MUSIC NEWS: ALL EARS - FOCUS AUSTRALIA 2026
Two music cultures, two artists, one journey with Matthew Ifield and Mỹ Anh across Hue and Hanoi
The Australian Embassy in Vietnam and Hot Panda Media have announced ALL EARS: FOCUS AUSTRALIA 2026, a flagship music and cultural exchange initiative that continues to strengthen connections between the Australian and Vietnamese music industries.
Running from 14–17 June across Hue and Hanoi, the program will feature acclaimed Vietnamese artist Mỹ Anh and Australian singer-songwriter Matthew Ifield, bringing together performance, songwriting, professional development and industry engagement.
The 2026 iteration of ALL EARS seeks to consolidate the significant industry advancements achieved since the program was first held in 2024, building on significant industry outcomes generated by the Australian Embassy-supported music industry delegation that attended the Vietnam Music Week and the HOZO Festival in December 2024.
"We are thrilled to support this musical collaboration between Australia's Matthew Ifield and Vietnam's Mỹ Anh," said Her Excellency Gillian Bird PSM, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam.
"Creative connections and exchange between young people in Australia and Vietnam will help build cultural understanding between our nations."
These strategic engagements have led to collaborations involving a diverse array of Vietnamese and Australian companies, including Live Nation, Turning World, This Much Talent, Concord Publishing, EMC, Lonely Lands Agency, Hot Panda Media, INQ International, and the Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO).
The initial investment has generated strong industry outcomes, fostering new partnerships, creative collaborations, and market opportunities between Australia and Vietnam. VMDO facilitated connections by hosting Hot Panda Media and INQ International in Melbourne, visiting to attend AsiaTOPA and take part in an APAC networking event, panel, industry meetings, and executive lunches. Concord and INQ collaborated on songwriting sessions in Melbourne, bringing together Vietnamese artists, including MINH, with Australian songwriters and Concord artists Glenn Hopper and Maribelle Añes, resulting in a new cross-border songwriting partnership and releases.
Vietnamese artist Mỹ Anh was invited to perform at Vivid Sydney and secured an additional Melbourne show at Northcote Social Club through collaboration with Lonely Lands Agency and This Much Talent. Building on this momentum, Vietnamese artists Mỹ Anh and MINH have also engaged This Much Talent to lead their international PR, supporting their expansion into Australia and new global markets.
The Australian government has identified the enormous potential in Southeast Asia for Australia’s creative industries in its economic strategy released in 2022, ‘Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040’. With Vietnam one of the fastest-growing Southeast Asian markets, the time is right to deepen our relationships with this exciting music ecosystem.
"The Victorian Music Development Office are delighted to be included in the 2026 Hot Panda Vietnam delegation, further building on the relationships, market insights and industry connections established through our ongoing international engagement program," said Kirsty Rivers, General Manager, Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO).
"This opportunity will help strengthen connections for Victorian music businesses and artists to connect with one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing creative markets."
“Music has so much to offer in the relationship between our two countries. It’s a joy to be working with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and so many respected music industry partners to facilitate these creative connections between Australia and Vietnam,” said Kate Ben-Tovim, Director of Turning World.
A central component of ALL EARS: FOCUS AUSTRALIA 2026 is the artistic partnership between Mỹ Anh and Matthew Ifield. Their collaboration includes a joint performance at the Hue Festival, a songwriting residency in Hanoi, and a Showcase and Open Talk at VinUniversity designed to connect with up-and-coming Vietnamese music professionals.
The program also features expert-led panel discussions. The BEYOND BORDERS session highlights Sarah Guppy (Director of Record Store Day Australia and Owner of This Much Talent), alongside Michael Choi (CEO of INQ International and International Relations Officer of VCIDA) and Andie Tran (Director of The Orchard Vietnam). Mỹ Anh and Matthew Ifield will also contribute to these industry dialogues.
Furthermore, the KNOW YOUR COPYRIGHT panel will feature Cath Haridy (CEO of the Australian Music Centre), Matt Tanner (VP of A&R at Concord Publishing ANZ), and Kirsty Rivers (General Manager of the VMDO), with Andie Tran returning to provide additional insights.
For Mỹ Anh, the program reflects the value of long-term cultural exchange. "This time last year, Australia welcomed me with love when I performed at VIVID Sydney and Social Sanctuary in Melbourne. This year, I am beyond excited to perform with a very talented Australian artist, Matthew Ifield, at Hue Festival. I believe music and the arts are such a beautiful way to share ideas, make new friends and find inspiration from one another."
Matthew Ifield said the opportunity represents a meaningful connection with Vietnam's culture and creative community."To be able to perform at the Hue Festival, surrounded by so much history and culture, feels really special. I'm grateful to be invited into that space and excited to bring my music to Vietnam in a setting that celebrates both heritage and contemporary creativity."
ALL EARS: FOCUS AUSTRALIA 2026 demonstrates how sustained cultural investment can create lasting industry relationships, new creative opportunities and stronger music sector engagement between Australia and Vietnam.
ALL EARS: FOCUS AUSTRALIA 2026
Organised by Hot Panda Media. Supported by the Australian Embassy in Vietnam
Co-organised by Turning World, This Much Talent, and Wenona Lok.
In partnership with The Orchard, VMDO, and VinUniversity.
14 - 17 June 2026
Hue City (Hue Festival) and Hanoi City
Mỹ Anh (Vietnam) and Matthew Ifield (Australia) - Live performance at Hue Festival in Hue City
Songwriting Session, Open Talk & Showcase at VinUniversity, in Hanoi City
PANEL: BEYOND BORDERS - MUSIC EXPORT INSIGHTS
Moderator: Dong Nguyen, Founder & CEO of Hot Panda Media
Speakers:
Michael Choi, CEO of INQ International and International Relations Officer of VCIDA
(Vietnam Cultural Industry Development Associations)
Andie Tran, Director, The Orchard Vietnam
Sarah Guppy, Owner/Director of This Much Talent / Record Store Day Australia
Matthew Ifield: Artist
Mỹ Anh: Artist
PANEL: KNOW YOUR COPYRIGHT - REVENUE / USE / PROTECT
Moderator: Dong Nguyen, Founder & CEO Hot Panda Media
Speakers:
Andie Tran, Director, The Orchard Vietnam
Matt Tanner, VP of A&R of Concord Publishing ANZ
Cath Haridy, CEO at the Australian Music Centre
Kirsty Rivers, General Manager, Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO)
Matthew Ifield
Recently signing major international deals with EMI Music Australia, Capitol Records in the US and Fontana Records in the UK, Matthew has captivated global audiences with his warm, mesmerising vocals. Following the success of his debut album "My Favourite Place To Be" and a sold-out tour across India, Matthew now turns his focus to Southeast Asia - bringing his music closer to young audiences in Vietnam.
Mỹ Anh
Mỹ Anh belongs to a new generation of Vietnamese artists: raised alongside the internet, making music with a global sensibility while keeping a deeply Vietnamese core. She is among the few Vpop artists to have performed at VIVID Sydney 2025 - the largest light and music festival in Australia, appeared at APEC side events, and accompanied Chanel in its Cruise campaign across Asia. What makes MỹAnh stand out is the way she enters every space: always confident yet unassuming, always international yet never distant. At ALL EARS 2026, Mỹ Anh is not only a Vietnamese artist introducing herself to the world, but also a representative of her country's cultural and artistic current.