Innovation In Music 2026
​
12-14 June, 2026
Aalborg University, Denmark
Call For Papers​​
Music Beyond Tools and Rules
​
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 2026, 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? And 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 2026, 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:
​
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=inmusic26
​
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 info@innovationinmusic.uk
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
Organisation
​
​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 info@innovationinmusic.uk​
Registration and Conference Fee
​
Fees include coffee/tea and snacks throughout the conference, lunch Saturday and Sunday, conference dinner Saturday and a light dinner at the performance event Friday evening.
Fees are (excluding ticket fees):
Early-bird: 2800DKK
Regular: 3300DKK
​
You can purchase a ticket and register for InMusic26 at the following link:
https://www.events.aau.dk/event/inmusic-conference-2026
​​​
Keynotes​
Industry Keynote: Anna Lidell​
Anna Lidell is a composer, producer, and music entrepreneur working to rebuild the relationship between artists and audiences. She is the founder of Sleeve—a platform that helps musicians cultivate sustainable careers by owning their audience relationships, activating their fans, and creating direct economic pathways outside traditional social media and streaming infrastructures.
Lidell combines artistic insight with strategic leadership. She has served as Chair of Autor, Denmark’s largest songwriter organization, and as Chair of KODA, the Danish collective rights management society. Across her work, she challenges the constraints placed on musicians by today’s attention-economy platforms and advocates for models that protect artistic freedom, value depth over algorithms, and allow artists to stay in the field for a lifetime rather than just a moment.
Academic Keynote: Marie Koldkjær Højlund
Marie Koldkjær Højlund is a composer, performing artist, and Associate Professor at Aarhus University. She has composed acclaimed works for theatre and television and released several albums that advance innovation in sound and music, offering immersive, cross-sensory environments that challenge and expand conventional listening practices.
Her research explores how sound can transform spaces and experiences through collaborative, site-specific projects, and her artistic work spans from immersive concerts and sensory installations to sound design for hospital birthing rooms and large-scale wind turbine environments. In her keynote, she will share practical insights into creating music beyond traditional tools and rules—where listening, technology, and human experience intersect.
Further details about conference keynotes, panel sessions, performances and workshops will be added here in due course.
Venue
​
The main conference will take place at Aalborg University, City Campus, located at Rendsburggade 14, Aalborg. The campus is centrally located and easily accessible by foot.
​
The Friday night reception and concert will be held in the concert hall at Studenterhuset, located at Gammeltorv 10, Aalborg. It’s in the city centre just a short walk from the conference venue.
​
The Confererence dinner Saturday Night will take place at the local brewery, Søgårds Bryghus at C. W. Obels Plads 1A, Aalborg.
Travel and Accommodation
​
Getting to Aalborg is easy – whether you fly, take the train, or drive. The city centre is small, and it is easy to get around once you’re here.
By Air:
-
Aalborg Airport (AAL) is just 10 minutes from the city centre. Most international flights to Aalborg go via Copenhagenor Amsterdam, both offering frequent daily connections. There are also a few direct flights from selected European cities.
-
The airport bus (Line 70) and local buses (12 and 200) take you straight to the city centre and conference area in about 15–20 minutes. Tickets cost around 4 EUR for a single ticket
-
The train from Aalborg Airport to Aalborg Station takes approximately 10 minutes, with services operating every hour. Tickets cost around 4 EUR for a single ticket
-
A taxi from the airport to most hotels costs around 25–30 EUR and takes about 10 minutes.
By Train:
-
Aalborg Central Station is right in the middle of town, within walking distance of many hotels and the conference venue.
-
Direct trains from Copenhagen run every hour and take around 4½–5 hours.
By Car:
-
If you’re driving, Aalborg is right on the E45 motorway, which runs north–south through Jutland.
-
It takes about 4½–5 hours from Copenhagen.
-
Most hotels offer parking, and there are several public car parks close to the venue.
Hotels in Aalborg
Aalborg offers a range of accommodation options within walking distance of the conference venue.
Recommended Hotels:
-
Pier 5: https://pier5.dk/en/. Located by the waterfront, just next to the conference venue
-
Kompas: https://kompashotel.dk/en: A comfortable hotel only a few hundred meters from the conference venue
Budget option:
-
Cabinn: https://en.cabinn.com/hotel/cabinn-aalborg_: A budget-friendly hotel a few hundred meters from the conference venue.
Other hotels within a 15-minute walk from the conference venue:
-
B&B Hotel: https://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotel/aalborg
-
Comwell Hvide Hus: https://comwell.com/hoteller/comwell-hotel-aalborg
-
Four Points Flex: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/aalxf-four-points-flex-aalborg
Equality, Diversity and Sustainability
All involved in the organisation of Innovation In Music are committed to encouraging fairness, equality and diversity throughout our event, in terms of the organisational structure, the invited participants and in the encouragement of presenters and paper authors. We welcome anyone interested in the conference themes to engage with us and join us in building a sustainable conference that can represent all corners of the music related industries.
​
We are also committed to being thoughtful and responsible with respect to sustainability. Whilst the conference is intended as an in-person event - and we significantly value face-to-face interaction between delegates - we will always endeavour to assist with participants who cannot attend or who are aiming to keep a low-carbon footprint. Where possible, we thoroughly recommend delegates travelling to the conference through public transport and using the most sustainable methods. We also take note of the 17 Sustainability Goals of the United Nations and, where relevant, consider these in our conference organisation.
If you are passionate and/or expert in areas connecting music with equality, diversity or sustainability, we will be very pleased to receive an abstract proposal from you - enabling us to continue learning and communicating on these essential topics.
​
Past Conferences
​
The website from our most recent conference, Innovation In Music 2025, hosted by Bath Spa University, UK, can be viewed here
Below are a number of keynote films from our past Innovation In Music Conferences held at York St John University & University of York (2013), Anglia Ruskin University (2015) and University of Westminster (2017). Videos of more recent conferences will be added soon.
Download programmes and abstracts for past conferences:
​
Innovation In Music 2024 - Kristiania University College, Oslo: conference programme
​
Innovation In Music 2023 - Edinburgh Napier University: conference programme
​
Innovation In Music 2022 - Royal College of Music, Stockholm: conference programme
​
Innovation In Music 2019 - University of West London: conference programme
​
Innovation In Music 2017 - University of Westminster: conference programme
​
Innovation In Music 2015 - Anglia Ruskin University: conference programme
​
Innovation In Music 2013 - York St John University and University of York: conference programme
​
​
Sign up to the Innovation In Music email list to be kept informed of conferences, dates and announcements.
​
Contact:
​
​