The NME 100 of 2026 Drops Today: 100 Essential Emerging Artists to Watch Across the Globe

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM; 11 FEBRUARY, 2026 – NME (nme.com), the world’s defining voice in music and pop culture — breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952 — unveils this year’s NME 100, the brand’s annual list of essential emerging artists.

This year’s NME 100 showcases just how packed with exciting new talent the modern music landscape is. Featuring artists spanning a wide spectrum of sounds and scenes, the NME 100 captures the rapid and innovative ways genres continue to blur. The 2026 edition of the annual list celebrates global and diverse new talent redefining boundaries and pushing into uncharted territory.

To be eligible for the NME 100, artists cannot have released their debut album before the list’s publication, and artists can only feature once. The NME 100 is not a ranked list and is amassed through an expansive nomination and curation process involving the NME team and a mix of members across the music industry. Since its first edition in 2017, many artists spotlighted on the NME 100, from Billie Eilish to Fred Again.. to Fontaines D.C., have gone on to achieve remarkable success on their own terms. 

Karen Gwee, Managing Editor (Music) at NME Networks, says: “We’re so excited to unveil the NME 100 of 2026, our annual list of 100 essential emerging artists with the potential to change the world of music. I’m looking forward to seeing what these artists accomplish this year and beyond, and for NME to help tell their story at each key step in their journey. It was thrilling to witness the sheer range of talent out there in the process of curating this list – it’s a powerful reminder that there’s truly no end to global musical discovery.”

View the complete list here: https://www.nme.com/100

THE NME 100 of 2026 (in alphabetical order):

2BYG
54 Ultra
ADÉLA
After
Ain’t
aleksiah
Amira Elfeky
ashnymph
Baby DONT Cry
Bleech 9:3
Blessing Jolie
BunnaB
Camille Yembe
Cannelle
Ceebo
Chrissi
Chuwi
Ciel
Cliffords
Clutter
Comet
cruush
Déyyess
Dolder
Drifting Clouds
Effie
EJ Jones
Erin LeCount
es.cher
femtanyl
Florence Road
Gabriel Jacoby
Girl Tones
Hearts2Hearts
Heidi Curtis
Horsepower
ifeye
Jahnah Camille
Jai’Len Josey
JayaHadADream
Jessy Blakemore
Jett Blyton
June McDoom
Kidwild
KiiiKiii
Kloyd
KuleeAngee
Leah Cleaver
Ledbyher
Lola Consuelos
Love Spells
Lucky
Lucky Iris
Maddie Ashman
Madra Salach
Max Baby
Midrift
MOLIY
Mother Soki
Ms* Gloom
My First Time
Nadia Kadek
no na
Omar+
Oscar Farrell
Paira
Pollyfromthedirt
Proph
PUNCHING BAG
Reehaa
Rozie Ramati
Saam Sultan
Saint Clair
Sasha Keable
Sex Mask
she’s green
She’s In Parties
Shelailai
SILVERWINGKILLER
sim0ne
Skye Newman
sleepazoid
South Arcade
STARGLOW
Tatyana Jane
Teyma
The Itch
The Orchestra (For Now)
The Paradox
The Sophs
Tkandz
Tommy WÁ
Tooth
TTSSFU
TWINBOYS
Unflirt
VILLANELLE
Witch Post
XCOMM
Yaelokre

ABOUT NME

Launched in London, UK, in 1952 as the New Musical Express, NME has grown into a global media powerhouse that creates and curates content, products and experiences essential to fans of music and pop culture today. NME brings together the best writers and photographers to provide a multi-platform editorial offering at the bleeding edge of what matters most across the globe — whether music, film, TV or gaming.

ABOUT NME NETWORKS

NME Networks is a global, next-generation media group that views the wider world of pop culture through the lens of music and connects artists and brands to music-obsessed audiences. Our portfolio of popular music-journalism brands, comprising NME, Guitar.com and MusicTech, takes audiences on a lifelong journey through musicianship and fandom. NME Networks is part of Caldecott Music Group.

ABOUT CALDECOTT MUSIC GROUP

Headquartered in Singapore, Caldecott Music Group is a global music industry operator, innovator and investor spanning multiple sectors, including digital (BandLab Technologies), media (NME Networks), and manufacturing, retail and distribution (Vista Musical Instruments). By integrating the physical, digital and social supply chain around music, CMG brings together brands and people passionate about music to deliver authentic content, products and experiences for music lovers worldwide.