Hull’s upcoming Music Cities Covention has announced the final wave of speakers for its 2026 programme, completing a lineup of 60+ voices from six continents and more than 20 countries for the leading gathering on music and cities, taking place 10–11 June in the city.
The additions span government, grassroots advocacy, major labels, international development, health and wellbeing, climate and the arts — united around the Convention’s 2026 focus on implementation: how cities move from ambition to action.
The fourth and final wave of speakers includes: Ana Paula Matos (Deputy Mayor, Salvador de Bahia), Asa Dýradóttir (Reykjavík Music City), Jett Glozier (Sound Diplomacy), Audrey Guerre (Live DMA), Bob Riley (Manchester Camerata), Chiedu Oraka (musician, Hull), Dave Wakelin (Liverpool City Council x UNAC), Katie Duffy (Glasgow Life), Maisie Taylor (Liverpool City Council x UNAC), Nadine Shah (musician and advocate), Naomi McMahon (Universal Music Group), Sam Ryder (Director of Concert Hall Development, Legends Global), Sarah Wall (PPL), Samuel Nichols (Music Local, Leeds) and Sunil Sharpe (DJ and founder, Give Us The Night).
They join an already-confirmed lineup including Lord Kevin Brennan (House of Lords), Sally Currie (Drake Music), Charlotte Dryden (Oh Yeah Music Centre), Jake Groshong (Playing for Change Foundation), Dave Haslam, Eddie Hatitye (Music In Africa Foundation), Iryna Lobanok (Ukrainian Institute), Ahmed Saqer (Palestine Music Expo) and Kath Wynne-Hague (Hull City Council), pop culture commentator John Robb and many others.
Music for Cities comes to town almost a decade after Hull became the UK City of Culture, and will bring 400 music executives and top leaders from 25 countries head to the East Yorkshire port to discuss the future of music, culture, policy and city infrastructure in and around Hull, including speakers on how struggling town centres can become music destinations bringing money into cities.
In 2025, the music industry contributed £8 billion to UK economy – a record high and a growth of over 5% from £7.6 billion in 2023. Despite this success on a global stage, the UK music industry remains at risk in an increasingly competitive market, putting pressure on a fragile ecosystem that relies on regional cities across the UK to develop new talent.
