The Great Escape has officially revealed the full schedule for its landmark 20th anniversary conference, promising its most expansive and forward-thinking edition to date. Set against the backdrop of Brighton from May 13–15, 2026, the UK’s premier music industry forum will unite global leaders, innovators, and artists to dissect the critical debates currently shaping the musical landscape.
Peaches and ILA Lead Final Keynote Reveal
The headline addition to the Friday programme is a high-profile keynote conversation presented by The Independent. Cultural icon Peaches will sit down with producer and TRANS VOICES co-founder ILA for a rare, deep-dive discussion into identity, community, and uncompromising artistry. They join an elite roster of 2026 speakers, including Melanie C, Minister for Creative Industries Ian Murray, and top-tier live agents Emma Banks and Natasha Gregory.
A Three-Day Deep Dive into Industry Evolution
The conference is structured to tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges across three distinct days:
Wednesday (Live & Culture): Focusing on night-time infrastructure, the NTIA will host a significant panel on the UNESCO status of UK genres like Grime and Jungle as "Intangible Cultural Heritage," featuring Ras Kwame and DJ Jumpin Jack Frost.
Thursday (Careers & Rights): Centering on artist sustainability, PPL will present a "Girl Band Starter Pack" session with Panic Shack, while Chris Cooke leads a Council of Music Makers debate on the 2026 landscape of AI, streaming economics, and ticketing.
Friday (Next Gen): Dedicated to the future of the sector, featuring AWAL’s Creator Fund, Youth Music’s focus on regional scenes, and vital discussions on safety and accessibility from AudioActive and BBC Introducing.
Networking and Wellbeing
Beyond the panels, the conference reinforces its global reach with the Department for Business and Trade’s speed networking sessions, connecting UK delegates with international festival bookers. Meanwhile, powerful sessions from CALM (featuring Ed O’Brien and Nadine Shah) and UK Music ensure that wellbeing and diversity remain at the heart of the conversation.
As The Great Escape celebrates two decades, it remains the essential forum for the global music community to converge, collaborate, and set the agenda for the future. The full schedule is now available via the official festival app.
