Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 37th ISME World Conference. Centered around the theme 'Unity in Music Education: Building Bridges for All,' this conference reaffirms our shared mission to foster a global music education community that is inclusive, innovative, and connected.

As we gather in the beautiful city of Montréal in July 2026, let us celebrate the rich diversity of our backgrounds and experiences, and embrace the power of music to transcend boundaries and unite us. This World Conference will offer numerous opportunities to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and collaborate on new initiatives that will shape the future of music education.

We encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities to connect with fellow educators, researchers, and practitioners from around the world. Together, we can build bridges to ensure access to quality music education for all. Thank you for being part of this important journey.

Wishing you a successful and enriching conference experience. We look forward to seeing you in Montréal!

Patricia A. González-Moreno
President, International Society for Music Education

Bienvenue à toutes et à tous dans la magnifique ville de Montréal, au Canada, carrefour culturel et artistique dynamique. Nous sommes ravis de vous accueillir dans cette métropole vibrante pour célébrer ensemble l’éducation musicale. L’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) est fière de contribuer à l’organisation de la 37e Conférence mondiale, qui se tiendra en juillet 2026, au cœur de notre ville inspirante.  Ce rendez-vous exceptionnel constituera une occasion unique de partager des savoirs issus de différents pays et de faire évoluer les pratiques en éducation musicale.

Isabelle Heroux, , Ph.D in Music Education
Full professor in Guitar and Music Pedagogy, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Local Academic Chair

The CMEA is excited to welcome the world to the unceded Indigenous lands now known as Montreal. As an organization representing music educators from coast to coast to coast, our mission and mandate is that we are stronger together.  Despite our vast geographical distance and differences, Canadians share a deep-rooted cultural history with music and the land. We look forward to taking this musical journey with all of you in July 2026!

Rebecca Brown
Past President, Canadian Music Educators’ Association
ISME26 Conference Co-Chair

I am so pleased to be representing the Coalition for Music Education in Canada as a member of the Conference Organizing Committee for ISME 2026 in Montreal as well as being named Co-Chair of the Conference Gala with Ryan Zellner, CEO of ISME.  Our role as the leading music education advocacy organization in Canada connects us with thousands of educators, parents, and policy makers through awareness, leadership, research, and educational programs. Each year, our programs impact over 275,000 students from coast to coast to coast!  We cannot wait to welcome you all to beautiful Montreal, Quebec in summer of 2026.

Stacey Sinclair
Executive Director
Coalition for Music Education in Canada

I’m thrilled to join the ISME 2026 World Conference organizing committee, representing the Fédération des associations de musiciens éducateurs du Québec (FAMEQ). Since 1967, FAMEQ promotes and supports music education in all its forms as an essential element of culture and individual and collective enrichment.   

 

Montréal offers the ideal setting for celebrating the theme of the conference: “Building Bridges for all”. A vibrant francophone city that embraces the world, where Indigenous, French, and English cultures intertwine, just like the colourful strands of a ceinture fléchée, a symbol of Québec’s cultural heritage.  

 

I warmly invite Québec and international music educators to join us for this great opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and discover the riches of Québec’s culture. We look forward to welcoming you to Montréal in 2026! 

 

Guillaume Fournier 
Professor of Aural Skills, Cégep de Saint-Laurent 
Former Board Member, Fédération des associations de musiciens éducateurs du Québec (FAMEQ) 
ISME 2026 Organizing Committee Member 

 

• Continue to monitor the ISME26 conference website and social media for updates to timeline of registration launch
• Register as soon as possible in order to receive a confirmation of registration to support your application.  
  • Ensure to request a visa letter to support application via the registration site when it opens; ISME26 has been registered with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and a code has been issued which may help speed up processing times.
• Book your hotel through the ISME hotel blocks in order to receive the lowest rate and to obtain confirmation of reservation from the hotel to support visa application.  The room blocks will be released with registration.
  • Should you book outside of our hotel blocks ensure you receive a proof of booking / confirmation.
• Helpful links: 
  • Check processing times at IRCC - Canada.ca
  • Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada
  • Visitor visa (temporary resident visa) - Canada.ca
  • Visiting
  • How to check your application status - Canada.ca