The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) will host the 2026 NIVA Live Policy Summit, presented by Tixel, on October 26–27, 2026, at HI-FI Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This year’s Live Policy Summit is intentionally designed as a small, highly interactive advocacy workshop. The summit brings together independent venue operators, promoters, festivals, policymakers, advocacy professionals, communications experts, and industry leaders from across the country to exchange ideas, strengthen advocacy coordination, and build lasting relationships.

Through keynote conversations, practical training sessions, live demonstrations, and hands-on workshops, attendees will leave better equipped to advocate for independent live entertainment at the local, state, and federal levels.

Whether participants are meeting with a city council member for the first time or preparing testimony before their state legislature, every session is designed to provide practical tools they can immediately apply in their communities.

This year's summit will focus on:

• Building effective relationships with policymakers

• Communicating across the political spectrum

• Turning personal stories into persuasive advocacy

• Understanding the political outlook and new players that will soon take office

• Preparing for the policy opportunities and challenges ahead in 2027

• Strengthening NIVA's nationwide network of grassroots advocates