16 Emerging Artists to Watch in 2026

Ekko Astral first made waves in the DIY punk scene with their great 2024 debut, Pink Balloons. Since then, they've dropped a supplemental EP with odds and ends (including "pomegranate tree," one of their sickest tunes yet), had a lineup change or two, supported acts like IDLES and PUP, and threw a two-day festival in their hometown. In other words, things are only just getting started. Most recently, the band unleashed the no-wave-ish single "horseglue," and soon after we named it one of the best songs of 2025, the band hinted that there was plenty more where that came from. If that means a new album cycle in the coming months, these scrappy noisemakers are undoubtedly going to turn even more heads. — Jonah Krueger

Following a trio of great EPs over the last few years, Girl Scout are set to unveil their debut album Brink on March 20th, one of our most anticipated albums of 2026. Led by vocalist Emma Jansson, each Girl Scout release has featured fearless, emotionally palpable songwriting, like the reflective hues found in "All the Time and Everywhere" and the powerful bubble-and-burst structure of "I Just Needed You to Know." Brink lead single "Same Kids" follows the same formula of looking back on life and feeling torn between confusion and acceptance, the song made even more potent by the band's spritely, driving sound. If you're not in the troupe yet, there's still time for your Girl Scout initiation. — P. Ragusa

While her last name definitely gives her an advantage, Violet Grohl might be well on her way to stepping out of her father's shadow. Following multiple performances with Foo Fighters in concert and a feature on the 2023 album But Here We Are, the 19-year-old is currently working on her debut albumwith producer Justin Raisen, releasing two new singles in December 2025. "Thum" and "Applefish" both feature her rough and ready vocals, with enough melodic verve to suggest a musical signature all her own. — Liz Shannon Miller

"Dance punk" is such a specific yet contradictory genre — that is, until you hear Victor Jones' rhythmic, deeply personal sound. The lyrics are witty and the beats addictive, all without undercutting the real sense of an artist expressing himself on stage. Jones, whose "Mother Teresa" was a recent Song of the Week honorable mention, will be appearing at SXSW 2026 as well as Treefort Music Fest, and their next announced single is "Go to Work," out January 9th. They just promoted "Go to Work" with an Instagram video of them trying to introduce "the boys" to the joys of the 2003 holiday classic Love Actually. (It was not a success.) — L.S. Miller

Karri has bubbled to the surface of the Artists to Watch pool with what he calls his "Lo N Slo" sound, a moody mix of woozy vocals and hazy lo-fi production. The singer-songwriter's pensive 2023 single "3am in Oakland" became a sleeper hit, which led to a deal with Drake's right-hand man, Chubbs, and his PFL (Playing for Legacy) imprint. At the end of 2024, Karri released his debut EP, Late Night Slider Music, a well-studied fusion of Toronto's mercurial R&B sonics and Karri's Bay Area roots. His recent follow-up, Slider II, pairs his emotive vocals with more varied production, as heard on the hyphy-based Kehlani collaboration "Go," which samples E-40's 2006 Bay Area anthem "Tell Me When to Go." Whatever sonic approach he takes, Karri is deep in his feelings — and he wants us to join him. — Kiana Fitzgerald

Master Peace has built a fervent fanbase in his native England as of late, namely due to his explosive 2024 debut How to Make a Master Peace (and also his excellent collaboration with Young Franco, "Wake Up"). He's kept that momentum with a lengthy stint touring alongside Franz Ferdinand — also appearing on their song "Hooked" — and another string of great singles, particularly the raucous manifesto "There's No More Underground." Now, with his Stupid Kids EP coming on February 27th, the landfill indie sleaze revivalist is poised to break through across the pond and beyond. Master Peace's genre-agnostic attitude epitomizes the newest class of rockstars, but his voice remains singular: When Master Peace speaks, you listen. — P. Ragusa

Indie rock fans might not know Morgan Nagler by name, but they've almost certainly heard her work. After putting her own projects on hold to flex her muscles as a creative collaborator, she went on to co-write with folks like Phoebe Bridgers, HAIM, Kim Deal, Margo Price, and Madi Diaz, just to name a few. Last year, Nagler stepped back into her own spotlight with a pair of singles, "Cradle the Pain" and "Orange Wine," melodic tunes that toed the line between fuzzed-out slacker rock and heartfelt indie folk. It feels like the start of a new era for Nagler, one under her own name and terms, and if that ultimately includes a debut solo effort (Update: It does indeed.), she may be one choice cosign or support slot away from being just as beloved as the names she's associated with. — J. Krueger

