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Musical Instrument Fairs 2024/2025: The important dates, industry trends & manufacturers under pressure

Picture of Carlo F. L.
Carlo F. L.
FounThe & CEO of mySoundbook.eu

The big onesMusical Instrument Fairs 2024/2025are a seismograph for the entire instrument industry. If you want to know where guitars, pianos, synths & co. are heading, you have to look to Anaheim, Shanghai, Berlin or Mannheim – and at the numbers of the big manufacturers.

The most important fairs for musical instruments 2025 / early 2026

1. The NAMM Show – Anaheim, USA

  • When:January 21–25, 2025 (Events), January 23–25 Exhibitors; next edition: January 20–24, 2026 in Anaheim.namm.org + nammshow.org
  • Where:Anaheim Convention Center, California
  • Why it's important:TheNAMM Showremains the largest global platform for musical instruments, pro audio, and event technology. In 2024, over62,000 visitorsand more than1,600 exhibitors with 3,500+ brandsto Anaheim - trend rising again after the pandemic dip.plsn.com+1

Focus:
Guitars, Pro-Audio, Recording, Keys, Drums, Live Sound, Education.
For manufacturers and dealers, NAMM is the place tolaunch new products, maintain endorsements and finalize dealer contracts for the coming year.

2. Music China - Shanghai, China

Why relevant:
Music China is theleading trade fair for musical instruments in the Asia-Pacific region– from traditional Chinese instruments to classical orchestral instruments to rock and electronic setups.music-China.hk.messefrankfurt.com+1

Anyone looking to grow in China and Asia can't ignore Music China – especially since the Asia-Pacific region now holds the largest share of the global musical instrument market (almost 40% market share in 2024).Fortune BusIness Insights

3. Superbooth - Berlin, Germany

  • When:SUPERBOOTH25: May 8–10, 2025, FEZ Berlin; next edition: SUPERBOOTH26 from May 7–9, 2026.MusicRadar+4Digital In BerlIn+4We Rave You+4
  • Focus:Synthesizers, Modular, Drum Machines, Controllers, electronic instrument ecosystem.

Superbooth has quickly become themost important synth and electronic fair in the world– half trade show, half festival. Here, Korg, Moog, Yamaha & Co. launch their latest machines, as well as small boutique manufacturers from the modular scene.MusicRadar

4. Guitar Summit - Mannheim, Germany

Guitars, Basses, Amps, Effects, Workshops, Masterclasses, and concerts - manufacturers like Paoletti, Marleaux, and many boutique luthiers use the fair to showcase their high-end instruments in direct contact with musicians.Marleaux Bassguitars+1

5. Regional & Special Fairs

Besides the big 'flagships', there are a number ofregional fairs, which are extremely exciting for specific target groups, such as:

  • Akustika - Fair for Musicin Nuremberg (April 2025): Focus on acoustic instruments and accessories.k-m.de
  • Specialized drum or boutique guitar events, often in hotels or concert halls, which may be smaller butvery purchasing-powerful, focused target groupsattract.

For dealers and brands, it may make sense tocombine NAMM or Music Chinawithone or two focused special interest showsto achieve both global visibility and deep community engagement.

Market Check 2024/2025: How is the instrument industry doing?

Global Market: moderate growth, but large variation by segment

Depending on the study, the global market for musical instruments in 2024 was between about11 and just under 48 billion US dollars– depending on whether only instruments or also parts, accessories, and pro-audio are included.Market Growth Reports+4Global Market Insights Inc.+4Fortune BusIness Insights+4

Most analyses assume an annual growth (CAGR) of about3–7% until the early/mid-2030s– sono boom, but a solid upward trend.Market Growth Reports+3Global Market Insights Inc.+3Fortune BusIness Insights+3

Drivers:

  • sustainedpopularity of live music and festivals,
  • morerecreational musicians(especially in the guitar area),PR Newswire
  • growing demand forelectronic instruments and accessories,
  • online lessons and social media platforms that get people making music.

