Well well well. There's no doubt that after the post-pandemic and current tariff impacted rules NAMM for me was a little bit of a shock. After my last (many before) attended show in 2020 and the following year cancellation with the covid year 2021 NAMM seems to have changed forever. Would you believe the worlds biggest music trade show NAMM has been going in some shape or form for the past 125 years? The only other time it was cancelled was in World War II.
Even though I was down near NAMM the past few years covering the Metal Allegiance shows at the House of Blues Anaheim I just felt it was too expensive to attend NAMM with the local hotel rip-off price jacking going on. This year I searched and got a great deal on flight and 3 nights at hotel a few miles away from NAMM for under $500 so I pulled the trigger on attending this year. Also the past few years not only was attendance down, so was the companies in participation at the event. This year I heard they'd be a good return to the fold so I thought I'd check out the last two days of NAMM Jan 23-24th. Great choice it was because it was about 2 days worth instead of 4+ of exhibits and doings. 2 partial levels not the usual 3 in years past and many areas on the main floor had empty spaces. According to friends who attended the past few post-pandemic years this year was a lot better. I'd have to agree.
I actually had a great time and 2 days was really enough for what was there. So many cool products and innovations. Tons of musical pieces from all forms of music, electronics, software, basses, guitars, drums, amps, microphones, guitar pedals, sound systems, education etc etc. As always I love when musicians show off their endorsed products on the NAMM floor.
One thing that kind of irked me with a few companies is they didn't have a good amount of new products you could see without an appointment to go into their room. So like Pearl Drums and Gibson had a somewhat presence there, but it WAS NOT like years past where they blew ya away with new products to report on. Let's face it too, it costs a lot of money to be there with all the overhead and shipping costs. Add if you're an international company you are doomed with these U.S. tariffs on top of everything. All these companies no matter big or small are struggling in a world with a younger generation that would rather play on their phones all day than pick up an instrument and learn something new. At this years show my favorite big display booth was hands down Cream Guitars. A Mexican company, based in Monterrey, Nuevo León ran by CEO and designer Luis Ortiz. Cream Guitars have the most unique and looking guitars I've ever seen in years! Check out these pics below of a few of their products!
Definitely go to Cream Guitars at: https://www.creamguitars.com and check them out! Here's a few photos of other rad products I saw too.
So overall I would say I picked a great year to come back to the NAMM fold. It can only get better, but with these international tariffs imposed on companies I doubt we'll see it back to the glory days before the pandemic. If I'm not on tour at NAMM time in 2027 I'll be back - so should you! Any one can go now compared to years past. So you can buy a badge at the NAMM website for January 26-30, 2027.
Click here for the full KISW 99.9FM website gallery: https://www.audacy.com/kisw/latest-from-kisw/gallery/photo-gallery-namm-show-and-performances-2026
For more photos and other NAMM event photography shows:
Jamm Night at NAMM 1.23.26: Click Here
Metal Allegiance concert 1.22.26: Click Here
Gus G & Ronnie Romero concert 1.24.26: Click Here
