The 2020s have undeniably ushered in a brand new golden period for dance music, bringing with it a wave of rising expertise that’s shaping the style’s future. Among the many scene’s thriving state, a choose group of artists is standing out, proving that the subsequent 10, 20, 30, and even 40 years of dance music are in succesful palms. As at all times, we’ve narrowed the sphere down to spotlight a number of rising artists we imagine are on the cusp of changing into family dance music names.
Artists seem in alphabetical order. A playlist with all chosen tracks is included on the finish.
For 19:26, 2025 marked a defining leap ahead, cementing the Italian producer as one in all melodic techno’s most compelling rising forces. The discharge of The Passage — a five-track EP through Afterlife — alongside his remix of Henri Bergmann’s “Secrets and techniques Too Quickly,” was matched by a run of high-profile performances, together with Afterlife Tulum, a viral set on the Giza Pyramids, and appearances at Ushuaia Dubai. Carrying that momentum into 2026, 19:26 already has headline exhibits scheduled for 99 Scott in New York, Prysm Chicago, and a Los Angeles warehouse. With an upcoming collaboration with Anyma and a wave of latest IDs already circulating, a real breakout 12 months feels not simply attainable however inevitable. — Alex Lambeau
AVELLO performed scene-stealer when Martin Garrix and Alesso unexpectedly flipped Crimson Rocks on its head in October, however his “Future” remix was solely a snapshot of the momentum he’s been steadily constructing, particularly all through 2025. This previous 12 months, AVELLO hit the discharge cycle a meteoric 13 instances together with his compelling method to bass music, together with that aforementioned tackle Alesso and Sacha, an Ophelia Information debut, a collaboration with Journey Membership, and extra. And AVELLO additionally expanded his reside presence with a slew of headline stops, opening slots for ILLENIUM and Deorro, and pageant appearances at Misplaced Lands and Breakaway. Even earlier than 2026 kicks off, AVELLO is proving his Artist to Watch standing with secured tour dates alongside Subtronics and Seven Lions, plus main pageant appearances at Electrical Forest, Forbidden Kingdom, and past. — Ross Goldenberg
Damaged Hill has emerged as one in all home music’s most fun rising producers, steadily constructing momentum by means of a run of high-profile releases. In 2025, he delivered standout data on Maccabi Home — together with a collaboration with fellow Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2026, Soraya — alongside releases on Black Guide Information and a collaborative minimize with BLOND:ISH and Darco. Trying forward, an upcoming single on Solomun’s Diynamic label, paired with U.S. dates at Audio San Francisco and Walter WhereHouse in Phoenix, indicators one other clear step ahead as he heads into 2026. — Alex Lambeau
Brunello has been quietly carving out a particular area of interest in indie dance and home, mixing sharp manufacturing with a whimsical, circus-inspired aesthetic. The San Diego-based producer and Mellow Circus Information founder first gained consideration in 2024 with “The Clown’s Hall,” which earned widespread play throughout Ibiza golf equipment. That momentum carried into 2025 with the discharge of “Misplaced in The Mellow Circus” on Nervous Information, incomes Pete Tong’s Important New Tune of the Week. With upcoming U.S. dates at Jolene Soundroom, Decadence NYE, and Brooklyn Storehouse, Brunello is poised for a breakout 12 months forward. — Alex Lambeau
Delilah has rapidly emerged as one in all London’s most compelling new home music skills, not too long ago making the leap to pursue music full time. Her mix of deep home and UK influences gained early traction on-line in 2024, earlier than her 2025 single “We’re Performed” was named SoundCloud’s Monitor of the Day, climbed to #1 on the platform’s international trending chart, and located its manner onto a billboard in London. That momentum translated into key performances at The Warehouse Undertaking Manchester, UNVRS Ibiza, and KOKO London. Along with her newest ID “Secrets and techniques” already topping launch wishlists, Delilah heads into 2026 with unmistakable momentum. — Alex Lambeau
Rewind to round 2019 and also you’d discover a 17-year-old Discip daydreaming in regards to the day the Strong Grooves boss would turn out to be aware of his title. In 2025, Discip not solely made {that a} actuality, however cemented himself on the forefront of home music’s subsequent technology. Past incomes a uncommon Michael Bibi seal of approval, Discip’s unrelenting 2025 marketing campaign hit milestone after milestone, from a debut North American tour — with stops at Area Miami, Brooklyn Storehouse, and Pacha Ibiza — to an upcoming Correct NYE set that Dancing Astronaut will personally attend, all whereas releasing one inescapable weapon after one other throughout esteemed labels like Three Six Zero, Black Guide Information, Insomniac Information, and Consultants Solely. — Ross Goldenberg
