by John Mlynczak, president and CEO of NAMM
The NAMM Show 2026 is rapidly approaching, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to the Anaheim Convention Center for our 125th anniversary event. The 2026 show will once again be a showcase of the best the industry has to offer, with a packed education schedule, demos of every kind, performances that no one will want to miss and exhibit halls that will be filled with the latest technology. So, with so much to squeeze in, how can visitors get the most out of their time in Anaheim?
Planning is key, and the best starting point is to download the new NAMM Show app. For both Android and iOS, this new app is totally rebuilt for the 2026 show with a robust planner, detailed map, and easy search so you can see all the events that are taking place. Be sure to sign in with the email you have used to register for the show to customize your own schedule.
Personally, my strategy is to select everything I could possibly go to see and then narrow it down to remove clashes as we get closer to the show. You don’t have to wait until you’re on the flight or you arrive in Anaheim to scan a QR code and download the app, I think that’s too late. You have more than 200 education sessions to look through, you have over 1,800 exhibitors to see who you want to visit. You’re never going to figure everything out if you plan to do it at the show, but you can start now and plan in your time to see everything you want to.
When it comes to planning your time, one of the biggest things to remember is that The NAMM Show is not just the three days of exhibits, it’s a full week of events. For 2026 we are offering full and half-day summits that can really go in-depth on specific subjects, and we’ve made sure that we have a summit for every community at the show. We have five full days of education during the show as well as the three days of exhibits, and that should give everyone the opportunity to see and do everything they want to.
Also, visitors need to remember that they can get as much out of their evenings in Anaheim as they can from the show floor during the day. Whether it’s through the awards shows every night, multiple networking events or countless concerts taking place across the campus, The NAMM Show offers visitors the opportunity to have high level conversations and build real relationships in the industry. We feel like this is a vital part of the show and we always encourage our visitors to make the most of the events away from the show floor.
Of course, while you can plan every aspect of your visit to The NAMM Show, you should always remember to embrace spontaneity as well. Some of the best memories people make at The NAMM Show come from getting caught up in the moment. The energy and vibrancy you find across the NAMM Show campus are what make The NAMM Show special, and why the global industry chooses to head to Southern California every January. I want you to experience that energy and have the best, most productive time you can.
