🎸 NAMM 2026 — The world’s largest trade show, the future of tone

Breaking announcements, headline-grabbing releases and unforgettable moments from the planet’s premier guitar trade show

Namm 2026 is officially live, and once again we welcome guitar players, tone hunters and gear obsessives from every corner of the globe. Happy New Year — and happy new gear — as we step into Namm 2026, the largest and most influential guitar equipment exhibition in the world.

Organized by the National Association of Music Merchants since 1902, this annual gathering has become the backbone of the music gear industry. Taking place January 22–24, 2026, this year’s event marks the astonishing 124th showcase of brand-new guitars, amplifiers, Pedal effects, digital processors, AMP technology and everything in between.

The atmosphere heading into 2026 feels notably different compared to last year. In 2025, there was genuine uncertainty surrounding the show’s existence due to the devastating California wildfires. This time around, the industry faces a different challenge: tariff instability that threatens to disrupt release timelines and pricing strategies across the board.

Even so, nothing — and we mean nothing — can slow down the annual January avalanche of new gear. We’re delighted to confirm that some truly spectacular launches are already making waves, with many more still to come.

NAMM today is less public-facing than it once was. Our schedules are packed with closed-door previews, private press briefings and invitation-only product demos. Not everyone gets to experience the newest releases up close — but rest assured, we do, and we’re bringing every detail straight to you.

In short: you’re covered. Expect up-to-the-minute reporting (Wi-Fi permitting), expert hands-on impressions, artist interviews, celebrity sightings, spontaneous shred-offs and more gear than you could ever realistically explain to your significant other.

Hello! Jackson here, stepping in to guide you through another wave of NAMM coverage. Having attended the show myself back in 2023, I know just how overwhelming it can feel. Like my colleagues, I’ll be spotlighting key moments and explaining exactly why they matter.

At that previous show, one of my favorite stops was the Donner booth. The brand was clearly having fun shaking things up in the budget guitar space. Its headless HUSH model, in particular, was surprisingly enjoyable to play, and its accessibility made me briefly consider doing the unthinkable — investing in a headless guitar.

Described by Donner as “the ultimate modern headless guitar,” the new HLX-500 feels like a clear step up from the HUSH while remaining impressively affordable. Priced at around $330, it takes direct aim at Ibanez and Strandberg, potentially drawing even more players toward the once-polarizing headless format.

Longtime Martin ambassador Molly Tuttle is finally receiving the recognition she deserves with not one, but two signature acoustic guitars: the Martin D-18 and the D-X2E.

Both instruments carry a distinctly vintage aesthetic, which is no surprise given their inspiration — Tuttle’s beloved 1943 D-18. Features include rear-shifted scalloped bracing, a 1940s-style neck profile and personalized touches such as moon-phase fingerboard inlays. Right- and left-handed versions are available.

As Tuttle herself explains, she has dreamed of playing Martin guitars since the very beginning of her musical journey. She describes these new models as limitless creative tools that capture the classic tone she’s always sought — instruments that inspire both performance and songwriting.

Blackstar delivered one of the show’s most unexpected announcements by unveiling the ID:X Digital Floorboard series — a clear competitor to the Fender Tone Master Pro.

Like its rivals, the ID:X series promises a compact, tour-friendly format loaded with amps and effects. However, Blackstar emphasizes its focus on replicating the real behavior and musical response of tube amplifiers rather than simply mimicking their sound.

Three versions are available. The ID:X Floor One offers USB-C audio interface functionality, MIDI input, XLR outputs, onboard tuner, streaming input and headphone connectivity. Floor Two adds an expression pedal, while the flagship Floor Three expands connectivity with MIDI Thru, an effects loop, extended switching and a larger chassis.

Given the explosive growth of modelers in recent years, Blackstar’s entry into this space feels both timely and inevitable.

Iron Maiden fans, this one’s for you.

Jim Dunlop has honored the metal legends with a signature Cry Baby Wah — a special Killers-era edition celebrating the band’s earliest years. The wah effect has long been a staple of Maiden’s guitar sound, and this collector’s stompbox proudly features Killers-era Eddie artwork for maximum stage visibility.

And yes — Kirk Hammett is already a fan.

Janelle here again, and Strandberg continues to cement its reputation as NAMM’s most forward-thinking brand. Its latest collaboration with Jamstik resulted in the Strandberg x Jamstik Chameleon — an electric guitar fused with full polyphonic MIDI capability.

Through USB-C, Bluetooth and TRS-MIDI connectivity, the instrument can control software instruments ranging from lush strings and synths to choirs and harpsichords. Think of it as the best of both worlds: Strandberg ergonomics paired with deep MIDI integration.

MXR also returned with a blast from the past — the EVH Modern High Gain Pedal, which captures the face-melting third channel of the EVH 5150III amplifier.

Designed in direct collaboration with Eddie Van Halen back in 2015, the pedal includes a familiar control layout alongside a bass-shift mini switch that allows players to choose between tighter or fatter low-end response.

Back in pickup territory, Seymour Duncan has unveiled the MortalCoil — an active humbucker offering three distinct voices in a single unit. Players can access modern metal tones, classic JB and Jazz flavors, and even single-coil-style sounds, all from the same pickup.

Staff writer Janelle returns to spotlight more NAMM highlights, beginning with Fatoumata Diawara’s signature Epiphone SG.

Diawara makes history as the first woman of color to collaborate with Epiphone on a signature model. Every detail reflects her artistic identity — from Malian-inspired body graphics to nods toward her favorite Epiphone Muse SG.

The guitar features Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers with push/pull coil-splitting, dual tone controls, and a phase switch for out-of-phase tones. At $699, it delivers exceptional value.

Orange continues to resist vintage nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, instead focusing on modern relevance. The new OR60 is a single-channel, 60-watt tube AMP designed to handle pedals, high-gain aggression and pristine cleans with ease.

It may look simple, but Orange promises versatility without excess — no endless presets, just pure tone.

One of NAMM’s most unconventional ideas comes from Casio. The Dimension Shifter uses guitar strap tension to convert movement into wireless effect control. Think of it as an expression pedal — built directly into your strap.

Wild? Absolutely. Practical? Maybe not for everyone. Fascinating? Without question.

Deputy Editor Matt P reports in from the UK as the Anaheim team continues coverage. One major talking point is Billy Corgan and Laney’s Supergrace signature pedal — claimed to capture the tone of Corgan’s $100,000 rig in a $629 pedal amp.

Meanwhile, the EVH and Jackson Custom Shop booths are packed with eye-catching creations, from striped trem arms to experimental Soloists.

Fender once again delivered a stunning Custom Shop showcase, blending aged classics with bold one-off designs — including British Invasion Telecasters, haunted Strats and a Custom Shop version of Courtney Love’s Venus.

Martin, Yamaha, PRS, and many others continued unveiling major releases, including the PRS SE Cosmic Splash baritone revealed by Ed Sheeran — a limited run of just 1,000 units.

Finally, the most talked-about pre-show release of all: Neural DSP’s Quad Cortex Mini.

This compact Cortex powerhouse delivers the full Quad Cortex experience — identical sound engine, processing power, UI and touchscreen — in the smallest format yet. A true game-changer for modern guitarists.

And with that, Namm 2026 is officially underway. More surprises, rumors and headline moments await.