Credit: Lucinda Goodwin

There’s a live music summit coming to Geelong where get to you have a say on the future of the scene

Do you want to contribute to shaping our Greater Geelong live music scene?

Geelong’s vibrant live music community is gathering for an evening of dialogue, inspiration and forward-looking action at the Greater Geelong Live Music Summit. Set against the welcoming backdrop of the Barwon Heads Hotel on Wednesday, 20 May, the summit promises to be a cornerstone event for musicians, venue operators, industry professionals and anyone with a passion for the city’s musical heartbeat.

Greater Geelong Live Music Summit

When: Wednesday 20 May 2026, 4pm – 8.30pm

Where: Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads

Keep connected to your live music scene here.

 

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The summit is designed to bring together a diverse cross-section of voices from the local and national live music industry. Representatives from Music Victoria, the UNESCO City of Music in Adelaide, Live Music Locator, and the City of Greater Geelong will join performers, educators, researchers and youth programming facilitators for an immersive discussion on the state and future of live music in the region. Audience members are invited to play an active role in shaping these conversations, ensuring that every perspective helps inform a more dynamic and sustainable local music scene.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, the program offers a rich tapestry of talks, panels and interactive sessions. Topics include the development of live music precincts, small venue sustainability, pathways for performer careers, and strategies to address industry gaps. Highlights include insights from the Amplify Youth Program, perspectives on music education and pathways from Oxygen College, and a case study of Adelaide’s UNESCO City of Music. Panels with leading venue operators and performers promise candid discussions on sustainability, audiences, the rising cost of living and the evolving role of technology in music.

The summit run sheet will be as follows:

4.00pm – Welcome & Acknowledgment of Country
4.05pm – MC Welcome with Chris Holland (K Rock)
4.10pm – State Government Address – MP Christine Couzens
4.15pm – Civic Welcome – Deputy Mayor Cr Eddy Kontelj
4.20pm – Council–Industry Partnership – Tracey-Lea Smith
4.30pm – Amplify Program Spotlight – Emily Hibble (Youth Services)
4.45pm – Music Education & Pathways – Peter Flynn, Phil Kearney and Monique Chester (Oxygen College)
5.00pm – Performer Panel + Q&A – Real talk on sustainability, audiences, cost of living, AI and careers
5.45pm – Break
6.00pm – Live Music Locator Insights – Nick Thorpe
6.20pm – Live Music Precincts & Policy – Paddy Donovan
6.50pm – UNESCO City of Music Case Study (Adelaide) – Joe Hay
7.30pm – Venue Operators Panel – Featuring leaders from Geelong Arts Centre, Bellarine Arts Centre, Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Club Hotel & Beav’s Bar
8.00pm – Open Forum – Share your ideas, reflections and help shape what’s next
8.30pm – Close

Entry to the summit is free, though registration is essential. Attendees will leave not only with a deeper understanding of Geelong’s live music ecosystem but also with an opportunity to directly influence the city’s cultural future.

For those committed to the heartbeat of Geelong’s music scene, this summit is more than a conversation—it is a call to action.

For more information, email: artsculture@geelongcity.vic.gov.au.

To register to attend the Greater Geelong Live Music Summit, head here.