Brussels, 26th March 2026

A new generation of artists working with independent labels from across Europe has been selected for the fifth edition of IMPALA’s 100 Artists to Watch programme for 2026. Presented in partnership with YouTube and co-funded by the European Union, the initiative highlights the creativity, diversity, and innovation shaping the future of Europe’s independent music landscape.

Curated by IMPALA’s far-reaching European network, the 100 Artists to Watch programme features artists nominated by IMPALA members in partnership with YouTube. These artists and their labels are defined by their artistic innovation, and commitment to diversity as well as their commercial potential, a clear illustration of the independent music sector’s unique role for culture. 

Explore the full 2026 lineup and discover the next wave of independent music talent here. Independent labels are at the heart of the 100 Artists to Watch, providing a space for European artists and audiences to discover each other. By sharing their work, we can help these artists reach new audiences and grow their careers across borders. 

As part of IMPALA’s 2025–2028 EU network programme, IMPALA will be supported by expert PR agency Digizik to support all IMPALA’s awards to help ensure a wider audience reach throughout the year, having carried out a revamp of the different campaigns in 2025.

Helen Smith, Executive Chair, IMPALA commented: “The independent sector is the backbone of Europe’s music ecosystem. Initiatives like ‘100 Artists to Watch’ highlight artists and their labels who are shaping new sounds and making Europe’s cultural diversity world leading. Supporting these artists is about visibility as well as highlighting the unique contribution of independent labels and the amazing artists they work with.”

Dan Chalmers, Director, YouTube Music, EMEA stated: “As the 100 Artists to Watch programme marks its 5th anniversary, celebrating 500 artists discovered over the past five years, we at YouTube Music are proud to continue our partnership with IMPALA in showcasing emerging independent artists and their labels. Our role is to help these artists reach global audiences, giving them unique tools and visibility to thrive.” 

