Making Vinyl Europe Conference Registration Is Open. The vinyl record industry returns to Haarlem, September 30 – October 2
Orlando, FL, USA / Braunschweig, Germany – May 2026 – Following the 2026 U.S. edition in Alexandria, Virginia, Making Vinyl is now turning its attention to Haarlem. Taking place September 30 – October 2 at PHIL Haarlem in the Netherlands, the conference returns for its fourth European edition – three days of panels, lab sessions, and industry exchange for everyone working within or alongside the world of vinyl.
Building on previous editions, the 2026 event aims to bring together even more perspectives, conversations, and voices from across the vinyl and physical media ecosystem. Whether you’ve attended before or are joining for the first time, Haarlem is where the conversation continues.
A Broader Program, a Wider Room
“With every edition, the quality of the conference continues to grow – largely because of the diversity of people, perspectives, and ideas coming together in the room,” says Andreas Kohl, Conference Director of Making Vinyl Europe. “What we’re building toward in 2026 is an edition that reflects how wide this world actually is: manufacturing, technology, design, sustainability, culture, retail, music business. The vinyl conversation is bigger than any single corner of the industry, and we want the program to show that.”
“Vinyl today sits at the intersection of manufacturing, culture, technology, and global commerce,” says Bryan Ekus, President of Making Vinyl. “What Andreas Kohl and Ruben Planting are building in Haarlem reflects that reality. The strength of this event comes from the diversity of perspectives in the room – not just who makes records, but who shapes the ecosystem around them.”
The goal is a program that feels genuinely relevant to a pressing plant manager, a label founder, a packaging designer, a sustainability researcher, and a retail buyer or vinyl enthusiast – because all of them are part of the same story.
A first selection of confirmed sessions from the rapidly evolving 2026 program includes: After the Boom: What Kind of Vinyl Industry Are We Building? With Caroline Hansen (WARP), Anouk Rijnders (Record Industry), Stine Mühle (Clouds Hill Records), and Andreas Kohl (Making Vinyl); Beyond the revival narrative – examining vinyl’s role as a mature, interdependent industry with real economic and cultural impact.
Finding the Rhythm: Managing Vinyl Releases in a Changing Market. With Carol Kavanagh (Cargo Records), Louie Campbell (Key Production), Olga Pilch (Takt); Labels, distribution, and manufacturing on the challenge of aligning timelines, managing demand shifts, and building more coordinated workflows.
Not Every Noise Is a Defect – Good Records Start with Good Communication. With Helmut Erler A conversation about expectations, technical reality, and the shared language the industry needs to build better relationships across the supply chain.
Further details will be announced in stages.
Why Haarlem
PHIL Haarlem – a hybrid of historic concert hall and modern creative space – has once again proven to be the right setting for this kind of event. Located just 20 minutes from Amsterdam by train, Haarlem combines accessibility, creative atmosphere, and a strong connection to the wider vinyl community. The timing alongside the Haarlem Vinyl Festival also allows attendees to experience both the professional and cultural sides of the vinyl world in one place.
An Open Platform
Making Vinyl Europe draws professionals from across the vinyl and physical media supply chain: pressing plants and equipment manufacturers, major and independent labels, mastering and cutting engineers, packaging and design studios, distributors and retailers, technology developers, industry associations, journalists, and emerging voices from the next generation of the business.
The organizing team welcomes new ideas, new partnerships, and new voices. Whether you are considering attending, speaking, sponsoring, or simply want to understand what Making Vinyl is about, the door is open. Inquiries from interested participants, companies, and collaborators are encouraged.
Dedicated ticket categories, including Early Bird Tickets, discounted rates for Young Professionals (under 28) and students, are available alongside General Admission.
Registration for Making Vinyl Europe 2026 is now open. Early bird pricing is available for a limited time. More information and registration link: www.makingvinyl.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]
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
#makingvinyl Instagram: @makingvinyl LinkedIn: Making Vinyl
Bryan Ekus (President Making Vinyl), Andrej Krause (Organizing Partner Studio Krause), Andreas Kohl (Conference Director), Ruben Planting (Assistant Program Manager Making Vinyl Europe);
Photo taken at the Making Vinyl Europe 2025 in Haarlem, Netherlands (by Studio Krause)
