Pheelz, George the Poet, Rachel Magoola and Karabo Senna lead the lineup for AUMEX 2026 as the music industry convening returns to Kampala on November 13–14.
AUMEX 2026 is set to return to Kampala on November 13–14, bringing together musicians, music executives, industry leaders, creatives and cultural organisations for two days of conversations, masterclasses, networking and live music, culminating in a headline showcase by Nigerian producer and performer Pheelz.
The Kampala edition will open on Friday, November 13, at Forest Cottages with a full day of workshops and masterclasses designed to equip creatives and industry professionals with practical knowledge and opportunities to build meaningful connections.
The day will also feature a Spotify networking mixer, creating a space for artists, media professionals, executives and other players in the music ecosystem to connect, exchange ideas and explore new opportunities. The programme will be bookended by a DOADOA Live showcase.
On Saturday, November 14, AUMEX moves to MOTIV for a day of industry panels and discussions before closing with its headline live showcase, led by Pheelz.
The Nigerian producer, songwriter and performer is best known internationally for his work on the global hit “Finesse” and “Electricity,” and will bring his live performance to Kampala as part of the AUMEX 2026 programme.
The conference will feature a diverse lineup of speakers drawn from across Africa and the wider global music industry, including British-Ghanaian poet and musician George the Poet; Ugandan musician and UGAPAFOCI representative Rachel Magoola; Karabo Senna of the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO). Martin Nkoyoyo of the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS), Douglas Lwanga of Purple Skills Foundation, Ian McQuaid of Moves Recordings, and Michael van den Berg of ARMC.
Their participation reflects AUMEX’s focus on creating practical conversations around the business, creative and structural opportunities shaping Africa’s music industry.
The 2026 edition is supported by a growing network of partners, including Malembe, Guinness Smooth, Alliance Française Kampala, Spotify, Live Traces, The Tribe Africa and DOADOA, whose involvement strengthens the event’s focus on collaboration, industry development and cultural exchange.
AUMEX 2026 also builds on its community-focused programmes. The Women in Music Residency has just concluded, bringing together female artists from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Nigeria for two days of collaboration, networking and creative exchange.
The event’s international dimension will also be visible through the participation of a French delegation supported by Alliance Française Kampala, including Maurice Chapot, Regional Audiovisual Attaché at the Embassy of France in Kenya.
The programme further brings together representatives from South Africa’s SAMRO and Uganda’s UPRS, while ARMC returns to the AUMEX platform following the relationship developed when AUMEX led a Ugandan delegation to Johannesburg in May.
With its combination of industry education, cross-border networking, creative exchange and live performance, AUMEX 2026 aims to provide a meeting point for the people shaping Africa’s evolving music ecosystem.
Registration for AUMEX 2026 is FREE and now open. Early bird tickets for the Pheelz headline concert will be announced in the coming days.
Register here: https://forms.gle/WEQiuhBYo7qwgkVk9