Sounds of the future

THESE ARE THE ACTS YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR A LOT OF THIS YEAR.

- BY CASEY COOPER-FISKE

THE past year has seen an eclectic range of musical talent break through from small venues to the biggest stages.

And 2026 will bring a new wave of stars - here are the acts to keep on your radar...

Nominated for best new artist at the 2026 Grammys, London-born singer songwriter Olivia Dean reached a wider audience with the release of her second studio album, The Art Of Loving which topped the UK albums chart in October.

Her sophomore album also birthed a UK number one single in Man I Need, along with further top 10 hits in So Easy (To Fall In Love) and Nice To Each Other.

Her debut album Messy, released in 2023, reached the top 10, with single Dive from it reaching number 17 on the UK singles chart last year.

Her 2026 Art Of Loving Tour will begin in Glasgow in April.

Olivia also featured on a live duet with Sam Fender on Rein Me In, having supported him on his People Watching Tour, and released the single It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be for the film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

The 26-year-old, whose mother is the deputy leader of the Women’s Equality Party, is fast becoming a household name in the UK for her soulful style, but it is expected that 2026 will see her become a worldwide superstar.

Listen: Nice To Each Other, an acoustic ballad about dating, with a soulful vocal.