AVA London Conference Announces First Speakers

AVA London has announced the first wave of speakers and sessions for its 2026 conference programme, bringing together leading voices across music, art, technology and culture for three days of keynotes, industry forums, live conversations, workshops and networking.

Where music, technology and ideas converge — at its core, AVA London is a future-facing gathering for the people shaping what comes next, connecting global leaders, curating spaces where creative talent, decision makers and the innovators defining the future of music come together to exchange ideas, build connections and shape the future of music and culture.

Among the first keynote speakers confirmed are Moby, who will join virtually for a special EarthPercent session exploring music’s role in driving climate action and positive environmental impact; and British-Canadian electronic music heavyweight Richie Hawtin, who will also appear for an in-conversation discussing the intersection of music, art and contemporary culture.

French singer, producer and popstar Oklou, will appear in person for a live Resident Advisor Exchange; Australian group The Avalanches will join for a fireside chat, speaking around the launch of their upcoming fourth album. The programme will also feature a live edition of the influential No Tags Podcast, hosted by Chal Ravens and Tom Lea, with guest speakers to be announced.

Internationally renowned art collective teamLab joins AVA London. Operating at the intersection of art, science, technology and nature, the interdisciplinary group brings together artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians and architects to create immersive works exploring the relationship between the self and the world. Celebrated globally for pioneering large-scale installations, their work dissolves the boundaries between artwork, viewer and environment. Further details on this exclusive session will be announced in the coming months. Image: teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM, Tokyo © teamLab

A series of flagship talks and panels will explore the major forces shaping the sector, including The Art of Brand Partnerships, The Game Changers and Re-Queering Dancefloors. The programme also features contributions from leading industry figures such as Mary Bekhait, CEO of YMU Group; Steven Braines, founder of He.She.They and Head of Events at Defected Records; broadcaster, curator and DJ Vanessa Maria; and Anya Du Sauzay, Marketing Director and Head of Label Operations at Atlantic Records UK.

Ableton joins the AVA London 2026 lineup for an immersive workshop and interactive installation that dives into the world of field recording, sonic archiving, and artistic transformation. Developed in collaboration with the British Library Sound Archive, this partnership explores the ways in which audio history is captured and repurposed for the modern creator. Participants will have the opportunity to manipulate archival sounds firsthand using Ableton Push and Move, with curated samples from the library made accessible for further creative exploration.

PRS for Music will present De-mystifying Music Publishing, a session unpacking the fundamentals of music publishing — from songwriting and creative collaboration through to copyright administration and royalty payments.

The first programme announcement reflects AVA’s continued focus on the intersection of electronic music, contemporary art and the global creative industries, with discussions spanning artificial intelligence, cultural policy, brand partnerships and the economics shaping today’s music ecosystem.

AVA Forum & Delegate Opportunities

For 2026, AVA will place renewed emphasis on the business of music and meaningful industry exchange, with the return of the AVA Forum — a series of curated, invite-only and application-based sessions designed to bring together artists, managers, festivals, music venues, distributors and digital streaming platforms for focused discussion on the future of the music industry.

b:electronic joins AVA London 2026 as a partner, bringing together its artist ecosystem with AVA’s global network of music industry leaders, creatives and communities. The collaboration will feature “The Music Supply Chain”, an application-only industry forum at the British Library exploring the future of the artist economy, alongside a curated showcase event at The Cross connecting artist, label, music and tech teams. More information to be released. 

ChariTea mate will also return as AVA’s club forum partner for the third consecutive year, continuing its support of independent nightlife culture and the communities that shape it. As part of the partnership, ChariTea mate will host a hot-topic keynote panel titled Nightlife in Transition: The Changing Cost of Nightlife Culture, exploring the future of nightlife, alongside co-presenting the AVA Club Forum, which brings together industry leaders and representatives from music venues across the UK and Europe to discuss club culture, the evolving nightlife landscape, and the spaces that connect people through music.

