ESNS The Key Exchange for Emerging New Music Is Gearing Up for Its 40th Edition 09 Jan 2026
By day, the ESNS conference program will include over 520 industry leading professionals taking part in panel discussions, workshops and keynotes covering a diverse range of thought-provoking and industry-leading topics including; The future of a unified European music sector, How do European acts influence (and compete with) global markets?, From algorithms to artistry, Cultural policy and the tools available to stimulate European music, Mental health and social safety, Legends in live music, When creativity meets control, The cultural cost of private equity moving into the music sector, when activism meets polarisation and much more. View full conference programme here.
Keynotes at the conference this year include; An interview with IMPALA’s Executive Chair, Helen Smith, moderated by Music Week’s Ben Homewood, highlighting the organisations impact and achievements for its 25th anniversary. Journalist Lisa Henderson (IQ) invites music agent and Co-Head of Global Touring at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Emma Banks to the stage for an in-depth keynote conversation about her career, the music industry and the future of live music. Director-general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Noel Curran will explore the future of public service media and cross-border collaboration in Europe. Producer, composer, and arranger Craig Leon comes to ESNS to reflect on his groundbreaking work as a producer for acts like the Ramones. Artificial Intelligence and tech are on the agenda, since they have a growing impact across the music sector and Marleen Stikker (Waag) will talk about next generation internet, its impact on the music industry and its opportunities. Activism in music has also taken centre stage over the past year and it’s a key theme at the conference in 2026 with leading expert on polarisation, Bart Brandsma (Inside Polarisation), exploring the correlation between activism and “us versus them” thinking.
Other featured speakers include: Arjo Klingens (MOJO Concerts), Barbara Vos (Barbara Vos), Barnaby Harrod (Mercury Wheels @ Live Nation), Bas Dokter (Agents After All), Bas van Wageningen (bassist DI-RECT), Ben Wynter (Unstoppable Music, Power Up), Brian Hetherman (NXNE Music Conference and Festival), Brij Gosai (Pollstar), Canan Yurdakul (EBB Music), Claire O’Neill (A Greener Future), Collette Tibbetts (Joker Deck VC), Daan Holthuis (013), Dr Charisse Beaumont (Black Lives in Music), Dorian Perron (Groover), Dugi Lipa (Sunny Hill Festival), Dusan Kovacevic (Exit Festival), Dylan Heneck (SubmitHub), Einar Helde (AIMS), Ellie Rumbold (Partisan Records), Emília Barna (Budapest University of Technology and Economics), Eric Skunck (YouTube), Ernst-Jan Pfauth (journalist, schrijver & media pionier), Esmee Bouwmeister (DGTL), Froukje (artist), Gérôme Vanherf (ikii), Guna Zučika (Every Little Thing), Henk Willem Smits (Follow the Money), Jaël Gradenwitz (Truus Agency), Jakob Wedstrøm (Amplitude Ventures), Jan Digneffe (FKP Scorpio Belgium), Jeps Salfischberger (MOJO Concerts), Jim Morewood (K2tours), Joe Hastings (Music Support), Joost van Abeelen (MOJO Concerts), Josh Javor (WME), Kevin Cole (KEXP), Koos Zwaan (Inholland University of Applied Sciences), Leifur Björnsson (Iceland Music), Lesley Grieten (Concert at SEA), Lilian Severin (Pot Music NGO), Liz Pelly (Journalist), Mandy Salem-Aubry (MSA Music Services), Marine Rivollet (2AM), Marleen Stikker (Waag), Martin Schuhmacher (Nettwerk Music Group), Michal Kaščák (Pohoda Festival), Natalie Ryan Williams (Luger / Way Out West), Natasha Gregory (Mother Artists), Noah Smits (Smidswater), Noel Curran (European Broadcasting Union), Paulina Parvanov (Austrian Music Export), Peter Verkennis (Stichting Bospop), Premysl Koudela (Get Moments), Roger Rutten (The Tribute Agency), Roisin O’Connor (The Independent), Ronald de Bas (8Ball Music), Roxana Morar (Radio România Cultural), Ruth Barlow (Beggars Group), Saskhia Menendez (Sassy Records LTD), Satria Ramadhan (AXEAN Festival), Simon Raymonde (Bella Union), Stanislav Malkikov (Geisha Ninja Samurai & Believe), Stefanie Joosten (singer, performer and voice actor), Tamás Kádár (Sziget Festival), Tim van der Zalm (Labeltje Labeltje), Tirsa Creusen (Pinkpop), Vasil Gjuroski (Tromsø World). View all speakers here.
