Our booking team is shining a spotlight on 20 rising artists set to make 2026 their year! This lineup highlights the hottest emerging trends across all genres.
Several of these artists will get the chance to take the stage during the MJF Spotlight Sessions in Villars, and of course this summer at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Last year, several of the selected artists performed at the Festival, including Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Marcin, Trueno, Luvcat, and Sienna Spiro.
LINIKER (BR)
BRAZILIAN MUSIC, JUST THE WAY WE LOVE IT IN MONTREUX
- Our bookers love her because… “Liniker is everything we adore. Inspired as much by Etta James as by Gilberto Gil, she bridges Afro-American and Brazilian music with style, flair, and a sharp sense of modernity. She’s got full-on star power and can sing absolutely anything. On her latest album, we’re just as hooked on the upbeat tracks as the more intimate ones — including her gorgeous collaboration with pianist Amaro Freitas, a former participant of the Montreux Jazz Academy. And just a few weeks ago, Liniker made history by becoming the most awarded trans woman in Latin Grammy history.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… a mix of soul, R&B and afro-brazilian music.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Olivia Dean.
INO CASABLANCA (FR)
THE MEDITERRANEAN GROOVE OF A FRENCH RAP PRODIGY
- Our bookers love him because… “He hooked us from the very first note. His Spanish and Moroccan influences bring a unique musicality and groove to the French rap scene. It’s hip-hop that makes you want to get up and dance. He produces, writes, mixes, and arranges all his tracks — a rare level of independence. On stage, he performs with live musicians, giving a show that reminded us of Dali at last year’s Spotlight Sessions in Villars.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… rap.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Disiz.
SKYE NEWMAN (UK)
AN IRRESISTIBLE VOICE THAT ELEVATES EVERY NOTE
- Our bookers love her because… “Things took off fast: a lot of our contacts were talking about her, we spotted her opening for Lewis Capaldi, and then her tracks started going viral. It’s a familiar story, but there’s something about her music that really hit us. She’s got this little grain in her voice that reminds us a bit of Sienna Spiro. Her pop has an urban edge, and her lyrics tackle the tough realities of a South East London girl’s life, like addiction or family trauma.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… pop.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Lewis Capaldi.
ANNAHSTASIA (US)
A SLOW BURN FOLK REVELATION
- Our bookers love her because… “We saw her live in Paris, alone with her guitar—her voice grabbed us instantly. These days, it can feel like every artist breaks through the same way, super young on TikTok. But Annahstasia took her time. Kind of like RAYE, she found her path long after signing her first contract at 17. She has a deeply authentic, raw, human approach to music, in the tradition of Nina Simone and Bill Withers—two artists she’s worshipped since her teens. Our programming team doesn’t always agree, but she did win us all over. When you listen to her album, you can’t help but play the final track, ‘Believer,’ on repeat.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… folk-soul.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Michael Kiwanuka.
SOMBR (US)
AT 20, HE’S ALREADY TIPPED AS THE NEXT SUPERSTAR
- Our bookers love him because… “His rise has been so meteoric that we wondered for a while if his name was too obvious to mention—but we quickly realized he’s unavoidable. He’s totally in tune with Gen Z, yet his music resonates across generations—dark and danceable, somewhere between rock energy and pop precision. He makes it all look effortless, and he’s only 20. It’s a bit like the Billie Eilish effect when she first burst onto the scene.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… pop rock.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Ravyn Lenae.
DIJON (US)
THE INDIE PRODIGY INFLUENCING MAINSTREAM POP
- Our bookers love him because… “Artists who can truly navigate both indie and mainstream circles are pretty rare—and he’s one of them. Dijon doesn’t just blend styles; he’s constantly searching for new sounds. His latest album is catchy yet experimental, with a fragmented, saturated edge. Together with his friend Mk.Gee, they’ve crafted a signature sound that’s slowly seeping into pop productions—just look at their work on Justin Bieber’s latest album.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… a mix of alt R&B, soul and pop.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Justin Bieber.
