c/o pop Convention
16. + 17. April 2026

Just like that, spring is here, and just as quickly, the convention program is almost full. Here are a few of our highlights for the first industry gathering of the year:

The panel “Der Club Euro” (The Euro Club) will focus on the solidarity program of the same name for smaller venues, which the Cologne club scene is currently setting up together. “Dare to be more punk” brings together Timo Warkus from Team Scheisse, Kay Voges, artistic director of Schauspiel Köln, and Elke Kuhlen, festival director of c/o pop, three people who are very familiar with punk-inspired, out-of-the-box ideas in the cultural sector. There will also be talks such as “AI as a fire accelerant, democracy, and the creative ecosystem,” the panel "DE&I under pressure: What Does the Shift to the Right Mean for the Music Industry?“, the live podcast ”ThemaTakt,“ which deals with the current situation in the music business in general, the podcast ”Hip Hop Lives" with Julia Gröschel and Chris Guse, and a panel on barriers and freedom in soccer as part of the SOCIAL FU24BA7L project.

More program!

This year, TINCON, the conference for digital youth culture, will once again take place (click here to register), and the New Talent Program with sessions on SoundOn, AI, and TikTok, as well as Bandcamp and YouTube Shorts Masterclasses and VUT Indie Days will also be presented at the convention—with roundtables, workshops, and panels.

The PRO MUSIK conference will address the most pressing concerns of music creators—including one-on-one consulting for artists—and this year's motto for the PopBoard NRW conference day is “Pop needs you.” So, will you be coming to the convention?