12 Musicians You’ll Be Hearing Everywhere in 2026
12 Musicians You’ll Be Hearing Everywhere in 2026
By Abby Fulmar — December 14, 2025
As we wrap up a year defined by music-industry comebacks and revolutionary artists, many music lovers are wondering who will be next up in 2026. The options are endless and easily debatable; however, it is always fun to discover new artists to watch as they progress over the next year.
1.ABsolutely
ABsolutely is a British singer, songwriter, and producer. The alias “ABsolutely” alludes to her real name, Abby-Lynn Keen. You might be familiar with her older sister, RAYE, who shot to stardom in 2023 with her chart-topping single “Escapism.” However, ABsolutely should not be defined by her familial connections. Since releasing her debut album Cerebrum in 2023, ABsolutely has crafted a distinct and intentional sound with dreamy and stacked vocals and clever genre mixing. Her music is a fascinating hybrid of celestial pop, EDM, and R&B. With the success of her 2025 single “I Just Don’t Know You Yet,” and her anticipated performances as the opening act for the European dates of Reneé Rapp’s 2026 Bite Me Tour, ABsolutely is poised to become one of the industry’s next “It” girls.
Author’s Recs: “Arrivals” and “Symphony”
2. Adéla
When you think of Netflix’s “Pop Star Academy,” you probably think of the global girl group Katseye, but by the end of 2026, the name Adéla might be your leading thought. In 2022, she joined the now-iconic competition show with hopes of securing a spot in a new LA-based girl group under HYBE Entertainment. Her fellow participants were shocked by Adéla’s strong vocal and dance skills; however, she was eliminated soon after global voting opened. In retrospect, her elimination was a blessing. Without the opinions of a strict entertainment company, Adéla has been able to cultivate her own image and sound. With the release of her first EP, The Provocateur, in August 2025, her hot pink hair, bleached brows, and provocative, hyperpop sound attracted artists like Demi Lovato. You can catch Adéla as a special guest on Lovato’s It's Not That Deep Tour beginning in April 2026.
Author’s Recs: “Go” and “SUPERSCAR”
3. Cortis
Let’s be honest: many people are still hesitant when they hear the word K-pop. So let’s make a deal. You’re allowed to have whatever opinion you want about K-pop, but you must listen to Cortis before you make your final decision. You might as well, because they’ll be everywhere in 2026. Cortis is a Korean boy group under HYBE—the same entertainment company as Katseye and BTS, just to name a few. The five members crafted most of their debut EP, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, in Los Angeles with the help of U.S.-based artists like Teezo Touchdown. The L.A. sound is prominent in their music, especially in tracks like “FaSHioN,” where you can hear strong modern trap and hip-hop influences.
Author’s Recs: “FaSHioN” and “GO!”
4. FLO
Flo is a three-member R&B girl group based in London. Stella Quaresma, Jorja Douglas, and Renée Downer’s sound is nostalgic and fresh, striking the perfect balance between female R&B powerhouses of the 1990s and the modern pop girl. Flo has been active since 2019 and has accumulated a devoted fanbase. However, while they have been on the come up for a few years now—with their song “Cardboard Box” going viral in 2022—they’ve yet to cement their place as a leader in the global music industry. With their hard work and gradual growth over the years, it’s safe to assume that you will be hearing a lot more from Flo in 2026.
Author’s Recs: “In My Bag” and “IWH2BMX”
5. Julia Wolf
As a self-proclaimed Twilight fanatic, it makes sense that Julia Wolf’s melodic, alt-rock sound can be described as the musical equivalent of the legendary films. In 2024, her moody, rock-infused single “In My Room” blew up on social media, providing a new outlet for lovesick listeners tired of sweet and romantic pop. She quickly amassed a dedicated fanbase that appreciates her raw tone and bass-driven production. 2025 was undoubtedly Wolf’s biggest year yet. She released a critically-acclaimed album titled Pressure, held the first-ever live show at Bella Swan’s house (yes, that Bella Swan), and collaborated with artists such as Drake and Yeat on their single “Dog House.” Wolf is currently traveling the world as the opener for Machine Gun Kelly’s Lost Americana Tour, which will extend into early 2026.
Author’s Recs: “Loser” and “Pearl”
6. Claire Rosinkranz
If you were chronically online in 2020—which, let’s be honest, we all were—then Claire Rosinkranz’s quirky breakout hit “Backyard Boy” most likely emanated from your device at some point. The California-born singer-songwriter’s discography is cheeky and relatable, drawing listeners in with her upbeat and conversational tone that makes her stand out from the crowd. Rosinkranz’s sun-kissed look only adds to her effortlessly cool energy and sound. She recently gained massive exposure through her opening performances for Maroon 5’s 2025 Love Is Like Tour, where she often kicked her shoes off and made the stage her own. You can presave her new album, My Lover, scheduled to drop in February of next year, and while you’re waiting, enter the master storyteller’s world by listening to her extensive discography.
