Featuring performances by over 300 emerging acts from 39 countries taking place, there was no shortage of fresh discoveries to be made at ESNS 2026. Now in its 40th year, the festival serves as a showcase event and a crucial meeting point for leading bookers, agents, and promoters, all in the name of introducing soon-to-be stars to the market.With its tiny, sweltering venues and obligatory backdrop of icy January winds, ESNS annually turns the student city of Groningen into a living, breathing map of new European talent, a place where new sounds can cross borders and genres are freely bent out of shape. This year’s edition kicked off in earnest with a staggering performance from folk wunderkind Dove Ellis – for which the Dutch Queen Máxima was in attendance – at De Oosterport, showing punters and industry folk just what he’s made of.
Under the overarching theme of Europe Calling, ESNS 2026 reflected the full scope of the continent’s thriving music scene, while many a disappointed reveller was turned away from the most hotly-tipped shows. An impossibly long queue formed ahead of Florence Road’s breakout set, while shows from Irish six-piece Madra Salach and Hania Derej, a 20-year-old virtuoso pianist based in Kraków, Poland, saw young acts take musical risks in full view.This fearless artistic spirit was also celebrated on Thursday (Jan. 15), at The Music Moves Europe Awards, which champions musicians from across Europe whose work reflects innovation and a growing international reach. This year’s MME Award recipients were Camille Yembe (Belgium), Carpetman (Ukraine), Della (Cyprus), Sarah Julia (Netherlands) and Sofie Royer (Austria), while the Jury Grand Prize was awarded to Lia Kali (Spain), who also received the MME Public Choice Award, voted for by fans and ESNS attendees.Away from all the noise, meanwhile, the ESNS conference played host to important discussions surrounding the live sector, tech, mental health, AI and more, while also facilitating networking between musicians and industry figures. An hour-long keynote discussion with trailblazing agent Emma Banks, co-head of global touring at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), unpacked the headlines behind a booming market for stadium shows across Europe, while representatives from Sziget, Reeperbahn, Superbloom and Sunny Hill were in attendance to discuss an ever-changing festival landscape.
Here are the key stories and talking points from this year’s ESNS festival and conference.
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