When and where: 28 Oct 2026, Johannesburg, The Forum at The Campus, Bryanston, plus city venues
ACCES, the Music In Africa conference for the continent's music business, returns to Johannesburg from 28 to 31 October for its ninth edition, with free conference days on 29 and 30 October and ticketed evening showcases at venues around the city.
The name stands for the Music In Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases, and organisers expect more than 700 delegates from over 45 countries. Alongside talks and panels, the programme includes a showcase festival, an exhibition, and workshops and masterclasses, which makes it a useful stop for artists, managers, producers, label staff, promoters and anyone trying to build a career in music.
The conference itself costs nothing, but you need to register through the ACCES website. Tickets are required for the four Industry Nights held across Johannesburg between 28 and 31 October, and they are sold on the same site. These nights are designed for networking, giving artists a chance to meet executives, agents, labels and music buyers from Africa and beyond while catching live sets.
Recent updates include the release of the 2026 programme and news that SlikourOnLife will present South African acts Toss, Touchline and Mad Buddies. The organisers have also put out a call for exhibitors who want to promote their music work at the event.
Past speakers listed by ACCES include Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Zakes Bantwini, Msaki, Focalistic and Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, a sign of the mix of established names and industry voices the event tends to attract.
