Call for Proposals: Music Conference Programming | Folk Alliance International 2026 Conference

Submit Your Proposals for Programming at FAI 2026

Our goal is to present conference programming that is relevant to and reflective of our members and the wider folk community. It can appear in various formats: a solo presentation, a case study, a panel, an interview, a workshop, a master class, or a sing-a-long.

Our community includes artists, streaming services, festivals, house concert presenters, venue programmers, distributors, publishers, labels, internet radio services, trade associations, nonprofit groups, brands, rights management companies, startups, performing rights organizations, artist managers; business managers, lawyers, alternative financing companies, live event companies and services, marketing & PR professionals, educators, activists, and many more.

From now until 11:59 pm CT on July 25, 2025, submit your most creative and well-thought-out ideas that can benefit FAI conference attendees. Show what you are passionate about, and what is going to be important in 2026 by completing the form below. Please be specific. – Unpacking specific components of a topic will help foster a better learning experience for all. There are no fees required to submit a proposal.

Submit a proposal

Examples from Past Years

Conference Theme

The theme of the 2026 Folk Alliance International Conference is Rise Up.

For our 38th annual conference, Folk Alliance International invites you to rise up—to rise, respond, and resonate with purpose in the heart of New Orleans. In a city where music marches through the streets and history dances in every note, we gather for a Second Line of Song—a celebration of folk tradition and a call to transformative action.

Just as a second line follows the grand marshal in a New Orleans parade, this conference honors the legacies that lead us while stepping forward into new forms of expression. In the spirit of the city that gave the world jazz funerals, Mardi Gras krewes, and community-powered parades, we’ll move together to the beat of resistance and renewal.

New Orleans, steeped in cultural resilience and musical magic, is the perfect backdrop to explore the intersection of tradition and transformation. From porch songs to protest anthems, we recognize the folk artist’s role in preserving roots and pushing boundaries—amplifying stories that demand to be heard.

In this moment of social, cultural, and ecological urgency, we are called to rise up—as artists, activists, and allies—to keep the flame of folk music burning bright. Whether through quiet storytelling or collective shout, this is our second line: our time to follow, lead, and lift each other up.

Join us in NOLA this upcoming January, Join the Second Line of Song. rise up.
Amplify your voice. March with tradition. Let the rhythms of resistance lead us forward.

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Guidelines

Panelists

Our panels feature 3-4 speakers and a moderator. The moderator is responsible for balancing conversation, time, and keeping the course of conversation. We encourage you to submit topics that present a balanced perspective, ensuring that attendees understand the full spectrum of an issue and that key industry and/or community stakeholders are given a chance to weigh in on the discussion from their vantage point.

Please ensure your submission has speakers that reflect FAI’s rich and vibrant community reflecting our commitment to equitable representation for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and gender balance . Speakers should also be diverse in age, geographic location, areas of expertise, and ideologies. If balance and diversity are not achieved, FAI reserves the right to suggest/add participants to a discussion or alternative ideas and copy.

Additional information:

Our goal is to notify the “accepted” proposers by August 22, 2025.
Programming should be completed including all panelist staffing by Friday, October 15, 2025, so that follow-up and marketing can commence.

Presenters/panelists accepted from this program proposal process may receive a complimentary full registration to attend the FAI 2025 conference.
For those chosen under this programming proposal process, FAI will not pay speakers any stipend or honoraria, nor provide travel expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.).

Submit a propsal

‍If you have questions regarding your submission or the guidelines outlined above, please contact cindy@folk.org

Programming Proposals