dancetoday presents dancertists 2026: Artists you should watch

We’re officially into 2026, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned from being deep inside this scene, it’s that breakout years don’t announce themselves loudly. They usually start quietly an ID popping up in multiple sets, a name moving from warm-ups to prime slots, a release that feels different, or a residency slowly turning into a real community. And then suddenly, that “new name” is everywhere and the crowd already knows the drop.

The first chapter comes to an end. This summer, a vision became reality.This was the [UNVRS] Clo.jpg

With that same mindset, we’re introducing danceartists 2026. Just like last year, this list isn’t about who already peaked or who had the biggest viral moment. It’s about what’s coming next. Built for artists, DJs, producers, labels, agents, managers, and fans who care about the future of the scene.

This isn’t a popularity contest. It’s the result of year-round scouting by the dancetoday team. listening closely, tracking momentum, spotting real validation from tastemakers and labels, and watching how bookings and audiences respond over time.

Our filter is simple: identity, momentum, validation, and demand. We’re not just looking for artists who are good, we’re looking for artists who are gonna be in the front of the scne in the upcoming years.

Here are the 13 artists we believe you should watch in 2026, in ranking order, with the “why” behind each pick.

Josh Baker (House / Minimal / Deep Tech)

Josh Baker sits at the top because his rise feels structural, not situational. He isn’t only releasing music, he’s building an ecosystem that compounds: label, events, touring demand, and a consistent sound that’s become instantly recognizable in the rooms that matter. His late 2025 ''Come Closer EP'' landed as a clear momentum marker, framed by both Mixmag and DJ Mag as part of a landmark run and a defining year for his You&Me universe. In 2026, Baker feels less like “one to watch” and more like a name that could define the modern minimal/deep-tech lane at scale. He has already released his first release for this year, a new collaboration ''Feel This Way''. In addition his name has been already announced on the lineups of some major festivals such as Creamfields 26 & Awakenings.

Max Dean (House / Minimal / Deep Tech)

Max Dean is “new wave leader” energy because he’s scaling as a DJ, producer, and label boss simultaneously. An important advantage in a scene where control of your pipeline often determines speed of growth. Awakenings’ profile points to neXup recz as a genuine launchpad, even noting how quickly it rose in Beatport’s Minimal/Deep Tech ranks, which is exactly the kind of infrastructure signal we track. His collaboration track last year ''Can't Decide'' break the charts and received a huge support. Besides among other very good releases his Rmx on the classic by Timbaland & Nelly Furtado, ''The Way I Are'' has been getting a lot support from the other artists. As Josh Baker his name has already been announced on multiple festival's lineup.

Pegassi (Trance / Techno / Eurodance crossover)

Pegassi makes the cut because his project hits the modern sweet spot: high energy, emotional payoff, and a sound that crosses scenes without losing identity. Regarding real world indicators, DGTL didn’t just book him they positioned him to close a brand new stage at DGTL Amsterdam 2025, then published the full set, which is a loud “trust + impact” signal. This is the year you see him much higher on lineups and it makes sense the moment you hear the room react.

Odymel (Hard Techno / Trance-leaning / Eurodance-coded club)

Odymel’s momentum is one of the clearest “new generation club star” stories because the project is built around a simple, effective idea: catchy, nostalgic, hard hitting dance music that blends trance, techno, and eurodance with zero shame and maximum punch. Awakenings literally frames him as someone shattering those genre boundaries as long as it’s catchy and that line alone tells you how major curators perceive his lane. His releases in 2025 got the attention of superstar artists such as Tiësto. On top of that Odymel is mentioned on Shazam's list of artists you should watch in 2026.

Beltran (Minimal / Deep Tech / Tech House)

Beltran is a “watch” pick because he represents a specific kind of breakthrough: the producer whose music is already functional club ammunition, now stepping into broader cultural visibility. His sound sits in that minimal/deep-tech pocket DJs rely on for groove and control, and his Coachella 2025 Yuma set recording exists for a reason. It reflects real demand and positioning beyond niche rooms.

19:26 (Melodic House & Techno / Melodic Techno)

2025 marked a major breakthrough for 19:26, firmly positioning the Italian producer as one of melodic techno’s most exciting rising names. The release of ''The Passage EP'' on Afterlife, alongside his remix of Henri Bergmann’s “Secrets Too Soon,” was backed by standout performances at Afterlife Tulum, a viral set at the Giza Pyramids. Carrying that momentum into 2026, 19:26 already has headline dates locked in for 99 Scott (NYC), Prysm Chicago, and a Los Angeles warehouse, with his collaboration with Anyma ''Giza'' and new IDs already circulating. A true breakout year now feels inevitable.

