Sign-up for AVA Belfast 2027
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AVA London Announces Final 2026 Programme & Schedule
Beyond Boundaries
3 Days & Nights of Music, Creativity, Culture & Visual Art
24-26 September 2026
AVA London returns from 24th-26th September 2026, bringing together senior leaders, artists, innovators and cultural figures from across music, entertainment and the wider creative industries for three days and nights of keynotes, industry forums, live conversations, workshops, masterclasses, performances and high-level networking.
With a strong focus on the business of music and culture, this year’s programme moves beyond conventional conference discussion to examine the forces shaping the industry now – from new models of growth and investment to the changing value of artists, audiences, technology, intellectual property and live experiences.
Across two conference days at the British Library, AVA London will bring together artists and emerging creatives with established figures from labels, management, publishing, festivals, venues, technology, media and cultural organisations. Practical workshops, expert-led sessions, industry forums and dedicated networking will sit alongside the wider programme of talks and keynotes, creating a platform not only for conversation, but for connection, collaboration and business.
CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
Thursday – September 24
Pigott Theatre
11:00 – 12:00 | Opening Keynote: The Avalanches In Conversation With DJ Mag
12:00 – 12:45 | Time Out x Gay Times Presents: Queer Nightlife Beyond Crisis: Who builds the future?
13:00 – 13:45 | Elijah’s Grant Funding Workshop
14:00 – 14:45 | No Tags podcast Live: Tim & Barry
15:00 – 15:45 | Keynote Panel: The Game Changers
16:00 – 16:45 | Fabio & Grooverider – In Conversation
Eliot Room
11:00 – 12:45 | teamLab: Interactive Workshop with Takashi Kudo
14:00 – 14:45 | Visual Spectrum Presents: Taking TELETECH Global – Touring & Visual Identity
15:00 – 15:45 | AlphaTheta & Westend DJ Presents: From Library to Booth – rekordbox & CDJ-3000X Walkthrough
16:00 – 16:45 | AVA Presents: The Art of Brand Partnerships – How to build meaningful cultural moments with brands & institutions
Bronte Room
11:00 – 12:45 | Ableton Presents: Sounding The Archive with patten, supported by ANNA DISCLAIM
13:30 – 16:30 | AVA & b:electronic Presents: The Music Supply Chain
Dickens Room
13:30 – 16:45 | AVA & ChariTea Presents: AVA Club Forum
Atrium
18:00 – 21:00 | AVA Pro – Networking Mixer
Friday – September 25
Pigott Theatre
11:00 – 11:45 | Oklou – Resident Advisor Exchange Live
12:00 – 12:45 | Nothing Presents: What Does Music Need Now?
13:00 – 13:45 | Presented by AVA & ChariTea: What’s Next For Nightlife?
14:00 – 14:45 | EastBank Presents: Black is a Spectrum – Discussing The Music Is Black Festival
16:00 – 17:00 | EarthPercent: Moby (Virtual Keynote)
17:00 – 17:15 | Closing Address
Eliot Room
12:00 – 12:45 | AFEM Presents: Starting, Surviving & Thriving – A Toolkit for Independent Promoters
13:00 – 13:45 | AFEM Presents: MusicFutures – The Future of Music Licensing in a Gaming World
15:00 – 15:45 | Sama Abdulhadi & Special Guest: In Conversation
Bronte Room
11:00 – 12:00 | Festival Forum
12:00 – 13:00 | Festival Forum Networking Lunch
14:00 – 15:00 | Roundhouse (Production Masterclass)
15:00 – 15:45 | PRS for Music Presents: The Business of Music
Dickens Room
14:00 – 14:45 | AFEM Presents: Meet The Experts
Atrium
18:00 – 21:00 | AVA Pro – Networking Mixer
Attend AVA for Business – Delegate Programme
Leading the industry programme is The Game Changers, bringing together senior executives actively challenging and redefining the music, culture and entertainment business: Mary Bekhait, CEO, YMU; Anya Du Sauzay, Marketing Director & Head of Label Operations, Atlantic Records UK; Sam Spencer, Director of Live Operations, Broadwick Live; and Finn Sohn, Chief Business Officer, DooRooDooRoo Artist Company. The conversation will examine where influence and leverage sit in today’s industry, how businesses are adapting to a rapidly changing market, and what the next phase of growth looks like.
The Association for Electronic Music (AFEM) returns with three industry-focused sessions spanning leadership, skills and the future of electronic music. Building the Next Generation of Promoters brings together David Zhou, Founder, Eastern Margins; Remco Schuurbiers, CTM Festival; Samantha Togni, Boudica; and Steven Braines, He.She.They, to examine the changing role of promoters and what it takes to build sustainable, globally relevant scenes.