KWN (UK)
RETRO-FUTURIST R&B WITH AUTO-TUNE AND GOSPEL HARMONIES
- Our bookers love her because… “We discovered kwn (pronounced kay-wuhn) through her feature with Kehlani. The single-take, queer, and sexy music video went viral fast. But what really sets her apart on the R&B scene is the quality of her voice and productions, with that retro-futurist edge. She says it herself: nobody uses Auto-Tune quite like she does. The effect stands out against organic elements like soul samples and gospel-inspired backing vocals.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… R&B.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Kehlani.
SALIN (TH/CA)
FROM BANGKOK TO NEW ORLEANS, WITH A STOP IN LAGOS
- Our bookers love her because… “Salin is a Thai drummer based in Canada. She’s already played several times at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and we caught her at JazzOnze+ this fall: a free show, a packed crowd, and an incredible atmosphere. She blends Isan folk with Afrobeat, jazz, and soul in a fully instrumental format that grooves hard. She calls it Afro-Thai Funk. It’s reminiscent of Khruangbin, but with an extra jazz and Afro twist.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… Afro-Thai Funk
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Ezra Collective.
AL-WALID (CH)
THE PRIDE OF GENEVA RAP BREAKING THE RULES
- Our bookers love him because… “He perfectly embodies the spirit of the Geneva rap scene, which has always aimed to break the rules and stand apart from its big neighbor, France. Al-Walid has crafted his own rap identity, shaped in part by his Moroccan and Algerian roots. His approach feels both old school and innovative, never shying away from surprising his audience. It’s fresh, but already incredibly accomplished on stage, where he’s earned a solid reputation.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… rap.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Laylow.
CLOUDY JUNE (DE)
THE BERLIN POPSTAR RAISED ON DEATH METAL
- Our bookers love her because… “We discovered her with the track “If Jesus Saw What We Did Last Night” and were hooked instantly. Early on, she sang in a metal band and claimed to hate pop—until she discovered Billie Eilish. Today, her influences span everything from hard rock to ultra-pop. At just 24, she’s already making a name for herself as a queer and feminist icon, with bold, unapologetic lyrics that openly embrace bisexuality and masturbation.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… alternative pop.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Role Model.
FAKEMINK (UK)
THE CLOUD RAPPER ENDORSED BY DRAKE AND CHALAMET
- Our bookers love him because… “He’s exactly what the UK rap scene needed: a fresh voice that can appeal to both the underground and the mainstream. Incredibly prolific, he’s built an impressive catalog in just two years. His style, mostly cloud rap, keeps classic hip-hop influences while weaving in underground and internet-culture elements. Drake boosted him by inviting him on stage in London, and Timothée Chalamet has even been spotted at one of his shows.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… cloud rap.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Playboi Carti.
SAWYER HILL (US)
THE VETERAN SOUL OF A 23-YEAR-OLD ROCKER
- Our bookers love him because… “He brings a sense of freshness while keeping a very old-school approach to rock—blending indie, grunge, and pop. But what really sets him apart is his voice: a rich, bluesy baritone with a slight, controlled wavering grain. Fun fact: at just 15, he was already playing in local clubs and bars with a signed note from his parents as permission. He’s only 23, but he already feels like a veteran of the US rock scene.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… pop rock.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Yungblud.
SOFIA ISELLA (US)
THE GOTHIC, FEMINIST VOICE THAT CAPTIVATED TAYLOR SWIFT
- Our bookers love her because… “She’s totally in tune with the moment, with her gothic aesthetic and dark-feminist lyrics. She draws inspiration as much from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian stories as from the musical darkness of Billie Eilish, Ethel Cain, and Trent Reznor. She also has serious pop chops—so much so that Taylor Swift invited her to open for the Eras Tour.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… alternative pop.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Conan Gray.
