One-day public conference exploring some of the key challenges facing new music artists in Ireland and internationally.

The Contemporary Music Centre (CMC) is hosting the annual gathering of the International Association of Music Centres (IAMIC) from 8 - 11 September in Dublin. CMC hosts the gathering at a significant point in its own history, as 2026 marks the Centre’s 40th anniversary, and coincides with Ireland’s hosting of the EU presidency, and its associated culture programme, Cultúr 2026.

At the heart of the 2026 IAMIC Annual Meeting is a major one-day public conference: "The Future of Music in a Changing World” which takes place on Thursday 10 September in partnership with the Music Composition Centre, Trinity College Dublin and Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute.

The public conference brings together new music artists, academics and advocates from the intersecting worlds of music, AI, sustainability and activism to explore some of the key challenges facing music communities in Ireland and internationally.

'The Future of Music in a Changing World' - Programme Highlights:

Opening address from composer and founder of Ireland’s first contemporary music ensemble, Concorde, Jane O’Leary.

Live performances from Larissa O’Grady (violin) and Jonathan Nangle (electronics).

Panelists and presenters to include: Irish artists Sebastian Adams, Brian Irvine, Karen Power, Evangelia Rigaki and Nick Roth; Head of Policy at The Ivors Academy, Catherine Martin; and journalist Helen Shaw.

Keynote presentation on new music and expanded authorship in the twenty-first century from Professor Stephen Graham, UCC.

Join us for a day of inspiring discussions and performances at the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute.

The IAMIC 2026 Annual Meeting and Conference is hosted by the CMC with support from IMRO. “The Future of Music in a Changing World” public conference is presented by CMC in partnership with the Music Composition Centre, Trinity College Dublin and Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute. Generously supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, as part of Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture, the culture programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026. CMC is grateful to ITMA and KIRKOS for their collaboration on conference activities.

The Contemporary Music Centre is strategically funded by the Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through project lottery funding.

Description supplied by the event organiser.