ESNS unveils major line-up expansion for showcase festival and music conference. ESNS announces 77 new acts for 2025 showcase festival, including Annie-dog (ie), Big Special (uk-eng), Carpetman (ua), Fay Wildhagen (no), Mitsune (de), Murda (nl), Paula Dalla Corte (ch/de), and Sunna Margrét (is) amongst others. Also, new panels and speakers for the ESNS Conference are announced today, including the ESNS Science programme exploring positive futures for the music industry. Delegate Passes and Festival Tickets are available now at ESNS.nl

ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), the key exchange for emerging European music, announces new showcase acts and conference speakers for its 39th edition line-up of the annual four-day showcase festival and music conference. Thousands of industry pros and passionate music fans travel to Groningen each January. Wandering between venues, there’s enough to discover from the handpicked selection of talents curated from almost every European country.

Already 247 new European acts confirmed for ESNS25.
ESNS has announced 77 new acts for its showcase festival lineup, bringing the total to 247 best-emerging and new talents confirmed for ESNS25, spanning a wide range of genres from niche to popular. More acts will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Discover the line-up at ESNS.nl.
The newly confirmed acts are: Aircraft (ua), Annie-dog (ie), Astrid & The Scandals (si), Bratři (cz), Bea Stewart (uk/nor/ie), Benjamin Amaru (ch), Berre (be), Big Special (uk-eng), Bon Jour (at), Bonnie Banane (fr), Bradley Simpson (uk-eng), Brògeal (uk-sco), Canblaster (fr), Carpetman (ua), Cavolo Nero (nl), Chicos Y Mendez (be), Chloe Slater (uk-eng), Ciao Lucifer (nl), Clutter (se), Cocobolo (nl), COLLIGNON (nl), Corella (uk-eng), Cruel Sister (ie), CUT_ (nl), CVC (uk-wal), Delara (no), Donbasgrl (ua), Ella Marie (no), Fay Wildhagen (no), Fiona Lee (uk-eng), Flammer Dance Band (no), Florence Sinclair (uk-eng), Getdown Services (uk-eng), Goldielocks (fi), Grande Mahogany (fi), HEAL (es), Isaac Roux (be), Joulie Fox (pl), Kaktus Einarsson (is), La Chica (fr), Laryssa Kim (be), Lionstorm (nl), Lucy Dreams (at), Lukas Oscar (at), Luna Kills (fi), Lyra Valenza & Signe Dige (dk), Mar Pujol (es), Meagre Martin (de), Mitsune (de), Morpheus (nl), Muireann Bradley (ie), Murda (nl), Musspell (ro), Nemeček (hr), One eat One (it), Overpass (uk-eng), Paula Dalla Corte (ch/de), Postman (ua), Qbanaa (ie), Robin Kester (nl), ROSEYE (nl), Sirens of Lesbos (ch), Sophie Jamieson (ie), Sophye Soliveau (fr), st. Pedro (es), Stockholm Noir (se), Sunna Margrét (is), Tarta Relena (es), Texoprint (nl), The Anahit (hu), The Family Battenberg (uk-wal), Travo (pt), VAAGUE (be), Wizthemc (de), Yaeger (se), Yndling (no), and ZEP (nl).
Acts on the ESNS line-up also immediately join the European Talent Exchange program, increasing their chances of getting booked at major European festivals after showcasing at ESNS.

Multisensory live events at ESNS25.
ESNS, in collaboration with Revelland, presents five multisensory showcases at ESNS25, promoting a sustainable, diverse, and inclusive music sector where music is accessible to everyone. Bratři (cz), CUT_ (nl), Lyra Valenza & Signe Dige (dk), One eat One (it), and The Anahit (hu) are set to perform fully accessible and immersive shows that engage audiences through taste, smell, vibrations, sound, and visuals.

The programme will kick off at the ESNS Conference, where ESNS Delegates explore how festivals and venues can go beyond basic accommodations to create truly inclusive spaces. The Revelland project aims to elevate live music performances by transforming them into multisensory events, making them more immersive and inclusive.