For Gabss, the phrase “banger” has turn out to be virtually synonymous together with his title. That popularity was cemented in his fifth 12 months as an artist, when he posted a towering 18 — sure, 18 — separate releases, an unmistakable sign that his inclusion on this checklist was inevitable. Every launch was met with mounting anticipation within the months main as much as its arrival, spanning labels like Nervous Information, CamelPhat’s When Stars Align, Ayybo’s GBD Information (for its inaugural launch), and Chris Lake’s Black Guide Information, capped by an official Frank Ocean remix alongside Classic Tradition that felt like the last word victory lap. One of the crucial-supported producers of the 12 months — as confirmed by Beatport and 1001Tracklists — the Brazilian expertise now heads into 2026 with severe pleasure already set. — Ross Goldenberg
Greater than a decade in the past, London-based twins Rhett and Conran Lee watched a teenage Martin Garrix start to upend the dance music world and determined that was the lane they needed to pursue. That long-term imaginative and prescient has already paid dividends behind the scenes, with the brothers incomes manufacturing and songwriting credit for the likes of John Summit, Solardo, and Sonny Fodera beneath their Twin Lee moniker. They’ve channeled that have into their very own artist mission, IDEMI. Launched in 2023, IDEMI has rapidly emerged as one in all dance music’s most intriguing new names, marrying a novel home model with the polish of seasoned hitmakers. Throughout seven standout releases in 2025 — together with one which earned reside help from Swedish Home Mafia — IDEMI showcased a transparent creative id and upward trajectory, positioning the duo as a mission primed to interrupt by means of in 2026. — Ross Goldenberg
Typically you hear only one tune from an artist and instantly know they’re destined for greatness. That was the overwhelming consensus for a lot of after J Ribbon launched an instantaneous Anjunabeats basic in 2025, “Lifetime.” To zoom out, his journey started 5 years earlier, when he signed his first label cope with Pete Tong’s famed FFRR Information at simply 15 years outdated, earlier than in the end reemerging beneath the J Ribbon moniker. His discography started to take form in 2024 through the 18th version of Anjunabeats Rising, adopted by 5 extra releases heading into 2025. And whereas this 12 months solely noticed J Ribbon seem on the discharge scoreboard twice, each “Lifetime” and “Gained’t Cease” made a definitive case for high quality over amount, touchdown in between opening slots for Above & Past and Eric Prydz — together with a whole season of opening duties for Prydz’s HOLOSPHERE 2.0 residency at UNVRS — alongside a run of Anjuna25 exhibits and extra. Contemplating the July add of his HOLOSPHERE set options 14 authentic, unreleased IDs, J Ribbon heads into 2026 with a ceiling that feels limitless. — Ross Goldenberg
Kotiēr has solely been releasing authentic music for the previous couple of years, but his sound already feels strikingly refined past the 24-year-old’s years. A lifelong pianist with a background in pc science, he leveraged each disciplines early on, experimenting with layered visuals alongside synths and piano-driven reinterpretations that helped launch his artist mission. Prior to now 12 months alone, he launched EPs on RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Rose Avenue Information and Solomun’s Diynamic, and collaborated with CamelPhat and Yellowitz on their new single, “Goddess.” On the street, he’s already supported the likes of CamelPhat, Adriatique, Aaron Hibell, and Kölsch, amongst others. Primarily based in New York Metropolis, Kotiēr produces and DJs whereas additionally showcasing a particular hybrid-live method throughout his social channels. — Zach Salafia
California-based melodic home producer mölly solely started releasing music inside the final two years, but she’s already established herself as a rising pressure inside the scene. Signed to Colorize — the melodic-focused sublabel of Enhanced — she’s delivered standout releases together with her Dashing In EP and a fascinating remix of Blonde Maze, Polar Inc., and Channy Leaneagh’s “Asleep In My Head.” Outdoors the studio, mölly can be a yoga instructor — even main classes at Lightning in a Bottle — an affect that clearly informs the calm, emotive power woven all through her music. In 2025, she toured with the Colorize crew, appeared at festivals resembling Dreamstate, and served as direct help for MYRNE, Shallou, and Forester, additional solidifying her momentum. — Zach Salafia
At simply 19 years outdated, nikko is already making waves together with his “I ❤️ FUN MUSIC” mantra. The rising DJ and producer started self-releasing tracks in 2022 and rapidly caught the eye of labels like Nightmode and Sable Valley, in addition to tastemakers together with ISOxo, Knock2, and NGHTMRE. His back-to-back set with fellow Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2026 WINK was a standout second at this 12 months’s niteharts pageant, a part of a rising streak of collaborative work between the 2 rising artists. nikko is at the moment on tour as direct help for Get rid of, additional cementing his presence on the scene. — Zach Salafia
Not each artist can tout collaborative credit with Fred once more.. — a Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch alum — together with an official co-sign from him in a 2023 Instagram put up. However on that extraordinarily brief checklist is Nova Blue, who leveraged a behind-the-scenes profession in mixing, mastering, co-production, and extra — together with work alongside artists like Daya, Tate McRae, and Stargate — into her personal forward-facing mission. Debuting in late 2024, she grew to become STMPD RCRDS’ latest signee in 2025, handing over three promising singles this 12 months that showcase a refreshing method to accommodate music and all however assure she’s the subsequent A-lister to affix Martin Garrix’s label. — Ross Goldenberg
Few artists are reshaping trendy home music fairly like Omar+, whose fusion of clean R&B vocals and groovy, bumpy membership manufacturing has made him immediately recognizable. The UK-based singer and producer broke by means of in 2025 with two of the 12 months’s most notable tracks, “Again It Up” with Josh Baker — a Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2025 — and “Make Consider” with Luke Dean. As his sound continues to achieve worldwide traction, Omar+ is poised to interrupt by means of even additional in 2026, together with dates at Crimson Rocks, CRSSD Pageant, and headline exhibits in Washington, DC, and Boston. — Alex Lambeau
Pegassi has firmly established himself as one in all Europe’s main forces in Eurodance and trance, pairing high-impact productions with scene-defining moments. After two years of anticipation, the Belgian producer lastly launched his fan-favorite ID “227Kg” through his Candy Nothing imprint this previous week. His rise has been underscored by standout achievements, from changing into the primary artist to play Tomorrowland’s makeshift mainstage in 2025 to producing the official soundtrack for Workforce Belgium on the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. With U.S. dates confirmed at 99 Scott in New York and CRSSD Pageant in San Diego, Pegassi is poised for a major step ahead stateside in 2026. — Alex Lambeau
Soraya made her musical debut in 2025 with standout releases on Maccabi Home — together with “Mind Delay,” a collaboration with fellow Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2026 Damaged Hill — in addition to Realm Information with “Danse de L’amour.” The Filipino-American artist additionally maintained a sturdy touring schedule, supporting an array of notable acts resembling Azzecca, Max Styler, Jamie Jones, Ayybo, Adam Ten & Mita Gami, Linska, and Gorgon Metropolis. The San Diego native not too long ago signed with Wright Bookings and closed out the 12 months along with her debut headline set in New York Metropolis, signaling much more to come back over the subsequent 12 months and past. — Zach Salafia
St. Mary operates on the intersection of lure and melodic bass, pairing emotional depth with high-octane power. Her manufacturing vary is on full show throughout her debut EP AMEN — launched earlier this December through bitbird — which flows seamlessly between hovering melodies and hard-hitting low finish. In 2025, she earned main co-signs from SLANDER and San Holo with an official remix of their Julia Church collaboration, “Damaged Hearted.” A Berklee School of Music graduate, St. Mary not too long ago opened for Subtronics at The Shrine and has served as direct help for San Holo, Journey Membership, and extra, additional establishing her as a rising pressure within the scene. — Zach Salafia
WELKER’s first formal 12 months of releasing music had as a lot impression as he might have hoped for, culminating in precisely why he now earns this nod. A grand opening with “Aspect” on Diynamic’s forty first version of 4 To The Ground set an auspicious tone, as his rising catalog of weapons rapidly snowballed — touchdown releases on labels like Repopulate Mars, When Stars Align, and Three Six Zero, incomes help from Solomun, Max Styler, Classic Tradition, and extra, whereas additionally securing opening slots for the likes of Ayybo and Max Styler. Within the course of, WELKER additional solidified Brazil’s popularity as a hotbed for home music’s subsequent wave and now heads into 2026 with one of the anticipated IDs in circulation, ‘Ice In My Eyes,’ anticipated to reach on Nu Moda within the new 12 months. — Ross Goldenberg
WINK was first acknowledged by the lure godfather RL Grime himself as a rising pressure within the scene, a sentiment now strengthened with Dancing Astronaut’s Artist to Watch in 2026 nod for the Sable Valley mainstay. He made a definitive leap ahead in 2025 with standout releases, together with the WIIINK EP, high-profile collaborations with NGHTMRE and RL Grime, and an August ID showcase that includes a colossal 24 unreleased tracks on the time. His momentum is carefully tied to frequent collaborator and shut pal Nikko, with the duo’s standout B2B set at niteharts pageant additional solidifying each as artists to look at within the 12 months forward. — Zach Salafia
Featured picture: NASA
Classes: Features
