Get ready! 2026 is set to bring some of the most exciting new voices in music. From innovators to genre-defying storytellers, these artists are breaking the norms, turning personal stories into hits, and crafting sounds you won’t forget. Keep an eye on these rising stars; they’re the ones defining the year ahead.
Jena Malone
Jena Malone’s work spans acting, music, photography, poetry, and theatre, and she is widely recognized for her range of roles across film and television. Alongside her acting career, Jena has consistently developed her music practice, which began with songwriting in Lake Tahoe and evolved through video-based experiments that later incorporated sound design and vocals.
Her most recent release of the year is the single and visualizer “Create In Your Name.” The track features a restrained, experimental sound and focuses on the search for a deeper sense of connection, addressing the noise, illusions, and complexity of life in an increasingly digital world. In early 2026, Jena will announce a new album, scheduled for release in February. This next chapter is already underway, following the release of a new single in November that set the tone for what’s ahead.
Jade LeMac
Jade LeMac is a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist shaping a direct, emotionally driven approach to pop. Her work reflects personal vulnerability and a strong commitment to queer representation. She broke through with the 2021 single “Constellations,” now certified Gold in the U.S. and Platinum in Canada, with notable sync placements across film and television, while building a strong fanbase through touring, major festival appearances in 2025, and a growing presence on TikTok.
Her latest EP, “It’s Always At Night (Slowed Down & Sped Up),” presents a focused concept built around contrast. The release features paired tracks, one slowed down and the other sped up, highlighting different emotional and rhythmic perspectives on the same songs.
In 2026, Jade is expected to tour throughout late spring, summer, and fall. Current plans point toward support slots on a major artist’s tour rather than a headline run, though details may evolve. She will also appear at select festivals during this period.
Luisa Wilson
Born in Memphis and now based in New York City, Luisa Wilson is a singer, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter working within a jazz-pop framework shaped by soul, Motown, and R&B influences. Her music centers on self-aware, emotionally direct songwriting, paired with a vocal style that balances restraint and clarity. A student in NYU’s Clive Davis Program, she has surpassed one million streams and is also set to appear in the feature film Saturdays, scheduled for release in summer 2026.
In 2026, Luisa will release her first cohesive body of work, a five-song EP that defines her voice and narrative. The project blends classic and contemporary influences, moving between folk, R&B, expansive ballads, and more intimate tracks without settling into a single genre. Alongside the release, she will continue performing live, including a support slot for MT-Jones at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on January 20, with additional shows and releases planned throughout the year.
Labit
Labit is a Los Angeles–based Filipino-American multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter who treats music as both confession and craft. Writing with honesty and clarity, he pulls from personal history and cultural memory to create songs that feel intimate without turning inward. His work centers on storytelling, balancing lived experience with a sound that’s direct, melodic, and emotionally grounded.
Beyond his solo releases, Labit is an in-demand songwriter, known for pairing strong vocals and guitar work with distinctive melodic instincts. His writing has landed sync placements across pop, rock, and R&B, with credits including Emei, BYRNE, and others.
Labit will be supporting Galdive on tour. Throughout the year, he plans to release a series of collaborative singles alongside new EPs, with select tracks potentially previewing his third studio album, which remains unannounced. International festival appearances, including possible dates across Southeast Asia, are also under consideration.
Naomi Jane
Naomi Jane’s release strategy has been deliberate, not sporadic. Since 2023, she has followed a strict six-week release schedule alongside an EP, laying out a clear path toward her debut LP. Every song and video has been placed with intention, building a cohesive musical and visual narrative.
Her latest single, “IDWK (I Don’t Wanna Know),” marks a pivot point. The track closes one chapter while pointing toward the next, asking what comes after the party and who will join her. With alt-indie and folk-pop sensibilities and a subtle country edge, it bridges her earlier work with the more expansive sound of her upcoming LP, giving fans a clear entry point into her next era.
