FAI 2026: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
January 21-25, 2026
- FAI 2026
- Artists
- Attending
- partners
Affinity Groups
Affinity groups are community-oriented sessions designed to encourage and foster connections between folks within the FAI community who share a common identity or experience.
Upcoming Sessions
Jewish Folks (Daytime)
Monday, October 20, 2025
Moderated by Mark Rubin, Sariyah Idan
9AM PDT / 11AM CDT / 12 PM EDT / 1PM ADT
Jewish Folks (Evening)
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Moderated by Mark Rubin, Sariyah Idan
5PM PDT / 7PM CDT / 8PM EDT / 9PM ADT
Women (Daytime)
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Moderated by Paula Fong
10AM PDT / 12PM CDT/ 1PM EDT / 2PM ADT
Women (Evening)
Monday, November 3, 2025
Moderated by Clau Balladelli
5PM PDT / 7PM CDT / 8PM EDT / 9PM ADT
Neurodivergent Folks
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Moderated by Steafan Hannigan
5:30PM PDT / 7:30PM CDT / 8:30PM EDT / 9:30PM ADT
Parents & Caregivers
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Moderated by Rachel Faro and Piper Hayes
10AM PDT / 12PM CDT / 1 PM EDT / 2PM ADT
LGBTQ2SIA+
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Moderated by Janice Jo Lee
5:30PM PDT / 7:30PM CDT/ 8:30PM EDT / 9:30PM ADT
Indigenous Folks
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Moderated by Ila Barker
5PM PDT / 7PM CDT / 8PM EDT / 9PM ADT
Next Generation (Folks under 35)
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Moderated by Ryan Leddick
6:30PM PDT / 8:30PM CDT/ 9:30PM EDT / 10:30PM ADT
Pan-Asian Pacific Islander Folks (Western Hempisphere)
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Moderated by Trevor Turla
5PM PDT / 7PM CDT / 8PM EDT / 9PM ADT
Pan-Asian Pacific Islander Folks (Eastern Hempisphere)
Monday, October 27, 2025
Moderated by Amrita Soon
2AM CDT / 6PM AEDT
Folks from the African Diaspora
Monday, October 27, 2025
Moderated by Lilli Lewis
4PM PDT / 6PM CDT / 7PM EDT / 8PM ADT
Folks Coping with Grief and Loss
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Moderated by Stephen Bond Garvan
5PM PDT / 7PM CDT/ 8PM EDT / 9PM ADT
Latiné Folks
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Moderated by Jorge Raquena Ramos
6:30PM PDT / 8:30PM CDT / 9:30PM EDT / 10:30PM ADT
Folks with Disabilities or Chronic Illness
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Moderated by Charlie Mosbrook
5PM PDT / 7PM CDT/ 8PM EDT / 9PM ADT
Folkies 55+
Friday, October 31, 2025
Moderated by Craig Siemsen
9AM PDT / 11AM CDT/ 12PM EDT / 1PM ADT
Activists and Changemakers
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Moderated by Liz Sunde
5PM PDT / 7PM CDT / 8PM EDT / 9PM ADT
Indigenous Allies
Tuesday, November 6, 2025
Moderated by Camila Diaz-Varela
6:30PM PDT / 8:30PM CDT / 9:30PM EDT / 10:30PM ADT
Contact Janice Jo Lee, Affinity Group Coordinator
if you have any questions at janice@folk.org
All Affinity Groups
Activists and Changemakers
This session is intended for people who identify as activists and changemakers.
Folkies 55+
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who 55-years-old or older.
Folks Coping with Loss
This session is intended for people who are dealing with grieving and loss.
Folks from the African Diaspora
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who identify as Black or as a member of the African Diaspora.
Folks with Disability or Chronic Illness
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who identify as living with a disability or chronic illness.
Indigenous Folks
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who identify as Indigenous.
International Folks
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for people who live, work, or identify as being from outside of North America/Turtle Island.
Jewish Folks
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who identify as Jewish (ethnically, culturally, and/or spiritually).
Latiné and Hispanic Folks
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who identify as Latiné or Hispanic.
LGBTQ2IA+
This session is intended for people who identify as LGBTQ2IA+.
Pan-Asian Folks
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who identify as Asian or Pan-Asian.
Parents and Caregivers
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who are parents or caregivers.
Women
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who identify as women, including transgender women, genderfluid people, genderqueer people, and nonbinary people. (Note: there is also a separate LGBTQ2IA+ Affinity Group).
Young Music Industry Leaders (35 and under)
This group is intended specifically and exclusively for folks who are 18 to 35 working in the field (industry, artist, presenter, etc.).
