While many of us are still recuperating from the Christmas and New Year celebrations (and adjusting to the return to work), thousands of music enthusiasts and industry professionals will be bundling up and heading to the university town of Groningen to experience what is likely to be the finest music of 2026 – and to effectively shake off the January blues.
Every year, this vibrant yet small corner of northern Netherlands hosts a unique event: ESNS, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026.
ESNS is best understood as a showcase: a vast, intricate, sparkling display brimming with European talent. While there is some emphasis on Dutch musicians, one of ESNS's primary objectives is to elevate European artists onto the global stage.
From January 14th to 16th, the multi-venue, metropolitan, international music program (often referred to as Eurosonic) will present a diverse range of talent from nearly every part of Europe. This year, in honor of the anniversary and with the noble aim of promoting solidarity, the overarching theme is ‘Europe Calling’ (instead of spotlighting a specific country as in past editions).
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The many artists performing at ESNS receive support from public service radio stations throughout the continent. This exemplifies one of ESNS’s distinctive and genuinely uplifting aspects: the collaboration between public service broadcasters, artists, commercial sponsors, and nearly all other facets of the broader music and arts community. For this year, the UK's BBC Introducing has highlighted Nadia Kadek and Scotland’s neo-soul/R&B artist Becky Sikasa.
Some of the artists CLASH is particularly eager to see on the ESNS stages include the fiercely indie Etta Marcus, noise-fun creators GANS, the increasingly popular yet mysterious Dove Ellis (from Ireland), musical storyteller Elín Hall (Iceland), the young and emotive ise (Belgium), and shoegaze band Glazyhaze (Italy). Those remaining in Groningen on Saturday the 17th can also enjoy Nooderslag, which showcases the richness of the Dutch music scene.
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With so many performances, the schedule can be overwhelming. Fortunately, potential scheduling conflicts (a frequent concern for festival-goers) are wisely mitigated by arranging two or even three performances from many artists.
City festivals can sometimes feel a bit isolated, resembling a sequence of separate event sections with minimal connection between them. The organizers are striving to ensure that as much of Groningen as possible is integrated into the collective ESNS experience; in addition to the main live music, they have arranged a dizzying array of free activities for 2026. These include Grunnsonic (featuring 28 Groningen acts at five central locations) and Platosonic (in-store and outdoor gigs from ESNS bands organized by one of the city's favorite record shops, Plato).
It seems unlikely that anyone could grow bored with the abundance of music available, but additional activities are set to ensure even the most restless or difficult-to-please attendees find satisfaction. Visitors can enjoy live performances from northern Dutch artists in the Grote Markt; more broadly, there will be art and photo exhibitions, public discussions, and the bilingual ‘Popwalk’ audio tour of Groningen, which provides insights into the city’s contributions to pop music history.
Simultaneously with the music festival, the ESNS Conference will be happening, offering networking opportunities for artists, managers, PR professionals, agents, and other music industry personnel. Moreover, on Thursday night at ESNS, the Music Moves Europe Awards 2026 will be held. Each year, 15 acts are nominated, and seven winners receive an MME Award, the Grand Jury Award, or the Public Choice Award. The MMEs have proven to be trend-setting: the list of winners since the awards' inception in 2004 is remarkable, featuring artists like Christine and the Queens, CMAT, Dua Lipa, Fontaines D.C., and Rosalía. Visit the awards website to see this year’s 15 nominees and catch a glimpse of the artists you’ll be hearing more about in 2026 and beyond.
With ESNS approaching, January appears much brighter.
ESNS will take place in Groningen, Netherlands from January 14th to 17th, 2026.
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Words: Phil Taylor
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