MusicFutures presents The Future of Music Licensing in a Gaming World, bringing together Vicky Taylor, Head of Creative & Licensing, Truelove Music Publishing; Sergio Pimental, Creative Director & Music Supervisor, Synchronicity Music; Richard Jacques, Composer; and George Rose, Head of Broadcast & Digital, PRS for Music, hosted by Sabine Jacques, IP & AI Policy Lead at MusicFutures. The session will examine the rapidly expanding relationship between music, gaming, licensing and new forms of intellectual property.
Meet The Experts will give delegates the opportunity to connect directly with experienced professionals from across the electronic music industry through curated one-to-one B2B meetings, providing a focused setting for meaningful introductions, knowledge exchange and business development.
New Creative & Cultural Additions
Among the latest additions, pioneering Palestinian DJ, producer and cultural activist Sama’ Abdulhadi joins the programme for an in-conversation with a special guest. One of the most significant Palestinian artists to emerge internationally, Abdulhadi has used her platform to bring global visibility to Palestine’s electronic music community while advocating for Palestinian artists, cultural spaces and greater solidarity across the international music industry. Her career increasingly intersects with questions of representation, cultural resistance and the role music can play beyond the dancefloor.
London-based artist, writer and creative strategist Elijah will lead a dedicated Grant Funding Workshop. Co-founder of influential grime label Butterz and the artist behind the Yellow Squares project, Elijah’s work has explored artistic independence, community and the realities of building and sustaining a creative practice. The workshop will bring that perspective to the practical question of grant funding for artists and creatives.
Taking TELETECH Global: Touring & Visual Identity, presented by Visual Spectrum, will explore the development of Manchester-born electronic music promoter TELETECH from its roots in the city’s underground techno scene into an international touring brand.
Meanwhile, The Art of Brand Partnerships: How to Build Meaningful Cultural Moments with Brands & Institutions will examine the changing relationship between cultural organisations and commercial partners, looking beyond traditional sponsorship models towards more meaningful and creatively-led collaborations.
Elsewhere, The Music Supply Chain, presented by AVA & b:electronic, will examine how local scenes, artists and independent businesses connect with the global music ecosystem, while a Production Masterclass with Roundhouse will focus on the practical skills and knowledge required to bring ambitious creative projects to life for music makers.
Together, the new sessions expand AVA London’s programme across the practical, creative and commercial sides of the industry, spanning funding, touring, production, partnerships, publishing and the wider infrastructure that supports music and culture.
Industry Offering – Delegates, Networking and Culture
Now in its ninth year, AVA London continues to champion imagination and music innovation in the UK, creating space for new thinking, creative collaboration and exchange across different areas of the music and creative industries.
Alongside the public conference programme, AVA will create dedicated spaces for more focused industry exchange – AVA Pro Networking Mixers will provide further opportunities for delegates to meet and build new working relationships, with attendees also able to connect with fellow delegates ahead of the event through the AVA conference app.
Bringing these elements together, AVA London offers two days of direct access to the wider music industry, whether through practical learning, one-to-one expertise, focused industry discussion or the opportunity to build new relationships. For artists, managers, promoters, labels and professionals working across music today, the programme is designed not only as a place to hear the conversations shaping the industry, but to take part in them.
The AVA London Pro Pass (Day & Night) includes
• Full access to the AVA London conference
• Entry to AVA London showcases at The Cross, Round Chapel, Outernet & EartH
• Exclusive access to networking events & mixers
• Connect with delegates in advance via the AVA conference app
• An AVA London tote bag
Ticket Options
PRO PASS (DAY & NIGHT) | £200
PRO PASS (CONFERENCE DAYTIME ONLY) | £151
THURSDAY OR FRIDAY (DAY TICKET ONLY)| £85
Student & Community Access Tickets available via application – apply here
Night Time Programme: FOLD, Outernet Live, EartH, Round Chapel Clapton
AVA London will also feature an expanded night programme celebrating key figures in electronic music and the artists who have shaped the AVA story over the years.
Thursday – AVA London x Seanchoíche ‘TIME’
AVA London joins forces with storytelling platform Seanchoíche for a special bumper edition focused around the theme of TIME.
Friday – AVA London x RA25, Outernet Live
AVA London joins forces with Resident Advisor for a special RA25 celebration featuring Blawan Live, Mala, Bitter Babe Live AV feat. Koch.a and AliA.
Friday – AVA London x FOLD
AVA takes over London institution FOLD for a special London edition featuring Optimo, Special Guest, Swoose, Holly Lester, Body Clinic and JWY.
Saturday – AVA London x Stay On Sight, EartH, Hackney
AVA London teams up with Skin On Skin for a Stay On Sight takeover at EartH Hall in Dalston for a night featuring Skin On Skin, Evian Christ, Croatian Amor and mi-el.
Tickets for these can be purchased via Resident Advisor here