100 Artists to Watch (by alphabetical order by artist/record label/country):

• ABOP, LAA, Croatia       
• anaiis, 5dB Records, UK             
• Anaïs Rosso, NØ FØRMAT! Records, France
• Anna Buchegger, Anna’s Label | Matches Music, Austria
• Anna Carol, INRI Records, Italy
• Anti-Medo, Self-released, Portugal        
• Arika Adams, Self-released, Bulgaria
• ÄTNA, Self-released, Germany
• BINA., Self-released | Distributed through Platoon, UK 
• Carnival Youth, Self-released, Latvia
• Coach Party, Chess Club Records, UK
• Coilguns, Humus Records | Kartel Music Groupe, Switzerland
• Debbie Sings, The Big Oil Recording Company, Denmark
• Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, Big Crown Records, Germany
• Dzipsii, Red Pill, Serbia
• Ebow, Garip Werkstätten, Germany
• eee gee, Playground Music Scandinavia AB, Denmark
• Eljona Eleni Sinjari, Self-released, Greece
• Emma Hessels, Unday Records | N.E.W.S Records, Belgium,
• Espiral, Sons Vadios, Portugal
• Eugenio In Via Di Gioia, Carosello Records, Italy
• FIЇNKA, Enko, Ukraine
• Gently Da Spittah’, True Story Records, Hungary
• Gia Ford, Chrysalis Records, UK
• Gliste, Self-released, Slovenia
• Helene Glüxam, Unit Records CH, Austria
• Hermana Furia, Entrebotones, Spain
• Hïssikablelvuku, HKV Records, Turkey
• Hobbel, Store Studio Records, Norway
• Ida The Young, Korobushka Records, Czech Republic
• imago mundi, Gold Record, Hungary
• Isabel van Gelder, Excited About Music, The Netherlands
• IVAN$ITO, Out of Office Records, Denmark
• Izza Gara, Gara Records, Sweden
• Jakov Jozinović, K.S.V., Croatia
• Jamie McIntyre, Self-released, Ireland
• JEN, 541 Records | N.E.W.S. Records, Belgium
• Jennifur, Off Corner Records | N.E.W.S. Records, Belgium
• Jo The Man The Music, Ink Music, Austria
• Jule X, Bakara Music, Switzerland
• Kety Fusco, A Tree in a Field Records, Switzerland
• KhakiKid, 10K Projects, Ireland
• Lamante, Artist First, Italy
• Le Parody, Everlasting Records, Spain
• Léonie Pernet, Cry Baby | InFiné, France
• Lia Hide, The Institute for Experimental Arts | Second Records, Greece
• louna0nline, Self-released, Finland
• LUIZA, Chapter Two Records | Wagram Music, France
• Macha Ravel, Menart, Croatia
• Manifest, Hypers Music, Turkey
• Mari Boine, By Norse Music, Norway
• Masha Qrella, staatsakt, Germany
• Matteo Mancuso, Mascot Records, The Netherlands
• Maureen, Because Music, France
• Mayales, Aquarius Records, Croatia
• Mayan, Self-released, Portugal
• MayKay, Grainstore Records, Ireland
• MokuMoku, Stockton Records, Georgia
• Musgö, El Tragaluz, Spain
• Negros Tou Moria, Stay Independent, Greece
• Neven, Geenger Records | Hardcore For The Losers, Serbia
• Nini Nutsubidze, Bloom Music, Georgia
• Oklou, True Panther Sounds | Because Music, UK
• OLGA, PME Records | Cyber Recordings, Finland
• Orson Claeys, Sdban Ultra | N.E.W.S. Records, Belgium
• Oscar Blesson, Just in Time Entertainment, Norway
• Pau Mueller, Neveance AG, Switzerland
• Pearly Drops, Music Website, Finland
• Petrofski, Self-released, Czech Republic
• Phil it, pomitni, Ukraine
• Pistamachina, Self-released, Bulgaria
• Plié, Self-released, Lithuania
• prima stanza a destra, Sugar Music, Italy
• Roxane Elfasci, Cosmos Music, Sweden
• Sarah Julia, Nettwerk Music Group, The Netherlands
• Séamus Harty, Paragon Records, Ireland
• Sodl, GRIDmusic, Austria
• Sren, Tamar Records, Turkey
• Suu, Halley Records, Spain
• Taša Krunić, IDJ Tunes, Bosnia and Hercegovina
• Terezie Kovalová, Zinka, Czech Republic
• The Guilt, Icons Creating Evil Art, Sweden
• The Hybrid Drummer, Launching Gagarin Records and Management, Hungary
• The Prostitutes, Empirica | Parlay Shop, Czech Republic
• They Call Me Steve, Be Yourself Music, The Netherlands
• ToMa, Dallas Records, Croatia
• Tsar Pluh (Цар Плъх), House no Feed, Bulgaria
• Turbo Trans Turisti, Kontra Rights & LAA, Serbia
• TurkodiRoma, Self-released, Turkey
• Unsafe Space Garden, gig.ROCKS!, Portugal
• Us, Lördag | Dark Horse Songs, Finland
• Vandalisbin, Inselgruppe, Germany
• Vaqo (Vakhtang Kantaria), GMI Rights Management, Georgia
• Vimoksha, Ataxmedia, Bosnia and Hercegovina
• Yoa, Panenka, France
• Young Dadi, Self-released, North Macedonia
• Yttling Jazz, YEAR0001, Sweden
• Yulia Yurina (Юля Юріна), Best Music, Ukraine
• Zevin, Self-released, Slovenia
• 100%WET, Crunchy Frog, Denmark

Read more about these artists on our dedicated webpage here.
Listen to them here (all 100) or check out our genre curated playlists to celebrate the diversity of this list:

• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Alternative
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Fusion
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Hip hop & R&B
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Pop
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Rock

YouTube Collaboration
YouTube will work with IMPALA on its 100 Artists to Watch programme to help build awareness of the diverse European independent sector. YouTube will help the independent community by spotlighting talent from different markets and at different stages in their career. Promoting diversity is a priority for YouTube, encouraging music fans to discover artists they might never find otherwise. Further support will roll out during the year, watch this space.

More about 100 Artists to Watch
The 100 Artists to Watch award was launched in 2022 to promote diversity in the European independent music sector. The project puts the spotlight on a more diverse range of amazing artists through a list curated by our members across Europe. It is a natural evolution of IMPALA’s album of the year award which ran for ten years.

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