The Africa Rising Music Conference returns to Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 May 2026, spotlighting Lekompo and Maskandi as South Africa’s next major music exports. Image: Supplied/ARMC
The sixth edition of the Africa Rising Music Conference takes place at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 May 2026, with South African soul singer Elaine, amapiano star Simmy and rising R&B artist Filah Lah Lah among the headline speakers. Lekompo is being spotlighted as South Africa’s next major music export alongside Maskandi.
The Africa Rising Music Conference returns to Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 May 2026 for its sixth edition, bringing together music industry leaders, artists, technology executives and cultural voices for two days of dialogue, innovation and collaboration. The 2026 conference arrives at a moment of significant momentum for South African music, with local genres continuing to gain global traction and the streaming economy increasingly reshaping how African artists reach international audiences.
Who Is Speaking
The confirmed headline speakers for the 2026 conference represent some of the most compelling voices in South African music and media. Soul singer-songwriter Elaine, whose warm and distinctive sound has earned her a growing international following, is among the headline speakers. Amapiano singer-songwriter Simmy, one of the genre’s most celebrated vocal talents, will also take the stage alongside rising R&B star Filah Lah Lah, who has been identified by industry observers as one of the most exciting emerging artists in South Africa’s music landscape.
The speaker lineup also includes Rofhiwa Maneta, META Manager of Strategic Partnerships for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Nkosiyati Khumalo, Editor-in-Chief of Billboard Africa, bringing corporate music industry and media perspectives to the programme alongside the artist voices.
Lekompo in the Spotlight
One of the most significant programme decisions for the 2026 conference is the spotlight being placed on Lekompo, the fast-rising genre from Limpopo that has generated extraordinary streaming momentum in a remarkably short period. Leading Lekompo artists including Shandesh and Kharishma have generated over 70 to 80 million cumulative streams, with continued growth across Spotify charts and playlists signalling how a deeply regional genre is building a national audience through streaming-led discovery.
Lekompo has already attracted the attention of international music observers, with publications including OkayAfrica identifying it as one of the most exciting rising genres on the African continent in 2026. The genre’s roots in Limpopo culture, its distinctive sound and its rapid journey from grassroots community music to digital streaming phenomenon mirrors the path taken by Amapiano a decade earlier. The Africa Rising Music Conference spotlight on Lekompo represents a formal acknowledgement by the industry that the genre’s moment has arrived.
Maskandi, the traditional Zulu guitar-based genre that has quietly built a massive streaming audience while retaining its deep cultural identity, will also be spotlighted at the conference. The programme will explore how Maskandi has reached new mainstream audiences through digital platforms while preserving the community-rooted character that makes it distinctive.
AI Think Tank Comes to Johannesburg
A significant new addition to the 2026 conference programme is the AI Think Tank Roundtable, which makes its African debut in Johannesburg having previously been hosted in Berlin through a collaboration between Paradise Worldwide, AIxchange, the Association for Electronic Music, MusicTech Germany and the Fraunhofer Institute. The roundtable will bring together music and technology leaders to explore ethical AI use, fair attribution, creator protection and Pan-African independence ecosystems in the music industry.
The arrival of the AI Think Tank in Johannesburg reflects the growing urgency of the conversation around artificial intelligence in the music industry, where AI-generated music, AI-assisted composition and AI-driven playlist curation are already reshaping how music is created, distributed and consumed. For African artists, the stakes are particularly high — questions around attribution, ownership and fair compensation in an AI-driven streaming economy are likely to define the next decade of the industry.
RISA Partnership and Industry Development
The 2026 conference also marks the launch of a new partnership between the Africa Rising Music Conference and the Recording Industry of South Africa, which represents the country’s major and independent record labels. The partnership is intended to support ongoing dialogue around rights, sustainability and long-term industry growth — areas where South Africa’s music sector has historically faced significant structural challenges.
The four programme pillars for the 2026 conference are Live and Entertainment, Innovation and Music Tech, Education and Employment, and Export and Building Bridges. The conference theme song for 2026, titled 3NRGY, was co-created by South African artist Money Badoo and Swiss artist Bony Fly to coincide with the launch of this year’s programme.
The Africa Rising Music Conference takes place at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg on 22 and 23 May 2026.
Editors Note All information in this article is based on official Africa Rising Music Conference communications and programme announcements as at the time of publication in May 2026.