The two-day Going Global Music Summit has wrapped in Tāmaki Makaurau, bringing Aotearoa’s music industry leaders together with counterparts from around the world for two days of conversation, connection and live music.
Held at Q Theatre on 27–28 August, the 2026 edition drew 219 conference attendees, including 38 international delegates representing 11 countries across four continents, alongside industry professionals from across Aotearoa.
Produced by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) and the New Zealand Music Commission, Going Global is Aotearoa’s international music industry summit, a space for artists and music professionals to connect with the people, markets and ideas shaping the global industry.
Across 23 panels, speakers from Aotearoa and overseas explored the opportunities and challenges facing the industry today, from breaking into international markets and navigating touring, to the changing role of technology, the future of live music and building sustainable careers.
Photo Credit: Dave Simpson
Panel topics spanned Australia, the UK and Europe, international touring and global music markets, with experts from organisations including Believe, BIGSOUND, The Great Escape, FOCUS Wales, AIR and VibeLab.
The conference programme was followed by the summit’s showcase, with 23 Aotearoa artists performing across Whammy! and Double Whammy! on Karangahape Road in front of a further 185 attendees. Selected from more than 190 applications, the lineup spanned the breadth of Aotearoa’s contemporary music landscape: R&B, hip hop, indie, soul, post-punk and Pacific neo-psychedelia among them.
For the showcasing artists, it was a rare chance to perform in front of local and international delegates in the same room — the kind of connection the wider programme is designed to extend well beyond the two days of the event itself.
Showcase photography credit: Chontalle Musson
Showcase photography credit: Chontalle Musson
Early signs suggest those connections are already paying off. Several showcasing artists have received interest from international programmers, including from SXSW — exactly the kind of opportunity Going Global is designed to generate, turning a two-day summit into pathways that can contribute to artists’ international careers.
“We had an amazing 3 days connecting with representatives from the wider Global Music Industry. Every one of them found artists they enjoyed, created connections with, and are looking to provide opportunities for. We look forward to seeing what happens next for so many Going Global attendees” – Pippa Ryan-Kidd, IMNZ Chairperson
With over 400 people across the full summit, Going Global 2026 once again demonstrated the appetite for an international-facing music gathering in Aotearoa, and the calibre of artists and industry professionals ready to take our music to the world.
Going Global 2026 was presented by Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) and the New Zealand Music Commission.
ABOUT GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT
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.
ABOUT INDEPENDENT MUSIC NEW ZEALAND (IMNZ)
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.
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