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With apologies to the stringed crowd, the electric guitar booths at NAMM are not usually the loudest locations on the show floor. That distinction belongs to the Drum and Percussion Hall.
As it should be.
That said, we’re going to share the majesty of all the new drum gear unveiled at NAMM 2026 in the much more calm and peaceful milieu of your laptop or mobile device. Call it news minus noise—as glorious as percussive racket can be.
I also encourage you to bookmark this page and check back regularly, as more drum updates and enhanced data will be added as the show unfolds throughout January 22–24, and even for a few days after the last drum company shuts down and departs the Anaheim Convention Center.
Table of Contents
New Drum Gear at NAMM 2026
ddrum
DW
LP
Ludwig
MEINL
PDP
Pearl
Slingerland
SONOR
TAMA
Yamaha
New Groove Things
New Drum Gear at NAMM 2026
ddrum
Excuse the cliché, but ddrum gives drummers a lot of bang for the buck. These mid-level, affordable Dominion and D2 kits sound great, they’re tough enough to handle constant cartage from rehearsal space to gig and back, and they’re offered in bigger configurations for when a “Ringo kit” won’t deliver the versatility you need.
For even more fun, the Dominion and D2 shell packs are opening 2026 with exclusive new colors. The ddrum Dominion birch 6-piece shell pack—which includes a free 8" rack tom—is now offered in Inferno Red or Java Pearl. If you’re into propulsive bottom end, the ddrum D2 8-piece double bass drum kit explodes with a Lime Sparkle finish and black hardware. A 5-piece version is also available.
Shop Now: ddrum Dominion Birch 7-Piece Shell Pack in Java Pearl
DW
DW makes gorgeous kits, but even they may have outdone themselves with the MFG True-Cast 14x4" snare drum. The extremely limited edition—only 100 will be made for the entire planet—features a sand-cast, bell bronze shell, brass True-Cast hoops, a numbered badge and an exclusive flight case. The gleaming monochrome look of the MFG beams class and luxury—almost as if it were part of a glamorous, Art Deco Piece-Arrow roadster. But bell bronze snares also have the volume and belligerent attack to shed the tuxedo and jump into a cage match.
Shop Now: DW MFG True-Cast Bell Bronze Piccolo Snare Drum 14x4"
The limited editions don’t stop at a bronze snare, either. The DW Collector’s Exotic Pure Walnut comes in a snare and 5-piece shell pack, with only 75 kits and snares available worldwide. Dressed up in a satin Ebony Burst finish and black nickel hardware, these magnificent drums could stand strong in a gallery of the Guggenheim.
Shop Now: DW Pure Walnut 5-Piece Shell Pack in Satin Ebony Burst
LP
Multiple Latin Grammy Award-winner Tony Succar uses LP Micro Snares to add high-pitched, cutting sounds to his percussive arsenal. These rainbow-hued mini marvels can be easily mounted to any percussion setup or drum kit, and a quick-release lever disengages the snares, so you can switch between a biting snare tone and a timbale sound. On the selfish side, I see a great application for me, as my surf band performs a reverb-drenched instrumental version of “Low Rider” by War, and it would be fabulous to effortlessly add “tiny timbales” to my rig with a Micro Snare.
Shop Now: LP Tony Succar Micro Snare Drum 6x4" in Rainbow
LP is also seeing in 2026 with Tony Succar congas, cajons, bongos, timbales and timbalitos (in rainbow finishes, of course), as well as Pedrito Martinez steel timbales in Dark Mocha, limited-run cherry wood congas and bongos, a Deluxe Jam Block and more.
Shop Now: LP Pedrito Martinez Steel Timbales 13" and 14" in Dark Mocha
MEINL
One of the biggest music news stories of 2025 was the incredible Anika Nilles being tapped as the new touring drummer for Rush, stepping in for the late legend, Neil Peart. If you act fast—like a 175 bpm multiple-tom drum fill—you can celebrate Nilles with her MEINL Limited Edition Artist Signature cymbal. Her self-designed black and bronze Ocean Tides pattern evokes early Greek pottery, includes her engraved signature and is limited to just 100 cymbals worldwide.
Pictured: MEINL Anika Nilles Ocean Tides Artist Design Cymbal
Also honored with a MEINL Artist Signature is Grammy-nominated badass Aric Improta. His Arcwave design—also black and bronze—suggests lazy marine undulations on a Southern California beach or dreamy soundwaves on a DAW. The cymbal also includes Improta’s engraved signature and is limited to 100 cymbals.
