Eurosonic Noordeslag (ESNS) 2026 kicks of this week and over 25 UK-based music creators are set to showcase at the festival from across the nations and regions of the UK.
ESNS is a vital platform for UK music creators. Not only can they connect with music industry representatives from across the globe in Groningen, but thanks to the European Talent Exchange programme many will receive offers and bookings from festivals and other programmers throughout the year.
This year PRS Foundation is supporting 10 UK music creators to showcase at ESNS 2026 through the International Showcase Fund. The 10 grantees are:
- EV (England)
- Hetta Falzon (England)
- Mount Palomar (Northern Ireland)
- Mustbejohn (England)
- Nightbus (England)
- Plantoid (England)
- Slate (Wales)
- SOAPBOX (Scotland)
- The New Eves (England)
- Wesley Joseph (England)
The International Showcase Fund (ISF) is run by PRS Foundation in partnership with Department for Business and Trade, Arts Council England, British Underground, Musicians’ Union, Creative Scotland, PPL, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and British Council. It offers vital and timely support for artists and songwriters to take their first steps into international territories, including through key showcasing festivals and conferences such as ESNS. Find out more.
Additionally PRS Foundation together with BBC Introducing is supporting two music creators to showcase this year. They are:
- Nadia Kadek (England)
- Beck Sikasa (Scotland)
Since 2015, BBC Introducing and PRS Foundation have been working together to support and create a platform for the UK’s most talented artists to showcase at overseas music industry events, including Ezra Collective, Sam Fender, Nilufer Yanya and Yazmin Lacey. So far more than 60 artists, who have uploaded their music to the BBC Introducing Uploader, have been selected via BBC Introducing and PRS Foundation’s teams of experts, tastemakers and advisors from across the UK, to perform at showcases around the world. Find out more.
Panels, showcases and mixers by UK delegates this year include:
Thursday 15th January 2026
Scotland’s Networking Reception presented by Wide Days
📍O’Malley’s Oosterstraat, 67 ⌚5:30pm – Mixer with Scotch broth, and deep-fried confectionary will be served, along with soft drinks made from girders and whisky samples.
Find out more and RSVP
Friday 16th January 2026
Powering Up Black Talent in the Live Sector: What’s next?
📍Oosterpoort – Ronde Kamer
⌚1:30pm feat.speakers: Dr Charisse Beaumont (Chief Executive, Black Lives in Music), Diana Ezerex (German-Nigerian singer & songwriter), Ben Wynter (Founder, Unstoppable Music, Co-Founder POWER UP) and Henca Maduro (CEO, Epitome Entertainment/ New Skool Rules).
Moderated by Yaw Owusu (Creative Consultant, Nothin But The Music, Senior POWER UP Manager).
Find out more
Friday 16th January 2026
FOCUS Wales Showcase and Mixer
📍FIXY, Oosterstraat, 13a
⌚5:30pm – Doors open
⌚6:00pm – Slate
⌚6:30pm – FOCUS Wales mixer
⌚7:00pm – N’famady Kouyaté
Find out more and RSVP
Full list of UK artists performing at ESNS 2026
Wednesday 14th January 2026
7:40pm Eleni Drake (England) Oosterpoort Bovenzaal
11:00pm Man/Woman/Chainsaw (England) Oosterpoort Kleine zaal
11:40pm GANS (England) Oosterpoort Marathonzaal
01:00am SOAPBOX (Scotland) Oosterpoort Binnenzaal
Thursday 15th January 2026
7:40pm Nadia Kadek (England) Lutherse Kerk
8:10pm Wesley Joseph (England) Machinefabriek
8:50pm Hetta Falzon (England) Nieuwe Kerk
8:50pm The New Eves (England) H.N. Werkman Stadslyceum
10:00pm KuleeAngee (Scotland) MXT Main
10:30pm Heidi Curtis (England) Forum Expo
10:50pm TTSSFU (England) Huize Maas Main
11:30pm Etta Marcus (England) H.N. Werkman Stadslyceum
00:10am Calva Louise (England) VERA
00:50am EV (England) Grand Theatre
Friday 16th January 2026
6:00pmSlate (Wales) FOCUS Wales showcase @ FIXY, Oosterstraat 13a
7.00pm N’famady Kouyaté (Wales) FOCUS Wales showcase @ FIXY, Oosterstraat 13a
7:30pmBecky Sikasa(Scotland) Grand Theatre
8:40pm mustbejohn (England) MXT Main
8:50pm Future Utopia (England) Simplon Main
10:20pm Cordelia (England) Lutherse Kerk
10:40pm Blair Davie (Scotland) Stadsschouwburg
10:40pm N’famady Kouyaté (Wales) MXT Front
10:50pm Keo (England) Huize Maas Main
10:50pm Nightbus (England) VERA
11:00pm Plantoid (England) A-Theater
00:20am Slate (Wales) A-Theater
00:50am Mount Paloma (Northern Ireland) Simplon Main
Please note timings subject to change!