ESNS Conference exploring bright spots in music industry.
In the groundbreaking ESNS Science – Bright Spots program, co-funded by Regieorgaan SIA, industry leaders and researchers will explore positive futures for the music industry beyond today’s doom-and-gloom headlines. This innovative series at the ESNS Conference showcases existing solutions and inspiring alternatives to current industry challenges, ranging from new economic models to the positive impact of cultural exchange.

Led by the premise that “we don’t need a crystal ball—the future already exists in the now,” ESNS Science will showcase real-world examples of sustainable, equitable, and innovative practices transforming the music landscape. Through four focused sessions, participants will explore alternative economic models challenging the superstar economy, examine the pioneering influence of queer music culture, celebrate the cultural contributions of migrant communities, and work on future-forward solutions with music industry startups. This forward-looking program offers a vital counterpoint to prevailing industry narratives, providing practical pathways toward a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable music industry future.

Confirmed ESNS Science speakers include purpose-economist Kees Klomp (Windesheim University of Applied Science), Kristina Kolbe (Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Luis Manuel Garcia (University of Birmingham). ESNS Science is curated by Frank Kimenai (Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication).
Earlier, ESNS announced Sumit Bothra (SB3 Artist Management), Seth Dodson (Pitchfork), Alex Hardee (Wasserman Music), Jess Iszatt (BBC), Katie Melua (artist), and Victoria Oakley (IFPI) as speakers for the ESNS Conference, amongst many others, including tastemakers from Dekmantel, EMMA, MMF, and many more.
Explore more new panels and speaker confirmations for the annual ESNS Conference, along with previously announced keynote and featured speakers as well as the Focus on Italy and ESNS Tech programme, at ESNS.nl

Discover the festival line-up and conference programme at ESNS.nl
More showcasing acts, panels and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

ESNS25 Delegate Passes.
Join ESNS as a Delegate in January and meet with tastemakers from the European music industry, including representatives from companies like Spotify, Universal Music, Google/YouTube, Live Nation, UTA, See Tickets, MIDiA Research, IQ, Pollstar, BBC Music Introducing and major European festivals and live music venues.
Delegate Passes for ESNS25 are now available at a Late rate at ESNS.nl

Purchase a Delegate Pass.
ESNS Delegate Passes include:
-Fast-lane access to 250+ showcases
-Full access to the ESNS Conference
-Networking lounges and hospitality options
-Access the ESNS Delegates Database
-Access ESNS Analytics for up-to-date artist data
Festival tickets for Eurosonic and Noorderslag are available at ESNS.nl

About ESNS.
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is an independent platform that puts European music talent in the global spotlight. ESNS offers European artists career-defining opportunities to break through and become tomorrow’s headliners. Every January, Groningen (NL) transforms into the beating heart of the European music industry when ESNS hosts its showcase festival and music conference. Only the freshest European acts are invited to perform for passionate new fans and industry pros, helping them pave the way to the stages of major European music festivals.

ESNS works year-round to promote and support emerging talent. Through initiatives such as the European Talent Exchange, ESNS is committed to fostering a sustainable, diverse, and inclusive music sector where music is enjoyed by everyone.

To celebrate the rich and diverse European pop culture, ESNS presents several prestigious awards, including the Music Moves Europe Awards, the European Festival Awards, and the Popprijs. ESNS is also involved in essential initiatives, including Yourope, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Keychange, Take a Stand, and Green Deal Circular Festivals. Together, they strive for an innovative and impactful music sector.

ESNS has an impressive track record. Many European artists played their first international show in Groningen or were discovered through ESNS by their label, talent agency, or a large summer festival. ESNS alumni include AURORA, Stromae, Christine and the Queens, Buraka Som Sistema, Fontaines D.C., Sigrid, Marina Satti & Fonés, Altin Gün, Priya Ragu, The Haunted Youth, The XX, Robyn, Tramhaus, Sam Smith, Hozier, Alyona Alyona, Viagra Boys, Zaho de Sagazan, freekind., Kaleo, Chalk, Fat Dog, and many more.
Founded in 1986, ESNS will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026.

ESNS 2025 will take place from January 15-18, 2025, in Groningen, the Netherlands.

H/T N.M.