Connecting Borders Through Music Therapy: 4 Takeaways from the World Congress of Music Therapy 2026

All Smiles at the WCMT 2026 in Bologna, Italy

Vivian and I had the privilege of attending the World Congress of Music Therapy (WCMT) 2026 in Bologna, Italy. The WCMT is the largest conference for the music therapy profession, bringing people from all over the world to come and “connect borders through music therapy.” As a non-music therapist attending my first world congress, I was overwhelmed at the sheer amount of music therapists, non-stop presentations for 5 straight days, and the bubbling energy from the reconnections, new connections, and ideas abuzz. Now that time has allowed all that I experienced to settle, here are 4 takeaways from the world congress of music therapy I had.

Technology cannot replace human connection

During the opening remarks, one presenter said something quite rebellious, that human emotional intelligence will never be replaced by artificial intelligence. It’s like he was boldly standing in front of the tech giants, his words empowered by his belief in humanity, the spirit of connection and love. It was something that really stuck with me, even a few weeks after the conference.

human emotional intelligence will never be replaced by artificial intelligence

In the chaos, division, and cruelty this world seems to only show us, the opposite also exists in us and around us. For all that AI is offering us in terms of convenience and advancement, it is my feeling that it is also slowly eroding our ability to think, feel, and connect with each other. There’s a balance that probably exists between where we are going with AI, and how we as humans retain our humanity. I understand that AI is here to stay, and also firmly believe that love is the answer. We have a ways to go as human beings, and we have so much potential to show compassion, empathy, and help others feel seen, valued, and heard. I hope that we can seek that in ourselves and with each other. 

The power of music, spontaneity, and collective joy

A group from Korea took the stage for an ad hoc jam session

One thing that amazed me was how spontaneous people were to come together and make music. Some brought instruments from their native countries, while others made due with a drum stick and their tupperware. I loved how people shared their culture and so many of us gathered to cheer them on, sing along, and join in collective joy. While this was a music therapy conference filled with scientific presentations, abstracts, and workshops; these are musicians and artists doing their calling. It was beautiful to witness and behold.

In a time where there is so much negativity in the world, it was such a breath of fresh air to hold a stranger's hand, sing out loud, and enjoy the present moment. 

Silence is not separate from music

I attended a workshop that explored how silence plays a role in music therapy. When we think about music, we usually think about a melody, a rhythm, what can be heard. However, music starts from silence, and there is silence between the notes as well. Silence is not separate from music.

It made me think about our life and how easy it is to fill it with sounds, noise, and busyness. It made me think of how we may feel uneasy with silence and/or stillness. So much so that we continue to keep ourselves busy, constantly amongst sounds and noise with no silence or stillness. We need silence. We need stillness. They are essential to our entire wellbeing, just as a song needs silence to exist.  

The pace of your music should go at your own pace

Viv with Dr. Jaako Erkkila

On the opening night an award was presented to Dr. Jaakko Erkkilä, a music therapist from Finland. When he was announced as the winner of the research/special projects award, it seemed as if he wasn’t in the building. Everyone turned around wondering where he was, his name was repeated. However, he soon arrived on stage. He wasn’t in a hurry. He was walking at his own pace, arriving exactly at the time he would.

What Vivian pointed out was that in the moment, when the social pressure seemed to scream for him to hurry up, he didn’t. It wasn’t out of spite, nor did it seem like it was intentional. He arrived when he would arrive. He was a man that seemed grounded in who he was, unfazed by the societal urge to pick up the pace. While it is also alright to quicken your steps to receive the award, it was refreshing to see someone take his time.

I'm very grateful to have experienced such a festive atmosphere at a global conference full of esteemed researchers, practitioners, and students. We also got to meet up with some Music Therapists from Hong Kong. I got to learn so much about Vivian's profession. What questions do you have about music therapy?