Music Cities Convention 2026 today announces 28 confirmed speakers joining its already-announced programme for 10–11 June in Hull, with a final cohort to be revealed shortly.
The lineup brings together leaders from across music policy, urban development, the live music sector, government and cultural investment, representing organisations from the United States, Norway, South Africa, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, Palestine, Ukraine and across the United Kingdom.
Taking place across the DoubleTree by Hilton, Connexin Arena and Hull Minster, the Convention is the world’s leading gathering at the intersection of music, cities and sustainable development. The 2026 programme centres on implementation — how cities move from ambition to action — with keynotes, panels and collaborative working sessions designed to share practical frameworks, real-world case studies and replicable policy tools that cities can apply in their own contexts.
A programme focused on real solutions
The 2026 programme centres on implementation — how cities move from ambition to action — with sessions designed to share practical frameworks, real-world case studies and replicable policy tools. In addition to keynotes and panel discussions, the Convention will feature collaborative working sessions designed to generate policy approaches that cities can apply in their own contexts.
Programme themes include:
- Measuring cultural impact beyond ticket sales and demonstrating the true value of music to policymakers and investors
- Protecting grassroots venues and festivals through smarter regulation and policy reform
- Building resilient music ecosystems outside capital cities
- Transforming industrial and underused spaces into cultural infrastructure
- Accessibility and inclusive design in music technology and performance
- Climate responsibility and sustainable innovation across the music sector
- Housing, affordability and coexistence between cultural activity and urban development
- Tourism strategy, infrastructure investment, health and wellbeing, and the evolving role of music in urban life
Tickets are available here.
Confirmed speakers
Speakers confirmed for Hull Music Cities Convention 2026 include:
Lord Kevin Brennan — Member of the House of Lords and prominent advocate for music venue protection and cultural policy reform in the UK, Kevin Brennan has been one of Westminster’s most consistent voices for grassroots music infrastructure.
Ahmed Saqer — Ahmed Saqer, Director of Palestine Music Expo (PMX), drives cultural resilience through innovation. Since 2021, he organised 14 Gaza music festivals for audiences of 30,000+. Since 2023, he has led the ‘Lifeboat’ approach, providing stabilisation and training for displaced artists. His Cairo work impacted 7,000+ festival-goers and 700+ families via therapy. Now London-based, he is scaling a Tri-City ecosystem to integrate music into international development.
Iryna Lobanok —Iryna Lobanok is Music Programme Manager at the Ukrainian Institute and co-founder of MMF Ukraine. A musician and sound producer herself, she is passionate about strengthening the Ukrainian music industry, finding new ways to showcase Ukrainian artists abroad, and making Ukrainian music accessible to a broader international audience.
Kath Wynne-Hague — Kath Wynne-Hague is Managing Director of Hull Culture & Leisure and Head of Service for Culture, Place and City Centre at Hull City Council. Shaped by an early career as an artist and creative producer, and decades in local government, her work centres collaboration, care and ambition — connecting policy to people, vision to delivery, and communities to the futures they want to create.
Charlotte Dryden — Charlotte Dryden is Chief Executive of the award-winning Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, with over 24 years’ experience in the Northern Irish music sector. She has worked across talent development, programming, venue and event management, youth engagement, music tourism and music media. She leads the NI Music Prize and chaired the Belfast City Council group that secured UNESCO City of Music status. She serves on the Pathways into Music advisory board and the NI Night Time Economy committee.
Eddie Hatitye — Eddie Hatitye is the Founding Executive Director of the Music In Africa Foundation and a cultural entrepreneur advancing Africa’s creative economy. He has led continental funding programmes and major research and consulting projects with organisations including the World Bank and African Development Bank, with an aim to unlock the full economic potential of African creative industries.
Dave Haslam — Described as a ‘genius’ by Courtney Love, Dave Haslam has worked as a journalist, broadcaster, DJ and interviewer. In the mid-1980s he was writing for the NME and beginning a 450-night DJ residency at the Haçienda. He has gone on to DJ internationally, curate art events, and write five full-length books, including the acclaimed ‘Life After Dark: A History of British Nightclubs and Music Venues’ and his memoir ‘Sonic Youth Slept on My Floor’.
Sally Currie — Sally Currie is Chief Executive of Drake Music, based in Kingston upon Hull. A qualified accountant, she has worked in finance and business management for arts organisations including Freedom Festival Arts Trust, Jazz North, The New Adelphi Club CIC and The Old Market. Born partially deaf and a musician herself, Sally is passionate about developing the infrastructure and technologies to ensure that Disabled and Non-Disabled musicians can work together as equals.
Yaw Owusu — Yaw Owusu is a Liverpool-based, award-winning music and culture creative consultant with 20+ years’ experience designing, directing and delivering projects that integrate music, culture and content production for creatives, brands, organisations and communities. He believes that the empowerment and platforming of under-represented voices, cultures and stories strengthens and bolsters the art, media and culture we consume.
Music Cities Awards
Alongside the conference programme, delegates will experience the global Music Cities Awards at Hull Minster — celebrating cities and organisations making exceptional contributions to music ecosystems worldwide.