The annual two-day Going Global Music Summit returns to Tāmaki Makaurau on Thursday, 28 and Friday, 29 August, uniting Aotearoa’s brightest artists with international speakers, festival bookers, and tastemakers from across the globe.

This year’s summit is focused on artist development and will dive deep into the big questions and bold ideas shaping music today, from how TikTok works, to AI tools, building your music career, and plenty more.

“The interest shown from the wider world in Aotearoa New Zealand artists has never been higher,” says Dylan Pellett, GM of Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ).

That sentiment is borne out with the Going Global 2025 speaker list running to more than 30, including artist keynote presentations from local players including Ara Adams-Tamatea, Brad Kora, Mikee Tucker, Gareth Shute and 9LIVES. The summit is taking place  to Q Theatre in central Auckland.

Ten Australians speakers will be presenting, among them Cathy Oates who is a co-programmer of BIGSOUND, TikTok’s AU/NZ Director of Music Ollie Wards, other festival bookers, artist management specialists, music merchandisers and more. Asia region delegates from Japan, Indonesia and South Korea will be joined by others from UK, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany and USA, including SXSW Music Festival Programmer Pixie Weyand.

Over the Summit’s two nights, 24 acts will perform at this year’s Going Global Festival. Established homegrown heavyweights and rising newcomer acts from across the country showcasing include JessB, Anthonie Tonnon, Jazmine Mary, Wiri Donna, Bub, There’s A Tuesday, Crystal Chen, IVY, Beth Torrance and The Garden Party, Mim Jensen, Louisa Nicklin and lots more.

Tickets for both the summit and the festival are now on sale. Full Going Global 2025 tickets include both the conference days and the showcase nights.