It’s a new year, which means it’s time to expand our horizons and fall in love with some new artists. Over the past few months, I’ve gathered my favourite newcomers, and I’m so excited to finally share them with you. This is always my favourite post of the year. There’s nothing I enjoy more than diving into new music and feeling that spark when you know you’ve discovered a real gem. I hope I can pass a bit of that excitement on to you. From sad pop made for lying on the floor and staring at the ceiling, to party-ready tracks, and electric tunes for underground bars, there’s something here for everyone. Dive into Artists to Watch in 2026 and see what speaks to you.

Pop Newcomers

Sienna Spiro

Sienna Spiro didn’t just arrive, she hit. Her breakthrough track “Die on This Hill” exploded on TikTok for a reason: it feels like standing in the middle of a storm you didn’t ask for but somehow understand. Her voice is massive yet intimate, the kind that cracks open your chest without trying too hard. There’s raw emotion in every line, lyrics that cut deep but never feel forced, and a heart-on-her-sleeve honesty that makes you instantly trust her. Sienna’s music feels lived-in, like she’s already been through it and came back with stories worth telling. If this is only the beginning, she’s one to watch very closely.

RIYL: Olivia Dean, Adele, Tom Odell

Adéla

From Bratislava to Los Angeles, Adéla’s story already sounds like a movie. The Slovakian singer wants to inspire girls from overlooked places and conservative backgrounds to dream louder and aim higher. You might recognize her from Netflix’s The Debut: Dream Academy, where she didn’t make the final group KATSEYE: dismissed for having too much of a solo-artist spirit. Turns out, that was exactly right. Adéla shines brightest on her own. Her music is bold, provocative, and charged with feminine rage, confidence, and sensuality. With a background in ballet, her performances are striking, controlled, and powerful. Adéla isn’t asking for space, she’s taking it.

RIYL: Charli xcx, Chappell Roan, Demi Lovato

Audrey Hobert

If you love Gracie Abrams, chances are Audrey Hobert already lives on your playlist. With her debut album out, Audrey proves she’s not just adjacent to the sad-girl pop wave, she’s carving out her own corner of it. Her superpower? Making awkwardness feel cool. She sings for the people who overthink every interaction, go quiet in group settings, and rehearse conversations in their heads. And yet, the music itself is surprisingly upbeat and pop-leaning: the kind you dance around to alone in your room, feeling extroverted when no one’s watching. Audrey gives a voice to the shy girls and makes it sound fun.

RIYL: Alessi Rose, Gracie Abrams, Conan Gray

Eileen Alister

Eileen Alister is another pop girlie firmly on the rise and she already knows how to command a room. With sold-out shows across Europe, she’s wrapping fans around her finger effortlessly. There’s undeniable star appeal here: cool outfits, authentic lyrics, and a strong sense of girlhood woven through lace, tulle, and a touch of mystery. Sonically, she sometimes drifts into Lana Del Rey territory whispery and dark, yet powerful and emotionally charged. Cute meets shadowy in the best possible way. Switzerland has a star in the making, and Eileen Alister is one you should absolutely keep an eye on.

RIYL: Billie Eilish, Nessa Barrett, Lana Del Rey

Erin LeCount

Erin LeCount knows exactly what she’s doing and her vision is crystal clear: angelic white imagery drifting through darkness, mysticism woven into powerful alt-pop soundscapes. The British Popstar in the making blends dramatic storytelling with lush, emotional production all of which she largely creates herself. Alone in her bedroom, she builds entire worlds. Her debut EP “I Am Digital, I Am Divine” feels like stepping into the inner life of a 22-year-old navigating pain, ambition, spirituality, and self-discovery. It pulls you in completely and once you’re there, you don’t want to leave. Erin LeCount isn’t just making music; she’s crafting a dimension, and pop could seriously use her magic.

RIYL: Lorde, Florence + The Machine, Paris Paloma

Asha Banks

A theatre kid at heart, actor by trade, and now a rising singer, Asha Banks thrives wherever creativity leads her. The British artist released her debut EP Untie My Tongue in 2025, a project that says it all. At just 21, Banks sheds inhibition in favor of raw authenticity, letting honesty guide both her lyrics and delivery. The payoff is undeniable: her heartfelt songs hit deep and have already melted the hearts of a growing fanbase. Later that same year, she followed up with her second EP, How Real Was It?, proving she still had more to say. Asha Banks is clearly just getting started.