Festival
By night, over 320 European acts will perform across 18 locations in the heart of Groningen. The ESNS Festival has proven essential in breaking new European acts into live music scenes throughout Europe and beyond. ESNS26 is the place to discover new breakthrough acts before they make it big. You heard it first at ESNS! Discover all the acts performing here.
In recent years, ESNS has highlighted individual countries as a focus, but with its new Europe Calling manifesto, the focus shifts to a shared cultural movement. Under this theme, ESNS26 presents a fresh mix of Europe’s most exciting emerging artists. All confirmed artists reflect Europe’s diversity, covering a wide range of genres, languages and cultural roots, from the Arctic North to the Mediterranean and from Central Europe to the vibrant sounds of Eastern Europe. The line-up reflects the full scope of Europe’s thriving music scene More info here.
To mark the 40 years milestone there will be several special events and activations taking place across the city during this years event including Her Majesty Queen Máxima opening the 40th edition of ESNS at De Oosterpoort in Groningen on Wednesday evening, House of Europe, a key program element within Europe Calling and the place where different cultures meet and collaborate. NTR is launching the ESNS ‘popwalk’ through Groningen. Walkers scan a QR code at a music-historical location and can thus learn about Groningen's remarkable pop music history. Also talk place in the city centre is the Then and Now photo exhibition curated by Ben Houdijk, features photos on large columns displaying photos of Eurosonic artists then, during ESNS, and now. The ESNS Sessions are a series of free live performances and recordings by ESNS artists at De Toekomst in Scheemda, an iconic heritage location in the province of Groningen, recorded and broadcast by the NTR and NPO 3FM. More info here.
On 15th January 2026, the winners of the Music Moves Europe Awards will be announced. Fifteen outstanding nominated artists are eligible for this year's MME Awards, including the acclaimed Grand Jury Award, and the Public Choice Award. The 2025 nominees are; Anna Lille (NO), Camille Yembe (BE), Carpetman (UA), Della (CY), DITTER (FR), Fine (DK), florence road (IE), Glazyhaze (IT), Lia Kali (ES), Lunikk (BG), Melina (GR), Might Delete Later (LV), Ray Lozano (DE), Sarah Julia (NL), Sofie Royer (AT).
The 15th edition of the European Festival Awards will take place on January 14th 2026 at de Oosterpoort in Groningen. The categories include: Best Major Festival, Best Medium Festival, Best Small Festival, Best Line-Up and the Lifetime Achievement Award. More info here.
European Talent Exchange
European Talent Exchange proudly presents the final results of 2025, a year in which emerging European artists crossed borders at an exceptional pace. Throughout the year, the programme supported 353 shows by 151 artists from 29 countries, performing at 96 festivals in 31 countries. The 2025 results show a vibrant and connected European festival scene, with ESNS alumni quickly moving from their January showcases to stages across Europe and beyond. The European Talent Exchange (Exchange) platform is coordinated by ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
ESNS Recommended
Each year ESNS asks international media attending about their favourites on our line-up. This year’s most recommended acts so far are; Florence Road and Dove Ellis from Ireland, who are closely followed by Elín Hal (Iceland), Fine (Denmark) and Them Flying Monkeys (Portugal). View this year's top recommended artists here.
The timetables for ESNS are available in the official ESNS app. Visitors can personalise their programme by selecting their favourite artists, speakers, and conference sessions in the timetable. The official ESNS app is an essential tool for industry delegates and music fans who want to get the most out of their festival experience. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
ESNS26 Playlist
To get familiar with the artists you will be able to discover in Groningen, playlists has been created with all the confirmed acts for ESNS26. There are also a variety of playlists highlighting the wide range of different genres of artists performing at ESNS26. Listen here
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THE HEADLINES
Lucian Grainge outlines UMG's 2026 plans in staff memo (see News)
Skye Newman wins Radio 1's Sound of 2026 (see News)
Spotify now lets you share what you’re streaming in real time with friends (see Digital)
Streamed and retail entertainment sales grew four times faster than UK economy in 2025 (see News)
UMG announces collaboration with NVIDIA to pioneer responsible AI for music discovery, creation, and engagement (see News)
2026 music industry predictions (see Features)
New wave of global British breakthrough talent helps UK recorded music grow for 11th consecutive year (see News)
What’s going to give you the marketing edge in 2026? (see Features)
The global value of music copyright hits an all-time high (see Reports)
The 'metamorphosis' of Atlantic Records (see Features)
Looking ahead to 2026 (see Opinion)
Boost for artists in AI copyright battle as only 3% back UK active opt-out plan (see News)
Music discovery: More channels, more problems (see Reports)