ESNS 2026

Now, if you’re up-to-date in today’s pop industry, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard about the ESNS (which by the way stands for Eurosonic Noorderslag) before: Dua Lipa, Rosalía, Aurora, CMAT, Adele, Stromae, and Priya Ragu, just to name a few, have all performed there. Ring a bell? Since the festival, conference, and independent music platform was founded in the mid-80s, many prestigious, leading artists were kind of born here. Not in a literal sense, of course. But all of them were given a stage here. It’s an impressive list that name-drops some of the most iconic and influential personalities. 

Now that the line-up for 2026 was just released, it makes you wonder: who is going to be the star from tomorrow? There’s Melina, the Greek folk singer who mastered the blend of traditional Balkan and Oriental music with pop elements. There’s TTSSFU, who creates atmospheric shoegaze with a fast BPM. Or Sofie Royer, the Austrian multi-instrumentalist known for her work with Boiler Room, paintings and theatrical, dreamy, nostalgic electro-pop. 

As the line-up shows, the ESNS is committed to creating a sustainable, diverse, inclusive, global and strong music sector where art is enjoyed by everyone. They are committed to putting European artists on the worldwide radar, and they are committed to offering career-defining opportunities through a variety of awards. To make sure all of this happens in those four days in January, there are a few special elements alongside the performances you should look out for during the festival: There’s the House of Europe, for example, a new hub that brings together export offices and emerging artists, regional cultures and cross-border collaborations. 

There’s also the Studio RE:VIVE, a writer’s camp – kind of a workshop where artists can collaborate by using exclusively Dutch-made instruments and gear. There’s the awarding ceremony on the 15th, on which seven out of fifteen nominated artists will be officially recognised with different awards. And there’s the Popwalk, a bilingual QR-guided on-site podcast that accompanies you all around Groningen and gives you insights, small audio stories and anecdotes about the city’s landmark moments in pop music history. So, there’s a lot to see and a lot to do in just four days. But trust me, it’s going to be worth it. 

Because there is going to be a lot different in 2026 from the previous editions. 2026 is going to be a special year. It’s the fortieth anniversary of the festival, and because of that, the event is going to be even bigger, even better, and even more inclusive. While in the past, the annual event used to focus on one country per season to celebrate their unique cultural stories, background, identity and diversity, they’ve decided to focus on the whole of Europe in 2026. Therefore, the festival’s theme Europe Calling is a shift from national spotlights to a shared cultural movement. A celebration of the European unity. In times of rising global geopolitical pressures, cohesion and solidarity are more important than ever. As the team writes in their manifest: “For our industry. For our culture. For our future.” Period.

The result is a beautiful mix of different music styles, languages, with over two hundred and fifty solo artists, bands, and duos ranging from electronic to alternative. From indie to ambient. From punk to soul and jazz. But before you lose your mind after all this information, we’ve selected five artists that will perform in January on stage. Five artists that you should definitely get into, check out, and obviously keep in mind while you stroll around the festival area. Five artists that are underground, emerging, with real star potential. From Lia Kali, the Barcelona-based R&B singer, to the carefree band Inspector Spacetime from Reykjavík. With this selection, you’re safe to enjoy the hustle and bustle when Groningen turns into the centre of the European music industry. 

In the past years, we’ve definitely had a comeback of bands in general. Just think about Huntrix from K-Pop Demon Hunters. BTS, Blackpink, Maneskin. Even Big Time Rush is back on tour. So, it is the perfect time for Glazyhaze, the Venice-based indie rock band that creates a captivating mix of dreamy pop intimacy, nostalgic Britpop elements, dark atmospheres and ethereal soundscapes. Since they debuted in 2023, the Italian group has toured across Europe, has opened for Soft Cults and Slow Crush, and even got their first-ever series of headline shows in the UK.

This year, Glazyhaze released their second album, Sonic, a melodic journey that explores love and self-discovery through the duality of light and shadow. Not visually, obviously, but through tones, vibes, and lyrics. To highlight two complementary perspectives of the same experience. The band, who by the way consists of Irene (vocals and guitar), Lorenzo (lead guitar), Vsevolod (bass) and Francesco (drums), is nominated for the Music Moves Europe Award. So, keep the name Glazyhaze in mind when it comes to the ceremony on the 15th. We’re definitely going to root for them.