Winning segments

  • Guitar market:According to Technavio, the global guitar market is expected to grow by about1.84 billion US dollarsfrom 2024 to 2028, with a growth of over 7% per year.PR Newswire
  • Electronic instruments and synths:Events like Superbooth show how strong innovation and demand are in the electronic field - many new products are first shown in Berlin before they are rolled out globally.MusicRadar
  • Parts & Accessories:In some analyses makeParts & Accessoriesalready accounts for almost half of the market volume; this area is growing particularly strongly, among other things due to upgrades, customizing, and spare parts.Global Market Insights Inc.+1

Problem segments: Pianos & beginner instruments

  • ThePiano marketis growing only slowly (around 2.5–4% per year) and is suffering in some countries from the decline of classical piano education.DataHorizzon Research+1
  • InChInathe market for acoustic pianos has fallen to about a quarter of the peaks of recent years according to Yamaha & media reports; instrument sales there dropped overall by a third within two business years.FInancial Times

At the same time, trade is relying oninventory reduction, which temporarily reduces orders from manufacturers – a classic 'post-pandemic hangover.'ir.roland.com+1

Stress factors: tariffs, inflation & currency effects

  • In the USA, burdenstariffs on imports, especially from China, many manufacturers – higher costs must be absorbed through price increases or lower margins.PIIE+1
  • Inflation, higher wagesand fluctuating exchange rates further pressure profitability, especially for manufacturers accounting in dollars or yen with global supply chains.InvestIng.com+1

Manufacturers under pressure: Who is struggling in 2024/2025?

Yamaha Corporation

Yamaha is the largest musical instrument manufacturer globally – and thus a good indicator for the entire industry.

  • In the fiscal year until March 2024, therevenues in the musical instruments segment are declining, mainly due to weaker sales ofpianos and digital pianosand slow inventory reduction.Yamaha+2Yamaha+2
  • In China, piano sales have collapsed; Yamaha is responding, among other things, byclosing a piano factory in Indonesiaand a strategic shift towards wind instruments for older target groups.FInancial Times+1

While Yamaha is not continuously posting losses, it is clearly under pressure in the piano segment and had to lower forecasts.pianoIndustryportal.com+1

Roland Corporation

Roland is strong in electronics (E-drums, synths, digital pianos).

  • For 2024, Roland showsdeclining revenues and profitscompared to 2023; the reasons:Post-pandemic adjustment among dealersInventory adjustments and a difficult environment.data.swcms.net+3ir.roland.com+3TipRanks+3
  • At the same time, the company shows slight improvements in the first quarter of 2025.Recovery in sales and profits(adjusted for exchange rates), but warns of the effects of US tariff policy.ir.roland.com+1

Roland is profitable, but themargins are thinning., and growth is significantly slower than during the Corona boom.

FenThe Musical Instruments

Fender is not publicly traded, but rating agencies provide insight:

  • Moody'shas downgraded Fender's credit rating for 2025 – reason:high debt, weaker liquidityand a difficult environment with rising costs, price pressure, and currency effects.InvestIng.com+1
  • According to S&P analysis, Fender hasraised prices by about 5%, to offset higher costs from tariffs – especially on imports from China.S&P Global+1

So Fender is struggling withpressure on profits, even though the guitar market is growing overall.

A look behind the scenes

Many mid-sized brands and boutique manufacturers do not publish detailed figures but report:

  • longer order cyclesin retail,
  • higher demand fordirect sales (D2C),
  • and increasing dependence ontrade shows & social media, to secure visibility and pre-orders.

Here, major trade shows show their importance: Those who manage to combine a new instrument with strong trade show presence AND a TikTok/YouTube story can grow significantly despite a difficult environment.

Conclusion: Why the trade show season 2025/2026 remains crucial

In summary:

  • Themusical instrument industry is growing moderately, with strong islands (guitars, synths, accessories) and problematic segments (pianos, entry-level keyboards).Technavio+3Fortune BusIness Insights+3PR Newswire+3
  • Large manufacturers likeYamaha, Roland, and Fenderare under noticeable pressure from post-Corona normalization, tariffs, and rising costs – but are fighting for profitability with pricing strategies, portfolio adjustments, and new target groups.Guitar World+5Yamaha+5InvestIng.com+5
  • For brands, retailers, and artists, the challenges remain.NAMM, Music China, Superbooth and Guitar Summitthe most important stages to showcase new products, make contacts, and spot trends early.

FormySoundbookthis means:
Whoever theTrade fair reports of the next seasonfollows closely will recognize early which instruments are worth investing in – and where caution is advised.

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