Our 2026 Annual Conference Programme is live!
13th July 2026
We are excited to share the 2026 Annual Conference programme, this year focusing on Inclusivity and Relevance in music education. Timings and further details are available on the conference website, but read on to discover what we’ve got planned!
Monday
We’ll be welcoming arrivals to the Spine in Liverpool from 10am, for registrations and the chance to look around the exhibition stands before a busy day of inspiring talks and performances starts in the main conference hall, sponsored by SpeedAdmin.
Following a live performance to open our morning session, Music Mark’s incoming CEO, Jennifer McKie, will give a brief welcome address.
Jennifer’s welcome will be followed by our opening keynote speaker, Briana Pegado, discussing the impact of the challenges faced by young people and how we as educators can grow our workforce through our students. This will be followed by themed workshops where you can continue the discussion.
After lunch, we’ll dive straight into breakout sessions. Youth Music’s session ‘Inclusivity and Relevance in a Changing World’ will explore how changing cultural narratives and funding priorities are impacting young lives, and how we can best respond. Alternatively, you might want to hear from the Music Education Council with their session ‘From Voice to Power in Music Education’ which will look at what genuine inclusion and relevance looks like and how to identify persistent inequities.
In the second round of breakout sessions, we’re excited to hear from the Youth Board of Liverpool Sound! Music Hub. Their session will explore how investing in youth voice and sharing decision-making creates more inclusive, relevant and impactful music activity. Led by young Disabled people involved in their programmes, Drake Music’s interactive session explores barriers to leadership and steps towards overcoming barriers and creating opportunities.
After the afternoon networking break, sponsored by Out of the Ark, Young Sounds UK will present a panel discussion exploring how we can support meaningful progression for all young people, before our final session of the day, a hot topic focus on the National Centre for Arts and Music Education.
We end day 1 of the conference with our reception – a relaxed evening of networking, drinks and bowl food. Enjoy stunning night-time views of Liverpool before celebrating with colleagues at the 4th annual Music Mark Awards ceremony.
Tuesday
On Tuesday we’ll have a fantastic selection of 14 breakout sessions for you to choose from, as well as multiple performances and whole conference sessions in the main hall. Here are just a few of our highlights from Tuesday’s programme, but you can find the rest on the conference website.
Join Ben Sellers and MEHEM uprising for their session ‘A Model Music Curriculum for Special Schools’ which offers a framework for specialist settings, including inclusion bases, to design a music curriculum for their learners based on musical skill development across learning pathways. Magic Acorns’ session ‘Playing in the Music Garden: An inclusive pedagogy of listening’ will explore musical play, case study examples and discussions on inclusive pedagogical strategies. Orchestras for All will discuss practical approaches for leading inclusive, mixed-ability ensembles with confidence, while Coventry Music will share how they established a band for young people in care, and how collaboration with children’s services and virtual school colleagues has helped the project grow into a thriving after-school music group.
Also on Tuesday, we’ll be bringing you a special live recording of the Music Mark podcast, Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education, taking place in the main conference hall. Join us as we capture the conversation live, exploring key themes and insights from across the music education community.
Visit the Conference Website
Programme details are now available on the conference website, including timings, and speaker biographies. You can learn more about the Industry Partners who are sponsoring and exhibiting at the conference in our virtual exhibition.
The website also contains answers to frequently asked questions and an archive of information and resources about past Music Mark conferences.
And if you haven’t bought your ticket yet, what are you waiting for? Don’t miss your chance to join us for this fantastic programme to be inspired by our speakers and performances, meet with colleagues from across the UK and learn how our Industry Partners can support your work. Early Bird tickets close on Sunday 6th September.
