Orlando, FL, USA / Braunschweig, Germany – July 2026 – Manufacturing. Culture. Retail. Archiving. Mastering. Careers – Making Vinyl Europe returns to the Netherlands for its fourth edition, with its most expansive program yet. From September 30 to October 2, PHIL Haarlem will once again become the meeting point for the global vinyl community, bringing together the people who manufacture, distribute, preserve, sell, and shape the future of the format.
Across three days of keynote sessions, expert panels, hands-on workshops, and open conversations, the event explores every facet of the modern vinyl ecosystem – from pressing plants and retail to mastering, archiving, career development, and the culture that continues to drive the medium forward.
For those new to the event: Making Vinyl Europe is the European edition of the Making Vinyl conference series, held annually in the U.S. and Europe. It’s a working conference – not a showcase. Professionals from across the vinyl supply chain come together here to openly talk about what’s happening in the industry. Registration is open at: makingvinyl.com.
More Program. More Ground Covered.
The 2026 edition is shaping up to be the most wide-ranging yet. Alongside the sessions announced earlier, a new wave of confirmed programming reflects just how many different conversations are happening inside this industry right now – and how many people belong in the room.
A further look at what’s taking shape:
- Making It a Career: Attracting Talent to Vinyl Manufacturing
With Rick Scholing (Heldeep Records / Als Het Kraakt Podcast), Andrea Pasini (Mother Tongue Records), Evelyn Hughes (The Vinyl Factory), Rene Wiedner (Warwick Business School)
This panel aims to explore how the industry can build a more sustainable talent pipeline. How can roles in vinyl production be better communicated – not just as technical work, but as part of a broader cultural and creative industry?
- Record Culture – Media, Storytelling and the Enduring Value of Vinyl
With Alex Bruh (Wax Poetics), Bruno Vieira (Rocinante Record Pressing), Kelly Doherty (The Vinyl Factory), Carole Mendy (Universal Music), Carista (United Identities)
How is vinyl positioned today across different media channels? What drives its continued relevance in a digital-first world? And how do storytelling, journalism, and content creation influence both demand and perception across generations? - Marketing Physical – Visibility, Retail and Experience
With Aseel Barghuthi (Makbas Records), Michelle Boursiquot (Fandum), Tim Anderson (Good Neighbor Music), Marlein Parlevliet (SF Distribution)
Visibility becomes one of the most critical factors in selling physical music. This panel focuses on how to effectively position and sell physical products today. What works online, what works offline, and how can both be aligned?
- Preserving the Past: Archiving Vinyl for Future Generations
With Miles Niemeijer (Podiumkunst), Lisa Power (consultant), Simon de Koning (Sena), Ariane Dudych (Université Paris Cité)
Vinyl doesn’t just live in the present. This session looks at how collections, recordings, and the cultural memory embedded in records are preserved – and who’s doing that work. - Workshop: Mastering the Groove – Live Lacquer Cutting & Virtual Groove Analysis
With Andreas Wagner
A hands-on session for anyone who wants to understand what really goes on between the music and the record. Live cutting, groove analysis, real craft.
(Speaker lineup subject to change. Additional participants to be announced.)
These sessions join the previously announced panels – After the Boom, Finding the Rhythm, and Not Every Noise Is a Defect – as part of a program that now covers everything from manufacturing economics and release logistics to archiving, retail strategy, vinyl culture, and the technical craft of cutting and mastering.
More sessions will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Between the Sessions
Just as important as the program itself are the moments in between. Making Vinyl Europe has always been as much about the conversations that happen in the hallways, over lunch, and into the evening as the ones inside the session rooms. The 2026 edition builds in plenty of space for exactly that – and the organizing team is genuinely looking forward to connecting with attendees, old and new, on the sidelines.
Tickets are available in several categories, including options for Young Professionals and students. For the latest updates, check the event page at makingvinyl.com – and if you haven’t already, signing up for the Making Vinyl newsletter is the easiest way to stay in the loop. ( >> Subscribe here. )
What comes next?
The Haarlem Vinyl Festival follows directly after the conference – and attendance is warmly recommended. It’s the perfect way to close out the week. A large part of the festival’s music performances and events across multiple venues of the vibrant city of Haarlem have already been announced. Further information: www.haarlemvinylfestival.com
About Making Vinyl
Making Vinyl is the world’s leading B2B conference series dedicated to the vinyl record manufacturing industry. Founded in 2017, Making Vinyl brings together pressing plants, record labels, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and industry leaders to share insights, explore innovation, and shape the future of vinyl. Events are held annually in both Europe and the United States.
Learn more: www.makingvinyl.com
Contact: Bryan Ekus, [email protected] | +1 407 733 1901
About Studio Krause
Studio Krause GmbH & Co. KG is the organizing partner for Making Vinyl Europe. Based in Germany, the agency specializes in sustainable communications and marketing strategy across industries. Since 2019, Studio Krause has partnered with Making Vinyl to bring the European editions to life –previously in Berlin, Offenbach, and Haarlem.
Learn more. www.studiokrause.eu
Contact: Andrej Krause, [email protected] | +49 172 833 2225
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