Since the 1980s, the AES Show has rotated between coastal cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, but this year, for the first time, the iconic audio engineering trade show rolled through Music City for a weekend full of surprising product reveals, gear demos, and performances. Read on to learn more about all of the new gear from the AES Show Nashville 2026, which of the industry's top brands were there, and some of our favorites that might have flown under the radar.
Neve
Neve was the talk of the trade show with the brand’s new Elements Range and 8424E console on display. Powered by standalone analog processing boxes, the Elements 88R EQ, Elements 88R Dynamics, and Elements 1084 EQ combine eight channels of authentic Neve analog circuitry with next-generation digital control. Each Element box can be used as a standalone system, or controlled directly from the 8424E console, which includes a dedicated 500 Series control module and optional touchscreen display.
Learn more about the Neve Elements Range and 8424E console on our blog.
Solid State Logic
For the first time since its launch, SSL hosted demos of the brand’s new SSL Odyssey console, as well as the ORIGIN EVO console announced earlier this year. On the outboard side, SSL teamed up with acclaimed producer/engineer Kevin Shirley for a presentation exploring the legacy of the brand’s iconic Bus Compressor and the new Bus Comp Classic, and also showed off the brand's Revival 4000 and Super 9000 channel strips, SSL 18 and ALPHA 8 interfaces, and more.
Learn more about the SSL Odyssey console, ORIGIN EVO console, and Bus Comp Classic on our blog.
Rupert Neve Designs
The folks at Rupert Neve Designs had a lot to talk about at this year’s AES Show, from analog outboard gear like the OptoFET compressor, which combines a newly designed FET circuit with an enhanced version of the brand’s beloved Optical compressor, to digital recreations of classic designs, like the new Portico II Master Buss Processor plug-in, 551 Inductor EQ plug-in, and 542 Tape Emulator plug-in.
Learn more about the OptoFET compressor in our Gear Breakdown and First Listen videos, and read more about Rupert Neve Designs plug-ins on our blog.
API
As a 50+ year veteran in the audio industry, API had plenty of great studio gear to show off at this year’s AES Show. From classic 500 Series modules to the legendary 2448 console, the API booth was buzzing with folks who wanted to hear more of that classic API sound.
Chandler Limited
In addition to a rack full of the brand’s best-selling outboard gear, the Chandler Limited booth featured a full-size REDD Mixing System console and sidecar. Attendees spent time checking out the console and chatting up the brand reps about the vintage parts and circuits behind the design.
Learn more about the Chandler Limited REDD Mixing System on our blog.
Neumann
At the AES Show Nashville, Neumann had the new KH 310 II and KH 350 studio monitors on display. In addition to exhibiting at the trade show, Neumann is also running a microphone service clinic at Rock Nashville through November 8th, offering maintenance and check-ups on condenser microphones by appointment.
Learn more about the Neumann KH 310 II & KH 350 studio monitors on our blog.
BURL Audio
Although we got a sneak peek at BIGFOOT earlier this year at the 2026 NAMM Show, BURL was excited to announce they’re now shipping! Built with BURL's renowned all-discrete, Class A circuitry and switchable BX1 and BX5 transformers, BIGFOOT is a fresh take on the classic optical compressor design.
Dangerous Music
In classic Dangerous fashion, the brand was showing off a rack full of killer gear at this year’s AES Show, including the new BAX500 500 Series EQ. A fresh take on the brand’s classic BAX Mastering EQ, the 500 Series version delivers the same smooth and musical tone-shaping power in a single-channel format that’s perfect for vocal tracking.
Hear the Dangerous Music BAX 500 in action in our Quick Hits video.
Genelec
Genelec didn’t just have a booth at the AES Show Nashville; they outfitted an entire Immersive Listening room with the brand’s industry-leading studio monitors. It was a truly surreal experience to hear classic tracks played back on a world-class immersive system—almost like hearing your favorite song again for the first time.
Learn How to Build an Immersive Mixing Rig With Genelec on our blog.
Harrison
In addition to hosting hands-on demo sessions with the brand’s flagship 32Classic mixing console, Harrison was showing off the popular 32Classic MS Mixstrip channel strip ($300 off through the end of the year) and the new FleX-10 audio interface. Folks were excited to see the big VU meters jumping on the FleX-10, and to hear how the preamps and signature H-DRIVE transformer saturation sound compared to the console.
Learn more about the Harrison Audio 32Classic MS Mixstrip in our First Listen video.
HEDD Audio
With a growing presence in Music City, including the newly equipped South X Sea studios, HEDD Audio had a lot to talk about at the AES Show Nashville, including the brand’s new Type 40 studio monitors and stackable XTD subwoofers. As HEDD’s largest studio monitors to date, these things certainly drew a lot of attention on the showroom floor.
Learn more about the new Type 40s and other HEDD Audio studio monitors on our blog.
Royer Labs
Royer Labs has been attending the AES Show since 1998, when the brand first introduced the legendary R-121 and SF-12 microphones. Now, nearly 30 years later, Royer is still showing off its impressive collection of ribbon microphones, including other best-selling models like the R-10.
Learn more about the history of the Royer R-121 ribbon microphone on our blog.
Telefunken
Not only was Telefunken showing off legacy products like the classic ELA M 251, but the brand was also showing off new gear like the low-profile M80-SH and M81-SH microphones, as well as celebrating the final production run of the current Alchemy Series Stereo Sets, including the TF29 Copperhead, TF39 Copperhead Deluxe, TF47, and TF51 tube microphones.
Learn more about the Telefunken ELA M 251 and other 251-style microphones on our blog.
Pultec & Wolff Audio
The industry titans at Pultec teamed up with relative newcomers Wolff Audio at this year’s AES, pairing the classic EQP-1A tube EQ and other outboard gear with Wolff’s versatile new ProPatch digitally controlled analog patchbays.
Learn more about the Pultec EQP-1A and how it compares to modern recreations in our shootout video.