Pictured: MEINL Aric Improta Artist Design Cymbal
For less-limited cymbal options, MEINL is introducing Byzance Traditional Extra Hammered, Classic Custom Dark Micro Stack, Top Classics Custom Dark Micro Stack, Pure Alloy Extra Hammered, HCS Soundwave and HCS Micro Stack Mini hi-hats. Want a ride to go with those hi-hats? MEINL is also offering Pure Alloy Custom Super Bell and Byzance Traditional Extra Hammered ride cymbals.
PDP
Acrylic drums look amazing, and their robust low end, aggressive attack, rapid decay and raucous volume are perfect for putting your grooves front and center. The PDP Concept Acrylic kit comes in 4- and 6-piece shell packs and a separate 14x6.5" snare drum. Rock on. However, PDP hasn’t forgotten drummers who dig the sound of wood. The New Yorker 4-piece shell pack struts a flashy Twisted Cherry finish and a space-saving 16" bass drum.
Shop Now: PDP by DW Concept Acrylic 4-Piece Shell Pack in Clear Acrylic
Pearl
Offering a bounty of metallurgy—and bringing in the tone-terrific metals at affordable prices—the Pearl Primal Collective Snares series features four shell types: aluminum, brass, copper and steel. You also get to choose from four sizes for each snare: 13x7", 14x5.5", 14x6.5" and 14x8".
I don’t typically collect a lot of snares, but the thrifty prices of the Primal Collective could get me to rethink my meager inventory. The sonic benefits and resulting versatility for sessions would be huge, as aluminum snares are typically dry and focused, brass is dark and balanced, copper delivers warmth and articulation, and steel produces a sharp attack with excellent sustain and ringing overtones. Moving from tone to fashion, each snare is beautiful in its austere design, which really showcases the metal finishes.
Shop Now: Pearl Primal Collective Brass Snare Drum 14x6.5"
For aspiring beat bashers, the company is debuting the Pearl eRoadshow electronic drum set, which really brings the value. First, you get pretty much everything you need in one box—meaning, in addition to the pads, frame and control module, you’ll also find headphones, drum sticks and a drum throne. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, the eRoadshow’s quick-and-easy setup—Pearl claims it’s, “From box to beats in minutes”—is beneficial if you find yourself needing to constantly move the kit around from bedroom to rehearsal space to teaching studio or elsewhere. And at a 25-percent smaller footprint than some other e-kits, you probably won’t have to squeeze between your bed and desk if you leave the drums assembled and ready to play.
Shop Now: Pearl eRoadshow Complete Electronic Drum Set
The eRoadshow is populated with 165 sounds and 15 kits, and it is the only entry-level e-kit that is ready for double bass drums. Just because you’re a beginner doesn’t mean you can’t practice supersonic low-end salvos.
If you think we must be done with Pearl launches at NAMM 2026, we are not. The Crystal Beat 4-piece acrylic limited-edition shell pack is offered with a choice of two striking hues: Cotton Candy Fade and Glacier Fade. Eyes will definitely be locked onto the bandstand if you’re sitting behind one of these kits.
Shop Now: Pearl Crystal Beat 4-Piece Shell Pack in Cotton Candy Fade
Slingerland
Founded in 1913, the Slingerland brand harkens back to the days of Louie Bellson, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. It also enjoyed a resurgence in the rock era, with drummers such as Neal Smith (Alice Cooper), Neil Peart (Rush), Bill Ward (Black Sabbath), Danny Seraphine (Chicago) and others using Slingerland drums and/or snares from time to time. But the company suffered through bankruptcy and multiple owners in the 1980s and ’90s, effectively diminishing its stature.
Shop Now: Slingerland Radio King Solid Maple Snare Drum in Black Diamond Pearl 14x5.5"
Happily, DW Drums acquired Slingerland in 2019, and revived the iconic name last year with limited-edition Radio King snare drums. This year, drummers can dive into a series of non-limited Slingerland Radio King snare drums in stunning, vintage-styled finishes (Black Diamond Pearl, White Marine Pearl and new-for-2026 Maroon and Gold Sparkle). The Radio Kings feature North American maple shells, nickel-plated Stick Saver hoops, Zoomatic throw-offs and new sizes for the non-limited series—14x5.5" and 14x7".
SONOR
I adore SONOR. I stalked a vintage SONOR kick pedal for months until I found one in good shape that I could afford. The tragedy here is I won’t get lucky with the posh and glamorous SONOR Craftsmen’s Collection Vintage African Marble shell pack. This is a jaw-dropping, limited-edition (100 kits worldwide) masterwork of handcrafted artistry that truly honors the German company’s 150 years of imagination and innovation. It’s also out of my reach—unless I dip into the dogs’ college funds (hahaha).