Tasmin Stephens, aka TTSSFU, is glitchy, fun, melancholic. A bit of a messy brat and exactly the relatable chaotic girl we need. The Wigan-born, Manchester-based artist started to paint alone in her room as a kid to process her feelings. Then, one lucky day, she discovered Kurt Cobain, and sort of experienced what we imagine being a spiritual enlightenment. After that, she started playing the flute, the guitar, started songwriting around the age of fifteen and continued to push herself to create honest, real, and exposing songs. About the embarrassment of falling for someone, for example. About a disappointing relationship like Andy Warhol and Jed Johnson had it (just listen to Me, Jed and Andy). About how to process rage, or the moment you realise you can be a horrible person. 

Her EP, Blown, to get more precise, comes from the Wigan expression “being blown”, meaning having had an overwhelming, shitty day. And the banger Forever is kind of a love letter to one of Tasmin’s best friends. Overall, there are a lot of DIY shoegaze elements, eerie fast BPMs and a lot of moody undertones that are definitely worth it to give a listen to.

Okay, this one’s really good. Imagine if Daft Punk, Charli xcx and The Prodigy had three little children and raised them in Iceland. Imagine if these three little children decided to do music just like their parents and developed their own electric, carefree dance, pop, disco, synth-pop sound. Then it would be Inspector Spacetime. The three-person band consisting of Elías, Egill and Vaka from Reykjavík. 

It all started when Egill and Elías, two classmates, exchanged some music ideas. After that, they’ve decided to get real and managed to convince Vaka to be their badass vocalist. Together in just one week, they wrote their debut album, Inspector Spacetime. Naturally, their energetic style kicked off huge waves in Iceland, and now they count as one of the best live acts to see there. Our recommendation to check out: The dance hit Party At My House, which was released at the beginning of this year. Ah, and if you’ve wondered where the band’s name comes from, it’s a nod to the TV show Community and a fictional cheesy sci-fi detective who appears in season two.

Here is another Music Moves Europe Award nominee for you to look out for: Lia Kali, the Barcelona-based pop R&B singer who is known for music that blends reggae with jazz, soul, and rap. Music that creates a deeply personal yet powerful chronology about the darkest times in her life. Her sound is honest. Real. And leaves room for healing and peace. Her vocals are warm, kind of smoky, you could say. The beats groovy, melodic. Passionate and captivating. While her debut album from 2023 explored her own sorrows and fears of daily life, the second album, Kaelis, which dropped this year in March, is more a project for the world. It’s for everyone. 

A conceptual collection of songs that has been structured around three metaphorical heavens, exploring emotional chaos, personal growth, and the acceptance of life's uncertainties. By the way, the title comes from the Latin ‘caelis,’ which means skies or heavens — just personalised with a K. In Spain, Lia Kali is already a star. She’s toured in Europe and the Americas and performed at live concerts and events such as the Gallery Live by Bershka. So, no matter how the jury will decide on the ESNS awarding ceremony on the 15th of January, Lia Kali is a winner in our opinion. So, do yourself a favour and keep that name in mind.

Because we still cannot get enough of incredibly cool underground bands, we’ve selected this five-piece masterpiece from Sintra, Portugal, for you. Them Flying Monkeys. A passionate, experimental, melodic rock punk band that boldly merges a hard-hitting rock identity with new electronic. Wait, it’s honestly simpler than it sounds. And with simpler, we mean, it’s simply exactly what we want to hear all the time. Loud. Atmospheric. Raw. A bit punkish. Genre-blending. Youthful. With a never-ending energy battery and amazing live performances that will make you sweat like crazy. You know, it’s the kind of soundtrack you play to aggressively, confidently walk around town. Or, the perfect soundtrack to dance like crazy in front of the mirror in your own room. 

Just listen to their latest single, Big Boy, that was released end of November, and you’ll know what we mean. Xico, Diogo, Luís, Zio and Hugo, the faces and brains behind the band, debuted their first album in 2017. Since then, they have toured mainly nationally, in Spain and different parts of Europe with upcoming dates that include shows in the UK, Belgium, Germany — and of course, the Netherlands. So don’t miss it.