27^e année, 24 janvier 2026.

Innovation In Music Conference 2026 : Music Beyond Tools and Rules

12-14 June 2026, Aalborg

Aalborg University, City Campus, Rendsburggade 14, Aalborg, Denmark

Have you ever experienced the thrill of creating music with an instrument, software, or interactive system that seems to listen, respond, and even inspire you in return? At InMusic’26, we want to explore the mutual relationships between humans and non-human systems in music, where listening, interaction, and co-creation open new possibilities for sound, composition, performance, and sonic experience.

We invite researchers, practitioners, creatives, producers, artists, industry professionals, technology developers, and equipment manufacturers to examine how technology can become a collaborative partner—not just a tool—in music-making, listening, performance, and interactive sound experiences. How do humans and technology resonate together? How does the act of listening and the conditions for creative decisions change when mediated by algorithms, AI, or interactive systems? How can co-creation with technology generate new forms of musical expression, perception, and experience?

Music tools and digital platforms also drive connections between artists and fans, including rapidly evolving tools for distribution, continuous engagement, licensing and social media sharing. At InMusic’26, we are interested to hear how these tools are shaping a new music industry, and the potential gains and losses from such new approaches. We are equally interested to explore scenarios where tools are being abandoned or rejected, in order to go ‘beyond’ and discover (or rediscover) alternative modes of creativity, as well as ways in which established musical, social, or industry rules are challenged, bent, or reimagined. While our focus includes human-technology interaction and co-creation, we encourage abstract submissions on all kinds of ‘innovation in music’, related to topics such as:

Innovative production, recording, mixing and mastering techniques

Innovative approaches to composition, songwriting and performance

Innovative approaches to music business, events, management and enterprise

Innovations in music technology

Innovative approaches to music research

Innovative approaches to co-creation

Innovative experiments in immersive sound, spatial audio, and interactive installations

Innovative applications of AI or adaptive systems in music

Innovative approaches to promoting diversity, equality and representation in music

Innovative approaches to sustainability and sustainable practices in music

Paper Presentations

Presentations are by default in the format of 15-minute talks, followed by 5 minutes Q&A. Abstracts should give a summary of original research and an outline of the presentation to be given, and be 300-500 words. After the conference, presenting authors will be invited to submit a full paper (4,000-6,000 words) for peer review and inclusion in the book of proceedings, published by Routledge (subject to contract). The abstracts submission deadline is 12 January 2026.

Submit your 300-500 word abstract in EasyChair at the following link

Performance and Workshop Proposals

Proposals are also welcome for presentations combining academic talks with innovative or interactive performances, workshops and demonstrations appropriate to the conference scope. If you would like to submit such a proposal, please get in touch with the organising committee prior to submitting your abstract for a discussion of technical requirements and possibilities, by emailing

We also welcome proposals for performances, workshops and panels: please use the below email address.

Dates and Deadlines

12 January 2026 – Abstracts submission deadline

31 January 2026 – Authors notified of acceptance

17 April 2026 – Earlybird registration discount ends 01 June 2026 – Registration closes

12 June 2026 – Conference opens

27 July 2026 – Deadline for submitting full chapters

Conference Committee, Aalborg University: Dr Mads Walther-Hansen, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Psychology, Music and Sound Knowledge Group ; Dr Anders Bonde, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Psychology, Music and Sound Knowledge Group

Conference Committee, International: Professor Jan-Olof Gullö – Royal College of Music (KMH), Sweden ; Professor Justin Paterson – University of West London, UK ; Associate Professor Russ Hepworth-Sawyer – MOTTOsound & York St John University, UK ; Professor Rob Toulson – RT60 Ltd, UK.

For any other enquiries please email

We hope to see you in the beautiful city of Aalborg.

Musicologie.org, 56 rue de la Fédération, 93100 Montreuil. ☎ 06 06 61 73 41.

ISSN 2269-9910.

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Jeudi 29 Janvier, 2026