You may hear a Jalen Ngonda track and swear it's a long-lost Motown cut from 1971 — but no, that's just the transformative power of Ngonda's powerful tenor and his sweeping, nostalgic production. His versatile instrument ranges from pure and crystalline to roaring and ragged; he can convey an incredible amount of emotion in his vocal delivery, with his range so expansive that it dips into androgyny. An American based in England, Ngonda has fit right in to the UK's newest class of soul revivalists, but he hasn't quite exploded in his home country yet. His debut album arrived in 2023, but with a string of lovely new singles arriving in 2025, his next statement is imminent. — P. Ragusa

Omerta, a young synth-punk band from London, haven't yet dropped their debut single (more on that in a moment), but they're already generating enough buzz for their name to start leaking out of their local scene. With raucous live shows, a "fuck everything" attitude, and some genuinely fun, ripping tunes, they seem to have all the makings of an act that'll excite the kids and piss off the fogeys. Don't believe me? Well, just wait for their debut single, arriving January 16th: "Gay Hitler." Or maybe wait for the one about sucking your own dick to drop. I don't know, man, but don't say we didn't warn you about these rapscallions. — J. Krueger

Chiefly inspired by the DIY energy of the likes of Sexyy Red and GloRilla, PLUTO is a self-starter who made a grand entrance into hip-hop this year with the YKNiece-assisted "Whim Whamiee." A propulsive, thrumming track that feeds off of its own dynamic energy, the song went viral in every way possible, leaving PLUTO with ample opportunity to formally present herself. She released two projects in 2025 — the introductory tape BOTH WAYS and her debut album PLUTO WORLD — that capitalized heavily on the momentum of "Whim Whamiee." With follow-up hits like the YoungBoy Never Broke Again collaboration "2 Crash Outs" and "Motion" with Sexyy Red, PLUTO is underscoring why her name should be mentioned in the emerging artists conversation. — K. Fitzgerald

Prostitute's debut album, 2024's Attempted Martyr, has become something of a sleeper hit in the noise rock scene in the year and change since its release. Now, the band has been scooped up by Mute Records, who are wasting no time in re-issuing the originally self-released project. For their own part, the band has kept the momentum alive with a headache of a music video (complimentary) for the cut "Mr. Dada" and a string of European tour dates slated for April and May. No word yet on new music, but these are familiar patterns, and if you ask us, all signs point to Prostitute being the next favorite band of anyone who had acts like Chat Pile or YHWY Nailgun on their Wrapped. — J. Krueger

Racing Mount Pleasant closed out 2025 strong. They dropped their self-titled debut (at least under this moniker) back in August and supported Geese on their red-hot, sold-out "Getting Killed Tour." With the new record still so fresh, it feels unlikely that Racing Mount Pleasant will drop another full-length project of patient, dynamic art-rock tunes in 2026, but it seems like they have more than enough momentum to keep things on the rise in the new year. One or two more key supporting slots and perhaps some supplemental release (maybe a deluxe edition, a new music video, an EP of leftovers, or a remix project — those seem to be popular these days), and Racing Mount Pleasant might quickly become the American counterpart to Black Country, New Road. — J. Krueger

Jae Stephens is reclaiming pop as sexy, fun, and unapologetically Black. Her glossy yet subversive 2024 EP SELLOUT was a tongue-in-cheek embrace of major-label pop stardom. Its 2025 follow-up, SELLOUT 2, enhanced that confidence with a sleeker sound, irreverent attitude, and bold refusal to be boxed in. Raised on the icons of the '90s and 2000s — from Britney Spears to the still-reigning Beyoncé — Stephens blends encyclopedic pop knowledge with R&B nuance, humor, and femininity. Tracks like the sonically immersive hit "Afterbody" highlight her playful, polished approach, revealing an ambitious star in the making. Ultimately, Jae Stephens aims to expand space for Black women in pop, proving with her own creations that fun, brazen music can still be innovative, empowering, and resonant across the globe. — K. Fitzgerald

Tyler Ballgame should give hope to anyone who believes talent will always find a way to break through. After toiling on the cover band circuit, the Berklee grad made a "desperate" move to Los Angeles. Performing his own songs at Venice Beach open mics, he caught the ears of Jonathan Rado (Foxygen, Weyes Blood) and Ryan Pollie (Los Angeles Police Department). The duo took Ballgame under their wings, loaded up a studio with musicians and analog recording gear, and captured what would become For the First Time, Again (out January 30th on Rough Trade). Catchy, soulful, and charismatic, Tyler Ballgame is a voice that was meant to be heard. — Ben Kaye