Following the critical issues that emerged in managing volume levels during the 2025 edition of the Guitar Show, we immediately began working on identifying effective solutions aimed at restoring and improving the acoustic comfort that characterized previous editions.
The goal for Guitar Show 2026 is to implement a new sound management strategy in Halls 31 (Play) and 32 (Quiet), in order to offer a more balanced and high-quality acoustic experience for both exhibitors and visitors. In addition, we have launched a discussion and survey with exhibitors to jointly define some new acoustic features of the exhibition spaces.
Among the first measures, we are implementing a more structured monitoring system, with a more strategic deployment of control personnel:
- We will quadruple the number of staff dedicated to sound control compared to the 2025 edition;
- Staff will no longer be on patrol duty, but assigned to specific areas, each with a smaller number of exhibitors to supervise and with whom they can interact more continuously and directly;
- All control personnel will receive updated training, based on the experience of 2025;
- We will introduce more effective technical tools for sound monitoring.
In parallel, we are working on a solution to offer exhibitors a headphone-based testing system, allowing instruments to be tested with a unified and certified sound quality standard approved by the event organizers. This service is currently in the design phase—it is a complex and ambitious challenge, which we are developing in collaboration with excellent specialized Italian technical partners. We are confident we will soon be able to present a concrete proposal for this project.
Exhibitor Feedback
Over the past few weeks, we involved exhibitors in a survey dedicated to the new Guitar Show sound policy, with the aim of gathering opinions and proposals to improve volume management and the overall experience of the event.
The questions focused mainly on two key aspects:
- How to manage quiet and testing periods across the three days;
- Whether to introduce a “sound reset” (15 minutes of silence every hour), useful for rebalancing sound levels in the halls and preventing the typical progressive volume build-up throughout the day. A short break also helps restore normal acoustic perception and improves comfort for both visitors and exhibitors.
Below we present the results of the survey, along with the preferences expressed by the majority of exhibitors:
- On Friday, May 15, the Play and Quiet areas will be silent in the morning from 10:00 to 14:00, with amplified testing allowed from 14:00 until the end of the day (with the sound reset applied, as described below). While a plurality of respondents (44%) voted to maintain the current Play and Quiet setup, the combined share of those in favor of a quieter Friday amounted to 56%. We have therefore opted for a middle-ground solution, which can also serve as a test case for possible expansion to Saturday and Sunday in future editions, should exhibitors wish to pursue it.
- On Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, amplified testing will remain permitted in both Play and Quiet areas, with no changes to the current rules, except for the introduction of the sound reset, described below.
- We will introduce a “Sound Reset”, a 15-minute break every hour (from minute 45 to the top of the next hour), during which silence will be required in both the QUIET and PLAY halls. This interval will help prevent the progressive increase in volume throughout the day and will allow technicians to check and adjust sound levels in cooperation with exhibitors. The feedback collected from the survey shows clear and explicit support from exhibitors for the introduction of this measure.
We firmly believe that playing music should be at the heart of a music trade show—it is, after all, the very reason Guitar Show exists. To make this possible, we need not rigid, but suitable and effective rules. Our commitment is precisely in this direction: to establish a sound policy that can be fully effective starting from the 2026 edition, an edition where sound monitoring will be significantly more robust and functional than in the past.
However, the true success of this effort will not rely solely on our organizational and regulatory work. Achieving our goals also requires active cooperation from exhibitors and the growth of a culture of mutual respect, including among visitors.
In the coming months, we will continue working on these aspects, promoting new initiatives and educational opportunities to create a trade show experience where music can truly take center stage—for those who play it, present it, and listen to it.