The NAMM Show 2026

 The NAMM Show 2026

OVERVIEW:

The NAMM Show is the world’s largest and most influential trade show for the music industry. Organized by the National Association of Music Merchants, it serves as the global stage where brands, retailers, and artists gather to debut the newest musical instruments, recording gear, and sound technology. Think of it as the "CES of the music world."

It's famous for being incredibly loud and high-energy. The halls are packed with thousands of booths where you can test out guitars, synths, and drums, often while world-famous musicians walk past you or perform live on "Grand Plaza" stages.

3 Reasons I Love To Go:

  1. GEAR: There is a LOT of gear on the show floor. Additionally, this is where major companies like Fender, Gibson, Roland, and Yamaha (as well as thousands of boutique brands) launch their flagship products for the year. I'm able to try out and play gear that I would never, ever be able to afford.

  2. PERFORMANCES: Around every corner and every few yards, someone is playing music. It could be a talented amateur testing out gear or a seasoned veteran. Spontaneous "jams" are certainly a thing. Then there are the scheduled performances by big-name musicians at sponsored locations. Watching these people display their craft up close and personal is a truly amazing experience.

  3. MEET PEOPLE: Some truly legendary names in music, plus some YouTube musicians that I follow.

This year, I attended for 3 days. I was able to bring along Sandy and my friends Justin and Brent on different days to explore the show with me.



GEAR:

Every hall of the Anaheim convention center is filled to capacity with music related gear. IT IS VAST! Instruments of all shapes and sizes. Electric, acoustic, brass, strings, keyboards, drums, mics, woodwinds, synthesizers, amps, lighting, custom "boutique" instruments (that are stratospherically expensive)  ... ON and ON AND ON!

To spare you having to scroll through numerous photos, I'll put a link here to a photo set which you can opt to view. Again, this is a microscopic fraction of the gear that is on display at the NAMM show: LINK

PERFORMANCES:

It would be difficult to describe or explain the amount and diversity of music performed at the NAMM show. Instead I'll leave you with this 6 minute, 41 second video of just a FEW things that I saw. I can only imagine what I didn't see / missed. Enjoy: VIDEO LINK.

PEOPLE I MET:


This is Leland Sklar. He is a legendary American bassist and one of the most prolific session musicians in music history. He has appeared on more than 2,000 albums and an estimated 25,000 individual tracks throughout his career. He is known for his ability to play across almost any genre, from folk and country to hard rock and jazz. He is easily recognizable by his waist-length white beard and his iconic "Frankenstein" bass, which he has used for the vast majority of his recordings.

Here is an example of some of the people he has played with: James Taylor, Phil Collins, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Toto, Hall & Oates, David Bowie, The Doors, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Clint Black, Vince Gill, Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell, Warren Zevon, Leonard Cohen, Art Garfunkel, Carly Simon, Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Billy Cobham, Peter Cetera, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Alice Cooper, Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Bee Gees, Leo Sayer, Kim Carnes, Rick Springfield, Yvonne Elliman, Stephen Bishop, Andrew Gold, Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson, Glen Campbell, Engelbert Humperdinck, Andy Williams, Neil Sedaka, Bette Midler, Artie Butler, Air Supply, America, Peter Allen, Jimmy Buffett, David Cassidy, Vanessa Carlton, Judith Owen, Lisa Loeb, Nils Lofgren, Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Andraé Crouch, Phil Keaggy,

This is Larry Carlton. He is a legendary session guitarist and solo artist, Larry Carlton has collaborated with a vast array of iconic musicians across multiple genres. He is a four-time Grammy Award winner and has received 19 nominations throughout his career. He performed the celebrated guitar solo on Steely Dan’s "Kid Charlemagne," which Rolling Stone ranked as one of the greatest guitar songs of all time. He was a core member of the legendary jazz-rock group The Crusaders from 1971 to 1976, performing on 13 of their albums. He served as a prolific session musician, contributing to over 3,000 studio sessions and appearing on more than 100 Gold or Platinum albums.

Below is a list of artists he has played with:

Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, John Lennon, Barbra Streisand, The Crusaders, Fourplay, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Herb Alpert, Sammy Davis Jr., Christopher Cross, Bobby Bland, Joan Baez, Donald Fagen, Jerry Garcia, Paul Anka, Steve Lukather, Robben Ford, Lee Ritenour, Tak Matsumoto, Andy Williams, The Fifth Dimension, The Partridge Family, Vicki Carr, Charly García, Paulinho Da Costa, Neil Diamond, Al Jarreau, Michael Franks, Lani Hall, Albert Hammond, Henry Mancini, Megan McDonough, Wayne Newton, Michael Omartian, Michele Pillar, Johnny Rivers, Leo Sayer, Tom Scott, James Lee Stanley, B.W. Stevenson, David Cassidy, Andraé Crouch, Billy Cobham, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Art Garfunkel, Minnie Riperton, Seals & Crofts, Lobo, Mike Post, Joey Scarbury, David T. Walker, Chuck Leavell, Chris Layton, Terry McMillan, Michael Rhodes, The Four Tops, Cass Elliot, Claudine Longet, John Stewart, Dusty Springfield, David Gates, Chuck Jackson, Cal Tjader, and Hoyt Axton.

This is Josh Fossgreen. A couple years ago when I first picked up the bass and knew NOTHING, I searched YouTube and found his channel. I have learned just about everything I needed from videos like his on YouTube. Josh has great style and demeanor. He's a born educator who does a phenomenal job of sharing what he knows in an entertaining way. Check out his YouTube channel here. LINK TO JOSH'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

This is Vincen García. He is a scorchingly talented bassist. I follow him on YouTube and found him because he went on tour with Cory Wong (a musician I also follow). Check out a few of Vincen's videos at this channel here: LINK. (See his video for "APRIETA 2.0" to see what this guy can do!)

This is Kfir Ochaion. He is an amazing guitarist that I've been following on YouTube. Check out some of this jaw dropping guitar work here: LINK.


This is Ellen Alaverdyan and her dad. She is a 13 year old bassist that I have been following on YouTube. She is truly gifted and a bassist phenom. Check out here YouTube channel here: LINK. 


This is Mohini Dey. A phenomenal bass-player who I have followed on YouTube. Here is a link to her channel: LINK. 

This is Sharon Renold. An amazing, talented, personable bassist and singer. Check out her YouTube channel here: LINK.

I had a wonderful time at the show. I was only able to go because of my connection to the Museum of Making Music. I have provided photography services for the Museum numerous times and they generously gifted me with a badge to attend. By the end of day three I was exhausted but had thoroughly enjoyed my time there. It's challenging to put into words the amazing experience of things I saw, heard and people I met. A magical experience that I'll remember for a long time. 



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