multiple guitar voicings, and onboard tuner. The rechargeable battery provides seven hours of use, and the unit includes headphone/recording output with emulated speaker, kickback stand, and mic stand mount for versatile positioning.
Cream Guitars returned to the NAMM floor with a collection of unique body shapes and eye-popping finishes, including the groundbreaking DaVinci, which boasts a low-energy E Ink Prism 3 electronic display with 64 programmable segments in seven colors, controlled via a Bluetooth app for custom color schemes and changing patterns. Company founder Luis Ortiz also walked us through the company's heated neck technology, which uses lithium battery power and graphite insulation to keep players' hands warm without affecting intonation.
Cream Guitars
Davinci
Choose between 3 voices:
Single coil, traditional humbucker, and high-output humbucker, featuring a custom system developed with Fishman pickups.
Hardware
Chrome Hardware
Ratio Graphtech locking tuners
Graphtech nut tusq XL
Jumbo frets
GHS #10-46 strings
Stainless steel screws
Electronics
Cream Bridge
CTS Push/pull 500k pots
Fishman Fluence
Fishman Fluence
Switchcraft input
Sony 3-way switch
Neck
Roasted Maple Techwood
Rosewood frets
Block inlays
Specs
Extra Jumbo Frets
Scale 25.5
Ratio 12
Display
Low energy consumption non-light emitting display
Custom made Voltage guitar display design 64 individual segments
Programmable custom color schemes and changing patterns
Control and program your guitar through the app by
connecting your phone or device to the guitar via Bluetooth
7 available colors: white, black, yellow, orange, blue, red and green
It features a low-power, non-emissive E Ink Prism™ 3 display.