Chicago Music Nexus to Expand to Two Days in 2026

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After selling out its first two editions, Chicago Music Nexus is adding a second day of programming at Concord Music Hall.

The dance music industry doesn’t always reflect the approachable ethos adopted by the crowds at its events. A convoluted network of gatekeepers seems to guard opportunities, and there’s no official roadmap to help artists break in.

Chicago Music Nexus is changing that, one annual conference at a time. In its first two sold-out editions, organizers have helped artists sign tracks, find managers, and get booked. Year three sees the gathering expand to two days, running November 20-21 at Concord Music Hall and The Joinery.

Photo Credit: Brandy Fik (@brandleighh)

The Concord partnership is new for 2026. Nexus’ entire first day of programming — billed as Field Day — will take place at the premier Chicago venue. Activations include A&R feedback sessions hosted by IK Multimedia, artist collaboration workshops utilizing software by BPM Supreme, professional headshot sessions courtesy of CV Studios, and a Crossfader contest in which six entrants will be chosen to have their DJ set recorded from multiple cameras on the venue stage. BandLab is also organizing a community meetup, and attendees get to test out networking platform GreenRoom in real time.

Field Day at Chicago Music Nexus 2026 also offers a bold, new addition: Office Hours. Organizers noticed that many music conferences simply offer panel talks and keynote speeches with minimal opportunities to connect. Office Hours will consist of booths in which attendees can consult with industry professionals on topics like branding, money management, and booking (disclosure: EDM Identity is running a booth on storytelling).

Nexus then returns to The Joinery, the industrial-chic event space where it took place in 2025. Conference Day, as the second day is called, will treat attendees to panels like “Borrowed Strategies: House vs Bass,” “How To Get Your Music Signed,” and “Social Media Secrets for Creators.” The lattermost presentation is back by popular demand, but with brand-new speakers active on the cutting edge of community building.

Also billed for day two is a DJ workshop by Dutch heavyweight Laidback Luke, as well as one on songwriting by US singer Linney. The full list of panelists includes such influential figures as Nervous Records President Mike Weiss, Paul Campbell of Nû Management, and Surge Social Managing Partner Alex Hilburn.

Chicago Music Nexus was first organized in 2024 as the brainchild of digital marketer Olivia Mancuso and artist/A&R Matt “Sherm” Sherman. Their mission was to introduce a more affordable dance music conference than Miami Music Week or Amsterdam Dance Event, and one that affords its attendees actionable insights.

Photo Credit: Brandy Fik (@brandleighh)

“Passive learning doesn’t change careers,” said Mancuso. “You can sit in a room all day and walk out exactly the same person you walked in as. Field Day exists because the most transformative learning happens when you’re doing, not watching. It’s a full day of hands-on activations and choose-your-own-adventure experiences built around what your career actually needs.”

She continued, “Then, on day two, you walk into that room already knowing the people around you, ready to sit in on strategic conversations, network with intention, and apply what you learned the day before. That sequencing is deliberate.”

Sherman added, “IRL events never left — they’ve just evolved. In a world that’s become increasingly digital, Chicago Music Nexus is a reminder that the most important opportunities in music still happen person-to-person. The conversations, collaborations, mentorship, and relationships that shape careers can’t be downloaded or streamed.”

Presale tickets go live at on Thursday, June 25 at 12pm CT, with the general on-sale starting on Monday, July 13 at 12pm CT. Find more information on the Chicago Music Nexus website.