Author’s Recs: “Dancer” and “Kiss”
7. Olivia Dean
In my opinion, the best way to explain Olivia Dean’s sound would be the musical equivalent of a warm hug. I think we can all agree that Dean has already made 2025 her year; however, that only means that 2026 will be even bigger. The British singer’s special blend of nostalgic bossa nova and modern pop creates a sound that is timeless yet youthful. Her voice is smoky and expressive, and her songwriting, as seen in chart-topping hits like “Man I Need” and “So Easy,” is very relatable. While she’s quickly shot to fame and obtained a diverse fanbase, Dean is still very new to the industry, which will (thankfully) allow her to expand her industry takeover in 2026. While many stops, including four nights at London’s O2 Arena, are already sold out, you can still get tickets to Dean’s The Art of Loving 2026 World Tour.
Author’s Recs: “Nice To Each Other” and “Messy”
8. Role Model
Role Model has many names: Tucker Pillsbury, saintlaurentcowboy, the true winner of People’s Sexiest Musician Alive for 2024. No matter what moniker you know him by, it’s obvious that he is making an impact on the music industry. Role Model has been in the game for a while; however, his 2025 hit “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out,” and its accompanying viral live performances, catapulted him to new heights this year. Platforms like Apple Music simply describe him as “pop,” but his colorful sound often blends indie-folk, witty songwriting, and easy-going acoustics to create a genre that is all his own. After his support on Gracie Abrams’ 2025 The Secret Of Us Tour, as well as the recent completion of his own successful tour, there’s no doubt that 2026 will be Role Model’s year.
Author’s Recs: “Deeply Still In Love” and “Frances”
9. Rhea Raj
Before there was the “rising global popstar sensation” Lara Raj from Katseye (iykyk), there was her older sister and role model, Rhea Raj. With her strong vocals and almost completely independent production, Raj is “making pop music for the girls that pop music left out.” The Connecticut–born singer has repeatedly expressed her admiration for the female pop queens that ruled the 2000s—something that you can hear throughout her discography. Raj’s sound is playful, bold, sensual, and made for dancing. She cleverly mixes modern production with South Asian musical elements, a nod to her Indian heritage. While Raj has slowly built momentum over the past few years, it seems like 2026 will finally be the year that the industry catches up to her ambitious sound.
Author’s Recs: “Killer” and “Commotion”
10. Maggie Lindemann
Maggie Lindemann has had quite the rise to fame. Similar to Claire Rosinkranz, Lindemann unintentionally went viral on social media with her 2016 single “Pretty Girl.” She continued on the traditional pop route for a few years until 2021, when she shocked audiences with the release of an alt-rock album titled PARANOIA. Over the years, Lindemann has slowly adopted a sound best described as grungy, nu metal with pop-punk and electronic elements. With each new release, Lindemann has successfully reinvented herself while simultaneously preserving and growing her fanbase; an incredible and rare feat. As the music industry expands and listeners crave a new and nostalgic sound, 2026 will definitely be Maggie Lindemann’s time to shine.
Author’s Recs: “Hostage” and “fang”
11. XG
It is nearly impossible to condense XG down to a few sentences. XG—which stands for Xtraordinary Girls—is a seven-member girl group from and based in Japan. They went through grueling training just like K-pop groups; however, they promote around the globe, sing almost entirely in English, and dress like fashion-forward aliens (their style deserves an entirely separate article). They’re not K-pop because they’re not based in South Korea, nor do they sing in Korean. They’re not J-pop because their lyrics are rarely in Japanese. Instead, they define themselves as “X-pop.” “X” refers to an unknown gene; an innovative genre and sound that has never been done before. While many artists call themselves innovators, there is honestly no one like XG. Between the seven members, they showcase groundbreaking vocals, raps, and dances with each comeback. Their releases are all wildly different, and many see XG less as a pop group and more as trendsetters. With their unique group dynamic and genre-defying approach, XG is crafting the blueprint for what future global groups will be.
Author’s Recs: “Shooting Star” and “IYKYK”
12. 2hollis
2hollis is in an entire league of his own. The 21-year-old Chicago native makes music that is truly undefinable. While he’s often grouped into the genres of trap, electronic, and hyperpop, there is something captivating and confusing about 2hollis’ discography. Also known by fans as the “White Tiger” because of his long, platinum blonde hair, 2hollis is truly an artist of the modern digital age. His songs often take you on a journey, using distorted production and messy vocals that keep listeners wondering where they will end up. Though many are critical of his confusing sound and, sometimes, puzzling onstage persona, his journey from an underground artist to a serious musician throughout 2025 has led many to believe he is next up to revolutionize the industry.
Author’s Recs: “I Do” and “Jeans”
Editor’s note: As always, music taste is subjective! These artists reflect the author’s personal taste, not Square as a whole.
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