AIR Reveals Full Indie-Con Australia 2026 Program and Speaker Lineup

AIR has unveiled the full program and speaker lineup for the 10th edition of Indie-Con Australia, with the annual independent music conference set to return to Adelaide from July 29th-31st alongside A2IM's Indie Week Australian Edition.

Supported by the South Australian Government's Music Development Office, the three-day event will bring together independent labels, artists, distributors, journalists and music executives from Australia and overseas, with a strong focus on international collaboration and export opportunities.

This year's conference will feature a mix of panel discussions, workshops and keynote presentations covering topics including touring, artist-run labels, self-managed artists, AI, sync, distribution, gaming, metadata, artist development and international market opportunities. Delegates will also hear a case study on Folk Bitch Trio, alongside regional spotlights on Asia and Scandinavia.

AIR CEO Maria Amato said the milestone edition reflects the organisation's continued growth and strengthening international ties. 

“We are thrilled to announce our full program and speaker lineup for our 10th Indie-Con Australia conference, Australia's largest independent music community gathering. I am especially delighted that AIR is expanding its global connections and building its partnership with A2IM, who will hold their second Indie Week Australian Edition as part of our events,” she said. 

“We thank the South Australian Government through the Music Development office and all our supporting partners.”

Running alongside Indie-Con, A2IM's Indie Week Australian Edition is returning for a second year, exploring issues such as New Opportunities in the Age of Disruption, Metadata to Money, The Fan Lifecycle and Catalog as Strategy: Scaling Long-Term Music Assets. Keynote presentations will come from Jason Peterson (Go Digital) and Thaddeus Rudd (Mom+Pop Music).

A2IM COO Lisa Hresko said the partnership continues to strengthen connections between the Australian and US independent music sectors. “It's incredibly exciting to return to South Australia for the second year of Indie Week Australian Edition and to welcome such a strong group of industry experts from across the global independent music community,” she explained. 

"Independent music has always been a global business, and the connections made through events like this help create new opportunities for trade, export growth, artist development, and long-term partnerships. We're proud to continue strengthening the ties between the U.S. and Australia."

The newly announced international speaker roster includes Larry Bringsjord (Fono, Norway), Kukuh Arfianto (Sun Eater Group, Indonesia), Mikael Aldo (YouTube Music Indonesia), Joe Taylor (Untitled Records, UK), Michael Chase (MGM Digital, US), Keith Tan (KiTbetter, Singapore), Fiona Comendador (Symphonic, Philippines), Morgan Perry (Third Man Records, US) and David Barnes (Rhymesayers, US).

They will join an Australian lineup featuring Matthew Rogers, Annabelle Herd, Dean Ormston, Fanny Lumsden, Harry Waugh, Dan Medland, Melody Forghani, Parvyn, Alyse Newman, Lars Brandle, Dr Ash King, and Poppy Reid, among others.

The conference will once again coincide with the annual AIR Awards, which will be held on July 30th at Adelaide Town Hall. 

Tickets for Indie-Con Australia and A2IM's Indie Week Australian Edition are on sale now here, with discounted pricing available for AIR members.