NIVA Announces 2026 Minneapolis Conference Programming Schedule

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) unveiled the programming schedule for NIVA ’26, the organization’s fifth annual national conference. The event returns June 7 – 10 in Minneapolis.

The conference is designed to bring independent live entertainment professionals together around education, advocacy, networking, artist development, marketing and touring. Sessions will be held across multiple Minneapolis venues, among them Hennepin Event Center, Pantages Theatre, Dudley Riggs Theatre, The Dakota, Green Room and Icehouse.

“At a time when the live sector is navigating rising costs, industry consolidation, and rapid change, NIVA ’26 is about coming together to share ideas, build relationships, and move the industry forward,” said Stephen Parker, NIVA Executive Director. “This conference will address the challenges and opportunities that matter most to the independent live space right now while looking ahead to ensure a better future.”

The schedule features a keynote conversation with Carly James, Music Touring Agent at Creative Artists Agency, with Billboard Senior Editor Taylor Mims moderating. Songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam and musician Cornbread Harris are set to appear together in a session titled “A Generational Sound: Jimmy Jam & Cornbread Harris,” moderated by music journalist Andrea Swensson.

Additional sessions include “Latin Music Isn’t One Sound — It’s a Universe,” with Los Tigres del Norte Chief Experience Liaison Jorge Hernandez Jr. among the participants, along with panels addressing ticket resale legislation, food and beverage revenue and the Minneapolis music scene.

On the evening programming side, the conference opens with a Prince tribute event at First Avenue, presented by EVENTIM in partnership with Ideal3, with a Minneapolis Artist Showcase at 7th Street Entry running concurrently.

Monday night closes with the NIVA ’26 Nightcap, presented by Eventbrite at Icehouse. NIVA member venues across Minneapolis and St. Paul will host live music, comedy and dance parties on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Registration and additional information are available at nivassoc.org/conference.