AFEM (Association for Electronic Music) return to present a series of industry-focused sessions, including Building The Next Generation of Promoters, exploring best practices for creating more sustainable, inclusive and resilient futures for independent promoters and live events. The Future of Sync: Music Licensing in a Gaming World examines the evolving relationship between music and gaming, and how licensing, creativity and technology must adapt for the next generation of interactive experiences. They will also host Meet The Experts, a focused series of conversations connecting attendees with leading industry specialists across music, technology, events and culture.

The conference will take place 24–26 September 2026, bringing together artists, innovators and cultural leaders at the intersection of music, visual arts and technology. 

Super Early Bird AVA Pro passes from £126 from now until August 1st – attendees gain access to global thought leadership, groundbreaking artists, game-changing ideas and some of London’s most forward-thinking cultural spaces.

First Industry Speakers & Delegates

The conference will also welcome a broad group of industry leaders across labels, platforms, agencies and cultural organisations, including representatives from Bandcamp, Ableton, Resident Advisor, Association for Electronic Music, PRS for Music, British Council, Atlantic Records UK, Polydor Records, b:electronic, ChariTea mate, He.She.They and more.

Confirmed delegates include

• Abby Rowe — VP, International, Sentric Music / Believe
• Aly Gilani — Artist & Label Relations Lead, Bandcamp
• Anya Du Sauzay — Marketing Director & Head of Label Operations, Atlantic Records UK
• David Zhou — Founder, Eastern Margins
• Ashley Howard — PR & Communications Manager, PRS for Music
• Finlay Johnson — CEO, Association for Electronic Music (AFEM)
• Jenna Jones — Head of Brand Partnerships, Ableton
• Celeste Pimm — Growth & Insights Lead, Ableton
• Joel Mills — Director, Music, British Council
• Tom Sweet – British Council
• Mary Bekhait – CEO, YMU Group
• Steven Braines – Co-Founder HE.SHE.THEY., Head of Events – Defected Records
• Vanessa Maria — Broadcaster & Cultural Commentator
• Ed Gillet  — Journalist & Author – “Party Lines”
• Seamas O’Reilly — Journalist & Author

Now in its ninth year, AVA London continues to champion imagination and music innovation in the UK. Through its programme, forums, partnerships and performances, the event creates space for new thinking, creative collaboration and cultural momentum.

The AVA London programme is designed to offer broad access to world-class performances, conversations and connections at exceptional value. A Pro Pass unlocks the full three-day and three-night schedule — including every keynote, masterclass, headline AV show, installation, and club event — at a fraction of the cost of comparable industry conferences.

With Super Early Bird passes from £126, attendees gain access to global thought leadership, groundbreaking artists, game-changing ideas and some of London’s most forward-thinking cultural spaces (available until 29th June).

To support emerging talent, students and local communities, Creator Passes, Student & Community Tickets and payment plans from £30 ensure the next generation of creatives can experience AVA London without financial barriers.

Networking, education and skill-building will be core priorities for 2026, continuing AVA’s Beyond Boundaries initiative. Applications to submit a talk or host a workshop are now open via the submissions portal on the AVA website.

Previous speakers and contributors at AVA London include Brian Eno, Charli xcx, FKA twigs, Jarvis Cocker, Underworld, Laurent Garnier, Munroe Bergdorf, Ryoji Ikeda, Marcel Dettmann, Hot Chip, Orbital, Bicep, Irvine Welsh, and many more.

More information about the day + night programme, including all live music events, will follow in the coming months ahead of the new dates in September.  

“The festival’s shift to September marks a bold strategic step, offering a longer creative runway to develop partnerships, champion new work and deliver a world-class programme across the full day and night.”
— Sarah McBriar, Founder, AVA Festival

Ticket Options

AVA London Pro Pass — Super Early Bird (Available until 29th June)
£125 + charity donation

AVA London Pro Pass — Early Bird (Available until August 1st)
£199 + charity donation

Student & Community Access Tickets available via application – apply here

More Ticket Information – HERE