Groningen, 16th January 2026

The Music Moves Europe Awards 2026, a prize supported by Creative Europe and partnered by IMPALA, proudly announce this year’s winners, celebrating the most exciting and forward-thinking emerging artists from across Europe. Representing bold creativity, musical innovation and cultural diversity, the MME Awards winners reflect the vibrant future of Europe’s music scene and its growing global impact.

The winners of the Music Moves Europe Awards (MME Awards) were officially unveiled during a festive awards ceremony at Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) in Groningen, the Netherlands, on Thursday, 15 January 2026. 

The evening marked a defining moment for Europe’s next generation of musical talent; Camille Yembe (Belgium), Carpetman (Ukraine), Della (Cyprus), Sarah Julia (Netherlands) and Sofie Royer (Austria) are the winners of an MME Award. The prestigious Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Lia Kali (Spain). And Lia Kali also received the MME Public Choice Award, as chosen by music fans across Europe and beyond.

Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, stated: “Europe’s music scene continues to thrive through its diversity, creativity and bold artistic voices. The Music Moves Europe Awards celebrate the artists who are shaping the future sound of our continent and taking it beyond Europe’s borders. I warmly congratulate all the winners on this outstanding achievement. I am sure that their sounds will reverberate throughout Europe.”

European Union Prize
Co-funded by the European Commission’s flagship Creative Europe programme, the MME Awards are the European Union’s prestigious prize celebrating the continent’s most exciting emerging artists, the ones shaping the sound of Europe today and tomorrow. Designed to support international careers, the MME Awards have spotlighted some of Europe’s most influential breakthrough acts over the past 22 years, including Judeline, Zaho de Sagazan, Stromae, Alyona Alyona, ROSALÍA, Meduza, Dua Lipa, Night Tapes, Fontaines D.C. and Christine and the Queens. Each winner reflects the diversity, creativity and bold innovation driving Europe’s thriving music scene.

Public Choice Award
The MME Public Choice Award 2026 was decided by music fans across Europe, who voted for their favourite emerging artist via the official MME Awards website. This award highlights the strong connection between Europe’s audiences and its next generation of musical talent.

Prize Package
The winners were selected by an international jury consisting of 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 (MME Public Choice Award 2025 winner).

In total, seven awards were presented: five MME Awards, one Grand Jury Prize and one Public Choice Award. Each MME Award winner receives €10,000. The Grand Jury Prize winner also receives an additional €5,000 green touring voucher. The MME Public Choice Award winner receives €5,000.

Taking the stage at ESNS
All 15 nominated artists performed at ESNS, Europe’s leading music showcase festival and conference, in Groningen, the Netherlands. They also took 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 Music Moves Europe Awards are 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 future-facing European music scene. Presented annually during ESNS, the awards aim to accelerate the international careers of Europe’s most promising musical talents.