Organizers have announced the date and subjects of interest for the Chicago Electronic Music Conference 2026, returning to the historic Ramova Theatre in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood on April 11, 2026.
This year’s conference revolves around the theme of “Your Cue,” conceptualized as “both a response to the shifting electronic music industry and a direct invitation for the community to shape what comes next — for DJs, producers, nightlife workers and every contributor to the scene.”
The 2026 program features headline performances by DJ Hyperactive and Kate Simko, with industry panels and conversations with cultural leaders, producers and promoters on “AI’s impact on creative workflows, Chicago’s musical legacy, the nightlife economy, and the future of the industry”; hands-on workshops on DJing, music production, entrepreneurship; vendor hall with demos and showcases and Chicago DJs playing all day long at the attached Off Hours Beer Co. taproom.
“CEMC was built on the belief that Chicago’s music culture doesn’t just deserve to be celebrated — it deserves to be carried forward,” said the CEMC Organizing Committee in a release.
The Chicago Electronic Music Conference 2026 is taking place on April 11 2026 at the Ramova Theater (3520 S. Halsted St, Chicago); tickets are available at tixr.com/e/167416.
The Chicago Electronic Music Conference (CEMC) debuted in 2025 with a series of panels, workshops and performances, including 5 Mag’s hosted panel Resilience & Rhythm: The Art of the Comeback and Longevity in Dance Music featuring Metro/Smartbar owner Joe Shanahan, Chicago house music legends Mike Dunn and Lady D and 5 Mag co-founder and host Czarina Mirani aka Czboogie.