MARIAH THE SCIENTIST (US)
R&B WITH CLINICAL PRECISION
- Our bookers love her because… “Her career is already solid, but until now, she stayed mostly niche. With her latest album, released in August, you can feel her leveling up. It’s her biggest commercial success yet, and she even earned praise from Rihanna. To us, she’s always been underrated: no TikTok trends, just meticulous songwriting and albums crafted as true works of art. Her name, The Scientist, comes from her biology studies, and her music reflects that precision—old-school R&B productions, laid-back vocals delivered with clinical accuracy. And of course, we love her duet with Kali Uchis.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… R&B.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Theodora.
ADÉLA (SI)
SLOVAK DANCER TURNED AMERICAN POPSTAR
- Our bookers love her because… “We were first intrigued by her journey. Some may have spotted her on the talent show Dream Academy, which also launched Katseye. She describes that experience as her worst nightmare, but she’s made a strong comeback since. She’s always gone all in: starting classical dance at age three and leaving her native Slovakia early to try her luck in LA. Despite her highly marketable aesthetic, she takes a very DIY approach. She delivers modern, sensual hyper-pop that reminds us of Lady Gaga or Jade.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… pop.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Zara Larsson.
GUITARRICADELAFUENTE (ES)
THE ROMANTIC CHARM OF A SPANISH GUITARIST
- Our bookers love him because… “We discovered him at Primavera during Troye Sivan’s concert, and we were immediately struck by his sincerity and charm. On his first album, he manages to modernize Spanish folk by making tradition and the present converse. His second album, released in May, explores more pop textures that suit him perfectly. It’s full of beautiful, warm, and timeless ballads.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… a mix of pop and folk with rumba and flamenco influences.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Troye Sivan.
PTITE SŒUR (FR)
THE NOISE EXPLOSION SHAKING THE FRENCH RAP SCENE
- Our bookers love her because… “She just released an album that’s making a huge impact and will define a moment—what the media would call a ‘landmark’ album. Noise rap, digicore, experimental hyperpop, and sharp, subversive lyrics. She’s not out to please everyone; she wants to unsettle, shock, and provoke thought. It’s chaotic, fractured, saturated—like an artistic scream against the state of the world.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… noise rap.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Ascendant Vierge.
AUDREY HOBERT (US)
GRACIE ABRAMS’ FRIEND AND WORDSMITH IS THE NEW QUIRKY POPSTAR
- Our bookers love her because… “It’s pure modern pop, but with a twist: she stands out with a unique universe and witty, slightly offbeat, intentionally awkward lyrics. There’s always a little detail that catches your attention, whether in the music or the words. She originally studied screenwriting, and it shows—she knows how to tell a story. She moved from scripts to songs thanks to her childhood friend Gracie Abrams, for whom she co-wrote several tracks.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… pop.
- We can picture her at the MJF with… Charlotte Cardin.
KETTAMA (IE)
FESTIVAL-READY ELECTRONIC ANTHEMS
- Our bookers love him because… “He’s one of those electronic artists who can reach a broader audience beyond the usual fans of the genre. This Irish phenomenon from Galway seemed to appear out of nowhere: suddenly, he was playing the lineups of the biggest festivals and landing high-profile collabs, including with Fred again. And it’s easy to see why—his productions hit immediately, with huge emotional impact and vocals taking center stage.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… electronic music.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Fred again..
WizTheMc (ZA/DE)
THE SUMMER BEATS OF AN AFRO-POP GLOBE-TROTTER
- Our bookers love him because… “His music reflects his journey, moving effortlessly between Afrobeats, hip-hop, and pop. Born in South Africa, raised in Germany, he honed his rap skills at open-mic nights in Toronto. He released his first tracks in 2018, but really blew up this year with ‘Show Me Love,’ a hit made for long summer nights, remixed with South African star Tyla.”
- The days of labelling musical genres are gone, but between us, let’s call it… a mix of afrobeats, hip-hop and pop.
- We can picture him at the MJF with… Ayra Starr