Today we're revealing our Ones to Watch 2026. A diverse new cohort of 20 emerging artists tipped to shape the future of UK music.

The list has a strong track record of spotting future stars. Previous Ones to Watch alumni include MOBO and Music Week Women in Music Award-winners ALT BLK ERA, alongside JayaHadADream, who performed on Boomtown’s main stage and recently won a DJ Mag Breakthrough MC/Vocalist Award as well as two Youth Music Awards, and Mali Hâf, who has since gone on to perform at Glastonbury and support Charli xcx. 

Powered by Wingstop for the second year running, Ones to Watch highlights artists supported through Youth Music’s NextGen Fund, which helps young people facing barriers build sustainable careers through funding, training and paid opportunities. 

Wingstop will also host a Ones to Watch Writing Camp early this year, giving these 20 artists the space to collaborate, create, and level up. Last year we collaborated with Wingstop to host a similar writing camp, where the Ones To Watch were split into two teams to write and produce a song. 'Paper Chaser,' was created by Livvy K, Richard Carter, Teedemba and Hulton and was nominated for a Youth Music Award.

The 2026 cohort reflects the breadth of contemporary music-making across the UK, spanning R&B, Afrobeats, jazz, soul, rap, electronic, pop, folk-rock and dance.