RIYL: Holly Humberstone, Matilda Mann, Role Model

Rock Newcomers

Keo

London-based Keo are quickly rising within the city’s alternative shoegaze underground. Fronted by a rough-edged vocal and driven by intense, emotionally charged lyrics, the band make noise that lingers long after the last note. It took just one EP to catch the attention of Rolling Stone, placing Keo firmly on the radar. Following a sold-out UK tour, they’re now gearing up to take Europe by storm in 2026. Fierce, loud, and unfiltered, Keo stand out as one of the most exciting newcomers in London’s shoegaze bubble. If you want to say you saw them when they were still small, now’s the time to grab a ticket.

Recommended If You Like: Inhaler, Overpass, Wunderhorse

Fletchr Fletchr

Emerging from the UK’s indie scene, Fletchr Fletchr are a rising band with momentum on their side. Their debut EP, released at the end of 2025, explores themes of love, loss, and anxiety through deeply felt, sharp-edged lyricism. Sonically, they balance angsty alternative rock with elements of electro-pop, British rock heritage, and a subtle bossa nova sway. Originally a duo, the band have since expanded into a quartet, a shift that’s added depth and cinematic scale to their sound. With growing confidence and a strong emotional core, Fletchr Fletchr are quickly establishing themselves as a promising name from the islands.

RIYL: Sam Fender, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Arctic Monkeys

Florence Road

Ireland is once again proving it does indie rock better than most. Florence Road, a rising Irish quartet, are crafting melancholic indie-alternative-garage tracks full of heart and vulnerability. Their music feels anxious, emotional, and deeply human and they bring all of it on stage, holding nothing back. Recently touring with Wolf Alice, they’re clearly on an upward path. Florence Road turn their worries into sound, their feelings into noise and it hits hard.

RIYL: The Last Dinner Party, Wolf Alice, Wet Leg

New Dad

Soft vocals, hazy synths, and an undeniable atmosphere: New Dad are pure late-night-walk music. Their sound thrives in that quiet in-between space, where emotion and texture do most of the talking. After making waves with MADRA, the band raised the bar with their 2025 album Altar, sharpening both mood and ambition. The new record feels more confident, more expansive, and fully in control of its vibe. With a sound this immersive and refined, it feels like New Dad’s big moment is just around the corner.

RIYL: Wolf Alice, beabadoobee, Cavetown

Indie Newcomers

Sarah Kinsley

U.S. singer Sarah Kinsley creates self-produced Alt-Pop that feels truly magical. With her new singles Fleeting and Lonely Touch, she’s getting us incredibly excited for a new era of her sound. Her 2025 debut album Escaper builds an ethereal, whimsical soundscape, one you can fully dive into and we’re more than ready to discover even more of her world. Every song she writes feels like another plane of existence, carefully constructed through layers of effects and immersive production. Her creativity knows no limits, and she continues to thrive as an artist. We can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next.

RIYL: Kate Bush, Suki Waterhouse, Wasia Project

Elle Coves

Now based in Ireland but with German roots, Elle Coves is a singer-songwriter whose folk-pop feels instantly comforting and disarmingly honest. Armed with just a guitar, she commands the stage with a quiet confidence that recalls early Gracie Abrams. Her lyrics spill truth so naturally it almost catches you off guard suddenly you’re relating a little too hard. Elle’s songs make you want to sit still and listen, then listen again, then fall deep into her discography. The only real complaint? She desperately needs a debut album. Until then, we’ll be replaying everything she’s already given us.

RIYL: Masie Peters, Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine,

Sadie Jean

US-American singer-songwriter Sadie Jean is fast becoming a pop darling with a soundtrack for heartbreak. Her confessional writing and soft, aching melodies have drawn comparisons to Phoebe Bridgers, grounded in emotional honesty and quiet intensity. In October 2025, she released her debut album, capturing the unraveling of love in songs that feel painfully familiar. The record marked a major step beyond viral success, cementing her as a serious pop storyteller. That same year, Sadie brought her music to European stages, where audiences connected deeply with her vulnerability. Tender, relatable, and emotionally sharp, Sadie Jean is carving out her own space in modern pop.

RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Devon Gabriella, Gracie Abrams

Stella Lefty

Sometimes the best songs are born at 3 a.m. with your best friend and Stella Lefty proves it. Her viral track Thinkin’ Bout You, recorded with her bestie in the middle of the night, perfectly captures that soft, magical girlhood feeling. Think Gracie Abrams meets Taylor Swift, but stripped down to pure emotion and joy. You can hear the friendship, the laughter, the closeness in every syllable. It’s the kind of song that feels like a hug and honestly, the perfect way to start a year. Here’s hoping many more bangers follow.

RIYL: Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, Griff

Millichamp

Milichamp writes songs like emotional confessions he couldn’t keep inside any longer. There’s a touching honesty in everything he does: in his voice, his lyrics, the way he lets feelings spill out unfiltered. His sound feels completely international, and he’s already building a deeply dedicated fanbase. His music makes you want to hold up a flashlight at a concert, fall in and out of love dramatically, and feel every single word. If you like heartbreak you can drown in the beautiful, cinematic kind Milichamp will ruin you in the best way.

RIYL: Oliver Keane, Fred Roberts, Harry Styles

Rachel Chinouriri

Rachel Chinouriri is no longer just a “newcomer,” but her rise is still one of the most exciting to watch. After opening for Sabrina Carpenter and releasing her debut album in 2024, she’s only gone higher. This summer brought another standout moment with “Follow Excitement”, plus major collaborations including a feature on “X” and work with other fast-rising artists like sombr. Rachel balances pop brilliance with emotional depth effortlessly, and it feels like she’s stepping into her main-character era in real time.

RIYL: Remi Wolf, Griff, Dora Jar

Rose Gray

Rose Gray has already delivered one of the most iconic debut albums of 2025, Louder, Please is an electropop project designed for strutting with confidence the second it starts playing. The production is sleek, bold, and effortlessly cool, creating a sound that feels both club-ready and deeply personal. From the very first track, it just hits. You immediately see her vision and understand exactly who she is as an artist: fearless, confident, and full of momentum.

RIYL: Addison Rae, Zara Larsson, Charli xcx

Chloe Qisha

Sometimes you just know something will be big within the first few seconds and that was me hearing 21st Century Cool Girl. From the start, it felt like the arrival of a new pop girl, already sounding on the level of Sabrina Carpenter and her peers. The sound is glossy and confident, the lyrics are sharp, and the vibes are pure pop euphoria, polished to perfection. Listening is pure joy, I’m already imagining her on massive stages. And her aesthetic? She truly has it all.

RIYL: King Princess, Marina, Chloe Slater

Folk-Pop Newcomers

Bo Staloch

A new bright light in the folk sky, Bo Staloch is a young artist who knows exactly what to do with a guitar. His voice is soft and disarming, the kind that makes you melt straight into the sound. Natural motifs and organic textures run through his music, transporting listeners to open fields, quiet woods, and slower moments in time. Staloch has a rare ability to bottle nostalgia, turning it into something that aches and blooms all at once. His songs stir a longing for untouched days while still pointing toward the future. Gentle yet emotionally resonant, Bo Staloch’s music feels like a place you want to stay in.

RIYL: Noah Kahan, brenn!, Alex Warren

Alex Crichton

Calling a new track the best Christmas song of the year is a bold move but Alex Crichton earns it. Even for listeners loyal to the classics, his festive release cuts through with ease. Sonically, he channels Bleachers in the best possible way, pairing heartache-laced vocals with shimmering, synth-driven warmth. As the Christmas magic fades, we’re hoping Crichton keeps blessing us with his alternative indie sound well into the new year. This is one Christmas song we’ll be dragging into January, at least until there’s more music to fall for.

RIYL: Bleachers, The National, Del Water Gap

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What a year to look forward to! I bet there is a new artist to be found for anyone on this list. In the upcoming months I will give you more insights on the Artists to watch in 2026 on this list. Follow me on Instagram to not miss out on any updates. Get ready for interviews, album reviews, concert experiences. In the meantime, go have a listen to my favourite songs of these stars in the making.