Funk Tribu (Nu-Trance / Techno crossover)

Funk Tribu is here because he’s not only rising, he’s tied to a broader cultural movement. The nu-trance revival has been pulling clubs back toward emotion, speed, and rave memory, and Funk Tribu is widely framed at the front of that wave, with international touring visibility to match. From a scouting angle, that combination sound identity + movement energy + bookings usually translates into a year where the name becomes unavoidable across borders, not just within one scene. His record 'Azul' got massive support in 2025 and his name has been already announced on major festivals around the globe.

Omar+ (UK House / House / UKG-leaning vocals)

Omar+ is one of the most exciting “new voice” stories because he blends what usually stays separate: club pressure and songwriting identity. Rinse FM describes him as a next generation artist mixing R&B vocals with house and 4x4 flavours, while Beatportal’s “Emerging Artists On Our Radar” highlights collaborations like “Back It Up” (with Josh Baker), “Make Believe” (with Luke Dean), and his Rinse residency real indicators of both craft and momentum. In 2026, Omar+ is also on the list of Shazam of the artists you should watch this year.

ANNĒ (Techno)

ANNĒ is essential to dancetoday because she fits our benchmark and our mission at the same time: elevate excellence, and spotlight high quality Greek artists with international credibility. Boiler Room’s Warsaw audio release places her in a lineup designed to bridge future faces and established names, which is a meaningful positioning signal in techno. Multiple shows at the worldwide Berghain - Panaroma Bar & recently she performed at the insane show of klangkuenstler Outworld. She has released a lot of great releases in 2025 and we already know that she got a lot in her vault for 2026. ANNĒ is escalating Greece's techno scene and you should definitely keep an eye on her this year!

Adam Sellouk (Melodic Techno)

Adam Sellouk makes our list because the trajectory signals are exactly the kind that precede fast scaling: Afterlife alignment, credible collaborations, and a sound that lands in both cinematic and club contexts. Afterlife’s own wording around his solo EP frames the arc clearly moving from remix/collab presence into a fully realized statement, with references to working alongside Anyma and stepping into his own chapter. In 2026, Sellouk feels like an artist who can quietly jump from “scene name” to “festival poster name” faster than people expect.

Benwal (Trance / Hard House / High-energy crossover)

Benwal enters 2026 with the kind of momentum that’s easiest to spot where it matters most: in the room. DGTL published his full DGTL ADE 2025 set with language that makes the point clearly big energy, big demand, and a crowd ready identity that translates into long term bookings. His amazing record ''Dive'' got attracted by the legends Swedish House Mafia & Tiësto. So if 2025 was the year he became unavoidable in clips and conversations, 2026 looks like the year those moments harden into consistent top tier placement.

AVELLO (Melodic Bass / Bass Music)

We included AVELLO because electronic music isn’t one lane, and 2026 will keep rewarding artists who understand modern discovery short form moments, emotional hooks, and tour ready impact while still delivering serious production. Insomniac’s official bio frames him as a rising bass producer with major industry support signals. AVELLO turned heads when Martin Garrix and Alesso unexpectedly flipped Red Rocks in October, but his scene-stealing “Destiny” remix was only a glimpse of the momentum he’s been building throughout 2025. Over the past year, AVELLO released an impressive 13 tracks, showcasing his evolving bass-driven sound through highlights like his Ophelia Records debut, a collaboration with Adventure Club, and his rework of Alesso and Sacha’s record. On the live side, he continued to level up with headline shows, opening slots for ILLENIUM and Deorro, and festival appearances at Lost Lands and Breakaway. Heading into 2026, AVELLO is already locking in major tour dates alongside Subtronics and Seven Lions, plus festival appearances at Electric Forest, Forbidden Kingdom, and more firmly cementing his status as an Artist to Watch

ROSSI. (Minimal House / Deep Tech)

Rossi. is one of those artists whose rise feels organic and deserved. Deeply rooted in the UK underground, he’s built momentum through groove-driven productions and long, floor focused DJ sets rather than hype. With releases on respected labels like FUSE, No Art, PIV and EastenderZ, plus growing international bookings, his profile has steadily expanded. His 2025 breakthrough with “High On Me” showing crossover appeal without losing club credibility marked a key moment. Heading into 2026, everything is lining up clear identity, strong demand, and a sound DJs and dancers genuinely trust making Rossi. a name to seriously watch.

So what connects these 13 names isn’t just talent. It’s the combination of distinct identity, repeatable momentum, and real world validation. Some are already dominating underground circuits and are clearly ready for bigger rooms. Others are mid arc in the exact storyline that usually becomes a breakout year: the right releases, the right platforms, the right booking progression, and the consistency that builds trust.

If you’re an artist, treat this list like a map of where sound and culture are moving. If you’re a label, agent, or manager, treat it like a scouting memo. And if you’re a fan, treat it like an invitation: discover these names now, so that later when they’re suddenly everywhere you’ll know you were early.

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