What to Know About Education and Training at The 2026 NAMM Show

Images C/O NAMM Press The 2026 NAMM Show is shaping up to be one of the most information-packed editions of the event. The organization laid out a full schedule that pulls in more than 200 sessions across business development, audio production, music technology, live event workflows, and education. The show begins Tuesday, January 20, and brings together retailers, distributors, buyers, artists, educators, content creators, pro audio specialists, and media. With more than 4,000 brands on the floor, the focus for 2026 centers on practical training, new ideas, and forward-facing sessions that support every corner of the music industry. NAMM leadership emphasized that the expanded schedule includes a series of half-day and full-day summits that start during the first two days. These summits sit alongside free education throughout the week, giving attendees a wide range of ways to plug into topics that influence business, technology, content, and education. Learn more at: https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/attend Business and Leadership Programming at The 2026 NAMM Show NAMM U returns with nearly 50 sessions focused on areas that matter to retailers, brand leaders, and service providers. Topics cover AI, leadership, marketing, customer experience, tariffs, lesson programs, and the long-term direction of retail. The NAMM U Breakfast Sessions anchor the mornings, including the Industry Insights kick-off and a Friday program titled The Future Favors the Bold. Guitar Center CEO Gabe Daporto is scheduled to speak on the direction of music retail, and additional sessions address confident leadership during periods of uncertainty. Summits scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday include the NAMM Marketing Summit, the Women of NAMM Leadership Amplified Summit, and the Retail Financial Summit. These sessions target teams that want focused training, planning guidance, and direct instruction. Audio Production, Entertainment Technology, and Education Tracks The audio production and music technology track brings more than 65 sessions from TEC Tracks, A3E, and other groups. The schedule covers recording, live sound, studio management, and future-facing technology. The new TEC Tracks Studio Summit offers a full day of sessions with studio leaders who share workflows and production approaches. Additional sessions focus on mixing strategies, sync, live sound, sampling in the age of AI, and licensing from a music supervisor viewpoint. Audinate also returns with three days of Dante training. The entertainment technology track includes more than 25 sessions aimed at lighting, rigging, touring, and production design professionals. The Wednesday Entertainment Technology Summit focuses on programming workflows, networking, road roles, and mental health on tour. Free sessions in this track also count toward ETCP credits. Education programming expands in 2026 with the Music Education Experience, which helps teachers and counselors connect classroom instruction with modern industry pathways. GenNext provides nearly 20 sessions for college students preparing for careers across business, performance, production, manufacturing, and education. The 2026 NAMM Show runs five full days and features concerts, awards shows, product launches, and official events that anchor each night. For a complete listing, the entire 2026 NAMM Show educational programs can be found at here. The post What to Know About Education and Training at The 2026 NAMM Show appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.