SAE returns to Sound City as Principal Creative Education Partner

SAE is delighted to be sponsoring Sound City 2026 as the festival’s Principal Creative Education Partner for the fifth year running. 

Based in Merseyside and taking place on 2nd and 3rd May, Sound City is the UK’s leading independent festival for new music while also featuring a conference which welcomes many of the industry’s leading organisations. 

Over 18 editions of the event, more than 3,000 emerging acts have performed to almost half a million music fans. Many of these artists have gone on to become huge stars including Charli XCX, Stormzy, Ed Sheeran and Fontaines D.C. 

As part of the sponsorship, SAE will be hosting a networking event alongside a panel with a number of leading industry experts and thought leaders. SAE students will also have the opportunity to support Sound City as interns from working on ticketing and stage management to audio production and content creation. 

Students and alumni will have the chance to perform at different venues while SAE will be curating a stage at the legendary Liverpool venue, The Jacaranda, as part of the live music festival. 

Becky Ayres, Managing Director at Sound City, said: “We’re looking forward to this year’s Sound City and collaborating closely with SAE, one of the educational forces within our city’s music scene. As champions of new music and offering platforms to the next generation of creative talent, our values are very much in tune and we’re excited to discover how we can come together to further Liverpool’s musical future.” 

Graham Lysaght, SAE Institute Liverpool Campus Manager, said: “Sound City is one of the UK’s most important festivals for new music talent and emerging industry professionals. We’re thrilled to continue this longstanding partnership with the festival and again be placing our students into enviable positions across the event. This collaboration aligns with our commitment to providing valuable opportunities for our students and contributing to the local community and the dynamic creative landscape of Liverpool.”

Students and alumni should keep an eye on their emails to find out how to get involved with the festival. 

Applications for performance slots close on 4th March. Auditions will be held in March in Liverpool (12th March), London (13th March), and Leeds (17th March). Students wishing to apply can find full details in their student inbox.

If you fancy studying at SAE Liverpool this year, now’s the time get your application in! Alternatively, we’d love to show you around our incredible facilities. Feel free to book a campus tour.

View our highlights reel from last year’s event: