Music Industry’s Largest Trade Show Adds Dedicated Awards for the Low End
The NAMM Show, the music industry’s massive annual trade convention, announced Monday that it will officially incorporate the Bass Magazine Awards Show into its 2026 lineup, bringing what organizers call “the biggest night of bass” to Southern California this January.
The awards ceremony, scheduled for January 22 at The Observatory in Santa Ana, will honor both established and emerging bass players, including Les Claypool of Primus, Mike Dirnt of Green Day, and jazz fusion pioneer Marcus Miller as Lifetime Achievement recipients. Laura Lee of Khruangbin and Blu DeTiger will receive Future of Bass awards.
For an instrument that often gets overlooked, the partnership represents a notable elevation in profile. The event joins NAMM’s packed schedule of industry celebrations, including the TEC Awards for audio production and the She Rocks Awards recognizing women in music.
For those interested in attending, tickets are available through Ticketmaster. The full NAMM Show runs January 21-24, 2026.