ESNS opens sold-out 2023 edition

18.01.23

The 37th edition of ESNS launches live in Groningen today, with both the Festival and Conference sold out

ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) opens its 37th edition in Groningen today, Wednesday 18 January 2023. ESNS23 (18–21 January) marks the first in-person event since 2020 with a sold out Festival and Conference programme; presenting over 300 emerging European artists and 200 conference activities (from panels to network events and from workshops to mixers). The edition welcomes a large number of new visitors, alongside longstanding audiences and delegates. The winners of the European Festival Awards are to be announced this evening.

Sold-out edition to showcase over 300 acts
By night, the ESNS Festival line-up will showcase over 300 European acts across locations in the heart of Groningen. Together with The Spanish Wave, this year’s Focus on Spain project showcases 16 acts, a conference focus and mixer. Discover the top line-up recommendations by international media on the Recommended 2023 page. Festival tickets to ESNS23 are entirely sold out; with an increased national spread in ticket buyers and a substantially younger and more diverse audience. This year, ESNS offers an official ESNS reselling platform, made possible by Ticketing partner See Tickets, which ensures the safe transfer of tickets.

Industry-leading topics in Conference programme
By day, the ESNS Conference programme will include over 200 panel discussions, interviews and keynotes covering industry-leading topics and innovation, geared at trailblazing the music industry towards a sustainable future.

Keynotes this year include learning all about transforming the music industry with Scott Cohen, exploring Spain's music scene with Robert Gríma, a deep dive into music history with the exclusive Sub Pop keynote interview featuring Jonathan Poneman, and an exclusive Keynote with Dua Lipa and her manager Dukagjin Lipa, in conversation with IQ Magazine Editor Gordon Masson, about their acclaimed Sunny Hill Festival and Sunny Hill Foundation.

European Festival Awards ceremony
The European Festival Awards (EFA) is the annual celebration of the continent’s most esteemed festivals and the organisers behind them. The awards ceremony will take place this evening, 18 January, at De Oosterpoort in Groningen. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award has already been announced, being awarded to Roskilde Festival, its full team and volunteers in Denmark.

More to come: MME Awards, Noorderslag broadcast, free programme

The winners of the 2023 Music Moves Europe Awards will be announced tomorrow, 19 January. 3FM’s Vera Siemons and Justin Verkijk are to present a live Noorderslag broadcast by NTR on Saturday 21 January. To be aired on NPO3 at 22:09 (CET), featuring interviews and live shows. The freely accessible programme has been announced: including ESNS Air, ESNS Art and Hit the North showcases.

For the first time since its founding in 1986, ESNS is organising a night programme for three consecutive nights. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after the end of Eurosonic and Noorderslag, the festival will move to a number of venues in the city for a night programme that will give the stage to emerging electronic acts.

Get to know more about ESNS at night. Tickets are still available for ESNS at Night via esns.nl/tickets