In 2026, Naomi Jane’s rollout continues with carefully selected singles leading to her debut album. “Pumpkin Eater” opens the year, followed by “Clementines,” each release reflecting her evolving alt-indie, folk-pop, and country-influenced sound. Every song comes with its own visual, reinforcing the narrative and inviting fans to experience the journey across both music and imagery.
Kiara Skyler
Kiara Skyler turns daydreams into songs that chronicle the trials of a young adult hopelessly navigating love and life. By day, she’s a college student; by afternoon, a songwriter plotting her rise as the first Asian rock star in her family. At 20, Kiara pairs earnest, heart-on-sleeve lyrics with a sound reminiscent of Holly Humberstone and Lizzy McAlpine. She’s currently crafting a batch of singles exploring self-discovery, love, and the messy business of growing up.
She has big plans for 2026. Her next single, “in ur jeans,” is set for a February release and delivers a pop take on heartbreak, very much an anti-Valentine’s anthem. She also has upcoming features with other artists in EDM and indie pop. Outside of her own project, she continues writing songs for other musicians and is excited to share what’s next.
Maisy-Kay
Maisy-Kay is a Los Angeles–based singer-songwriter known for her talent in crafting nostalgic dance and pop. Her recent work includes EPs “Metamorphosis” and “Wonderlust: The Dawn,” singles like “Somebody You Never Touched,” and contributions to international tours with JVKE, Tori Kelly, and Jamie Miller.
Her final single for 2025 was “Death of the Party,” a sensual pop anthem that perfectly showcases her talent and style with hypnotic lyrics and a strong melody. Maisy could go head-to-head with bigger pop legends and emerge victorious.
Maisy will continue her rise to success in 2026. She will release her new co-written single “Vantablack” in January. Following her tour in Australia and New Zealand with Lauren Spencer Smith, she will join the U.S. leg of the tour in February 2026.
Ashley Anne
Ashley Anne is a Nashville-based country-folk artist who gained attention with her latest single, “plenty of fish,” co-written with Kevin Monahan and Anna Vaus. The track delivers a confident, empowering take on heartbreak and has already generated strong early buzz ahead of its official release.
At 21, Ashley has steadily established herself in the country-folk scene through honest songwriting and a distinctive coastal-influenced sound. She made her CMA Fest debut on the Hard Rock Stage and will continue touring this fall, supporting Josh Turner and Maddox Batson.
Looking forward to 2026, Ashley will release new music that expands on her songwriting while maintaining the authenticity central to her work. She enters 2026 with significant momentum and a clear artistic vision.
Sam Paige
Sam Paige began her artistic journey as a poet, channeling personal experiences and emotions into her songwriting. She trained with The Voice vocal coach Coreen Sheehan and has performed alongside Corbin Bleu on NBC, at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and at Carnegie Hall. She views music as a source of healing and connection, using her work to help others navigate challenges and bring people together. Over the past year, Sam Paige has performed at iconic venues including The Bitter End, Crossroads, and stages across Nashville. She will release her new album this year, followed by more projects in 2026.
Snack Munson
Snack Munson is a 22-year-old Los Angeles–based pop artist, singer-songwriter, and producer who merges electronic, alternative, dance, and pop sounds with inventive, concept-driven songwriting.
He released his latest single, “Number1,” in September from his upcoming project “Deflector Shield,” giving him the momentum needed to make a strong impression in the music scene. Snack will begin 2026 with the release of “Stretch (Into Infinity),” the next single from his forthcoming EP.
Hidden Fortress
Hidden Fortress is a Southern California–based multimedia music collective led by Jeremiah Hammerling, blending R&B, hip-hop, synth-pop, and psych-pop with cyberpunk-inspired visual storytelling. Emerging from a personal journey through grief, anxiety, and reflection, their self-titled debut album pairs deeply personal and existential themes with a genre-defying sound. The recent single “Copilot” exemplifies their vision, combining electronic, R&B, and rock elements with cinematic visuals, practical effects, and hand-crafted animatronics to create a futuristic, immersive narrative.
