From September 26–27, 2026, music therapy professionals, researchers, and students from across Canada (and in some cases, across the world) gathered online for the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) Annual Virtual Conference. Centered around the theme: "Harmonizing Legacy and Innovation: The Next 50 Years of CAMT," the event offered space to honour the many ways that Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) have shaped the profession over the years, and how we move into the future as professionals in a changing world.
Grounded in land and community, the conference opened with a Territory Acknowledgement from Elder Carleen Thomas of the Tsleil-Wauthuth Nation, paying tribute to the traditional lands, history of Indigenous peoples, and relationships that sustain music therapy practice across Canada. Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, PhD, RP, MTA, delivered an Opening Keynote focused on relational, community-oriented, music-centred, and anti-oppressive frameworks. Closing the gathering on an inspiring note, Dr. Helen Shoemark, PhD, RMT, joined us all the way from Australia. Dr. Shoemark shared insights into research translation, pediatric care, and advancing evidence-based practices to drive future advocacy for our profession.
Transitioning the CAMT Conference to a virtual format this year broke down traditional barriers, welcoming over 190 registrants across two days, including those who otherwise could not attend in person. Here are a few ways the experience supported attendee experience:
- Seamless Multi-Stream Experience: Collaborating an external virtual platform allowed three concurrent session streams to run without a hitch.
- Bilingual Accessibility: Live English and French translation was available across the entire schedule to keep every session fully inclusive.
- On-Demand Flexibility: To help attendees navigate overlapping sessions, all presentations were recorded and made available on-demand for a full month following the event.
We were fortunate to have 25 concurrent presentations as well as 3 virtual posters all chosen carefully by our scientific committee. The sessions provided insight into new and exciting research, highlighted innovative clinical implementation, and platformed discussion and reflection on the current music therapy landscape, and what it might look like in the future across the country. Presentations highlighted the breadth and creativity of music therapy practice across Canada. Sessions examined music therapy across diverse clinical settings, including 2SLGBTQ+ young adults, neurodivergent students, older adults in long-term care, individuals with disabilities, neonatal intensive care, paediatric procedural support, Parkinson’s assessment, autism care, medical assistance in dying, individuals experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder, and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams. The conference highlighted innovation through digital platforms, technology-assisted experiences, neurologic music therapy applications, and music therapy regulation. Presenters reflected on grief, spirituality, mindfulness, environment, professional identity, and the importance of inclusive, person-centred care. These conversations demonstrated how music therapy continues to bridge research and practice, and honour individual stories and lived experiences.
Music has supported human healing and well-being for centuries. Today, music therapy remains a vital clinical practice, helping individuals recover health, restore function, and enhance quality of life across diverse healthcare settings.
As we look toward the next 50 years of music therapy globally, we invite expanded interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-cultural dialogue on how to honour our foundational history while advancing innovative, person-centered care.
The CAMT’s next annual conference will take place in-person in 2028 in Toronto, Canada. To receive updates about registration and conference details please stay in touch via our website www.musictherapy.ca .
Written by the CAMT Conference Committee 2026
