Spotify’s annual Best New Artist celebration honors the rising stars whose talent, creativity, and dedication have propelled them to the music industry’s biggest stage. More than a party, the evening spotlights the artistry and hard work of the nominees who are shaping music today and underscores our commitment to amplifying artists at a defining moment in their careers.
After a cancellation due to the Los Angeles wildfires last year, the event is back in a big way. On Thursday, January 29, The Lot at Formosa will play host to the celebration, sponsored by Hilton. All 8 of the 2026 nominees—Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, sombr, and The Marías—will be in attendance and perform live on our rotating stage throughout the night.
Before the winner is announced, get to know the nominees for this year’s Best New Artist, and see how Spotify has helped amplify their music and find new fans around the world.
Addison Rae
We had a feeling Addison Rae was one to watch from the moment her debut single “Obsessed” landed on New Music Friday in 2021. Since then, she’s dropped a string of singles, EPs, and an album, and was featured in the behind-the-scenes performance short, Spotify Presents: Addison – The Debut. Last year, her song “Headphones On” was named one of Spotify Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of 2025.
Alex Warren
Alex Warren made waves in 2025 with his song “Ordinary,” which racked up more than 2.9 million streams on its first day and went on to join Spotify’s Billions Club. The hit was the third most‑streamed song in the U.S. last year, while his album You’ll Be Alright, Kid secured the No. 7 spot among the most‑streamed albums globally.
KATSEYE
KATSEYE stands out not just for their high-energy beats, but for the journey that brought them together. More than 120,000 artists applied to be a part of the girl group in a global talent search. Only 20 finalists made the cut and competed in an intensive audition program that streamed worldwide.
Their first track, aptly named “Debut,” dropped in 2024 and was an instant hit. A year later, “Gnarly” was featured on Spotify’s 2025 Songs of Summer list.
Leon Thomas
Leon Thomas is on our radar, literally. Earlier this year, he was featured in our RADAR podcast series where he talked about his EP PHOLKS, his creative evolution, and more. Previously included on the Rising R&B: Artists to Watch Playlist in 2024, he continued to impress with his song “My Muse,” landing on Spotify Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of 2025.
Lola Young
Making history as the first cover artist for R&B UK in 2020 was just the beginning for Lola Young. This year, she was named EQUAL Ambassador for the U.K. and Ireland, while her single “Messy” was featured on Today’s Top Hits and ALT NOW and also became a certified member of Spotify’s Billions Club.
Olivia Dean
This year marked several big Spotify moments for Olivia Dean. “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be,” featured in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was her first song included on Hot Hits UK. Over the summer, she appeared on the covers of the Chill Pop and New Music Friday UK playlists after dropping “Man I Need,” a song that was also a part of her Spotify Live Room performance. Closing out the year, her track “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” made Spotify Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of 2025.
sombr
sombr’s 2025 hit “back to friends” defined a landmark year for the rising artist. The track entered Spotify’s Billions Club and was among the most‑streamed songs both globally (No. 6) and in the U.S. (No. 7). Meanwhile, his song “canal street” was included in Spotify Editors’ Picks: Best Songs of 2025.
The Marías
Since releasing their debut album CINEMA, The Marías have built impressive momentum, earning two Grammy nominations and a Billboard chart‑topper, along with collaborations with Latin music heavyweights like Bad Bunny and Tainy. They were among the top RADAR artists last year, while their song “No One Noticed” was the No. 10 most-streamed song on Spotify in the U.S. in 2025.
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