Brussels, 17th October 2025,

The highly anticipated Music Moves Europe Awards 2026 are excited to unveil the 15 outstanding artists nominated for this year’s awards. Representing the most exciting and innovative talent from across Europe, these artists are ready to make their mark on the international stage, showcasing fresh sounds and bold creativity. 

The nominations are officially announced at the SoAlive Music Conference & Festival in Sofia on Thursday, October 16. We proudly present the 15 nominees for the Music Moves Europe Awards 2026: Anna Lille (NO), Camille Yembe (BE), Carpetman (UA), Della (CY), DITTER (FR), Fine (DK), florence road (IE), Glazyhaze (IT), Lia Kali (ES), Lunikk (BG), Melina (GR), Might Delete Later (LV), Ray Lozano (DE), Sarah Julia (NL), Sofie Royer (AT). 

Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport stated: “Europe’s sound is bold, diverse and full of creativity, and the Music Moves Europe Awards celebrate exactly that. These 15 nominees represent the exceptional artists shaping the future of our continent’s music. Congratulations! I’m proud that our Creative Europe Programme supports initiatives like this, giving talented artists the visibility and recognition they deserve. It’s especially exciting that Sofia and the SoAlive Music Conference are hosting this year’s announcement, uniting Europe’s regional talent with the global music community.”

Public Choice Award 
Music fans across Europe now have the power to decide the winner of the MME Public Choice Award 2026. Voting is open on the official MME Awards website at mmeawards.eu/vote, giving audiences the chance to support their favourite emerging artists and help shape the future of European music. 

Prize Package 
The winners will be chosen by an international jury. Our jury includes Jess Iszatt, (presenter BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing), Filip Košťálek (music programmer at Colours of Ostrava), Kenza Naaïmi El Fezzazi (French-Moroccan music journalist for Red Bulletin and FIP), Annika Walsh (head of International Music Strategy at Spotify) and Judeline (Public Choice MME Award 2025 winner). 

All winners will be announced at the MME Awards ceremony on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at ESNS in Groningen, the Netherlands. In total, seven awards will be presented: five MME Awards, one Grand Jury Prize, and one Public Choice Award. Each winner will receive €10,000, while the Grand Jury Prize recipient will also be awarded an additional €5,000 green touring voucher. The MME Public Choice Award 2026 winner will receive €5,000. 

Taking the stage at ESNS 
All 15 nominees will perform at ESNS, Europe’s leading music showcase festival and conference, in Groningen, the Netherlands. They will also take part in the MME Education Programme, which provides insights and best practices from across the music industry. The programme is organised by ESNS and Reeperbahn Festival in collaboration with the MME Awards partners: Liveurope, Yourope, Live DMA, IMPALA, Digital Music Europe, ICMP-CIEM, International Music Managers Forum (IMMF), and European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE). 

The MME Awards is a cornerstone of the European Union’s commitment to supporting and promoting the European music sector. By empowering both emerging artists and industry professionals, the MME Awards foster a united, diverse, and vibrant European music scene. Presented annually during ESNS Showcase Festival & Conference in Groningen, the Netherlands, the awards aim to accelerate the international careers of Europe’s most promising musical talents. 

About IMPALA

IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies in Europe. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members and started a new co-funded work programme as an EU cultural network in 2025. IMPALA runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the European independent sector – Friends of IMPALA