Shop Now: SONOR Craftsmen's Collection Vintage African Marble Shell Set
But for well-heeled drummers undaunted by the cost of luxury, the Craftsmen’s Collection Vintage African Marble should be on your wish list. The 4-piece shell pack includes a 20x14" bass drum, 12x8" rack tom, 14x12" floor tom and a matching 14x5.75" snare. Deluxe accoutrements are many, and feature 9-ply shells (eight maple with one ply of African marble), fully rounded bearing edges, high-gloss lacquer finish, classic teardrop lugs with SONOR TuneSafe technology, bass drum T-rods with the company’s Vintage Series prism clamp system and more. I may have to cap my pups’ education at high school so I can buy this astounding example of percussive fine art.
TAMA
TAMA is bursting into 2026 with the gorgeous, limited-edition (45 kits and 70 snare drums in North America) Starclassic Bubinga series in a gloss African Cherry finish with black nickel hardware. I think I’d need to upgrade my wardrobe a tad to sit behind this classy kit, but I know it will be worth it to be enveloped in the warm caress and resonant punch of 9-ply bubinga shells. The kit version is a 5-piece shell pack, and the snare is a 14x6.5".
Shop Now: TAMA Starclassic Bubinga 5-Piece Shell Pack in African Cherry
Speaking of snare drums, the TAMA Mike Portnoy Signature Melody Master Snare makes quite a statement with its unusual yet ghoulishly cool “white drip fading to purple sparkle” finish. The 14x5.5" Portnoy Signature features 9-ply bubinga shells, a 3-way tension strainer and the collectors-like exclusivity of only 130 being available in America (and 500 worldwide).
Shop Now: TAMA Mike Portnoy Signature Melody Master Snare 14x5.5"
While it might be laughable to get excited about cymbal stands—given the ultimate awesomeness of the lovely kits and snare drums I’ve just covered from TAMA—I must admit that, yeah, lightweight drum hardware that’s still tough and durable absolutely rocks my world. And anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to drag my drum hardware case across a parking lot, down a busy street and into a venue.
Few people—except maybe The Rock—are bullish on heavy hardware, and lifting and positioning TAMA Spartan cymbal stands is like tossing feather pillows around. But these featherweight stands are far from flimsy. They can handle Hulk-like crash cymbal wallops without tipping, securely hold stand-mounted rack toms and possibly even withstand a slight headstock collision from your slightly dizzy guitarist. Gig-tested TAMA features include Anti-Walk Rubber Feet, Glide-Tight Grip Joints and Quick-Set Tilters.
Shop Now: TAMA Spartan Boom Cymbal Stand
Rounding out the TAMA introductions for 2026 are the TAMA Star Reserve mahogany snare in a Satin Natural Tineo finish (limited to 50 units in North America), TAMA Starclassic walnut/birch kit in Molten Platinum Burst and a Star Maple snare in Charcoal Brown Paraiso.
Shop Now: TAMA STAR Reserve G-Mahogany Snare Drum in Satin Natural Tineo 14x6.5"
Yamaha
Yamaha honors legendary jazz, bebop and fusion drummer Roy “Snap Crackle” Haynes (1925–2024) with the Roy Haynes Signature Centennial Snare. This charmingly sophisticated snare drum is crafted with hand-hammered copper, boasts a Roy Haynes centennial badge and is limited to just 35 units in the United States.
Shop Now: Yamaha EAD50 Electronic Acoustic Drum Microphone System
Yamaha EAD series electronic/acoustic modules—which transform acoustic kits into hybrid digital rigs—are seeing the line expanded for 2026 with the EAD50. Also being introduced is the DSU50 Stereo Condenser Drum Microphone and Trigger Pickup. Rounding things out for Yamaha, Recording Custom kits are also seeing some “new,” with two fresh finishes: Red Autumn and Polar White.
New Groove Things
You may ask yourself, “Is that all?” But if you follow NAMM each year, you should know that new releases, surprise introductions, last-minute debuts and random updates occur throughout the show with shocking regularity. I mean, they do if we’re lucky. (We all love gear, right?)
We’re going to do our part to keep the NAMM 2026 data deluge flowing. You can do your bit to keep checking back here to ensure you haven’t missed anything. After all, you don’t want to be that drummer who has zero clue about the trending drum gear everyone else is talking about.
Want the latest on NAMM 2026 releases? Don't miss out on the rest of our coverage: