Just like last year, ESNS will be putting Dutch northern talent in the spotlight during the free MEET@AIR programme. Well-known artists from Groningen, TikTok Tammo, GP uit G and Inge van Calkar, will each host one day. Artists from the Grunnsonic showcases and NOORD projects, such as Hit the North, Up North & Go!, will perform on two stages on the Grote Markt.

On Wednesday 14 January, TikTok Tammo will present Italo Hans, Lange Mannen Met Haast, Red Manta and Simon Joan. Tammo & Band will close MEET@AIR that day. GP uit G invites Jennanna, Emmz, Louis Pedro and Robine on Thursday 15 January. On the last day of Eurosonic, Friday 16 January, Fremi, Hedemann, MAYA MARIA and WadAap will perform on stage with Inge van Calkar.

Club NOORD, the Minerva Art Academy clubhouse for Dutch northern pop culture, will be open to the public throughout ESNS. Together with partners and cultural organisations, NOORD and Minerva will host a programme of local acts, DJ sets and cross-disciplinary pop culture showcases. The Club NOORD line-up includes Alexander Moto, Bliss, døtre, Dubbel Glas, Helen Jewett, Jelle Mulder, Laguna, LYS TIGRÉ, Redmer, S1RE, shoom and tays.

At five locations around MEET@AIR, in Het Concerthuis, Warhol, Het Pakhuis, The Market Hotel and Wijck, another 28 Groningen acts will be performing in Grunnsonic's free-to-access programme. On 14, 15 and 16 January, Antoine Cedric, Artie Barrot, Bruno Storm, Cashmyra, Cody, Colds, In Good Spirit, Inner Cabala, Jooz, Marieke Schenk, Marit Nygård en de Medemensen, Mart Eerens & The New Generation, MATOYA, Miss Helena, Moira, Mossi, noise, Praatstoel, Rosa’s Propaganda, Sabine, Steebs' Method, Stof, Swerve, The Last Mandrill, The Woods, Timo de Jong, Vanity Box and Weird Youth will be flying the flag for Groningen in front of the entire European music industry.

On Friday 16 January, ten up-and-coming ESNS acts will perform an exclusive ESNS Session especially for NTR and 3FM. This year, the live recordings will be made in the iconic old strawboard factory De Toekomst in Scheemda. Interested members of the public can attend these recordings for free.

You can attend an ESNS Session featuring the following artists: Florence Road (ie), Joshua Idehen (se), plonki (nl), stay away from dante! (nl), IDA (nl), Grote Geelstaart (nl), SERVO (fr), Eileen Alister (ch), Def (nl) en jet van der steen (nl).

Join the official MOJO BNLX x ESNS26 showcase at FIXY in the city centre with acid!, Chibi Ichigo, ISE, Jesse Hoefnagels, Kaya, Milolaathetlukken, Nyarko, Romy Liz Rose, Yong Yello and more. Across three rooms the programme mixes established artists, emerging gamechangers, and booking agents will be present to talk plans for 2026.

Date: Thursday 15 January, 2026
Time: 17:00–20:00 (doors 16:30)
Location: FIXY, Oosterstraat 13a, Groningen
Doors open at 16:30hrs. Limited capacity.

injazz returns to ESNS with two late-afternoon / early-evening jazz showcases presented alongside the Prins Claus Conservatorium jazz club.

Thursday 15 January: Dinner Chat, NAUSYQA & Hex Worker
Friday 16 January: Hatoon, Siegfried Hart & Steebs’ Method

Date: Thursday 15 & Friday 16 January, 2026
Time: 17:00–20:00 (doors 16:30)
Location: Prins Claus Conservatorium, Meeuwerderweg 1, Groningen
Doors open at 16:30hrs. Limited capacity.

Pinguin Radio presents its legendary off-site programme across three days: 15+ stages, 300+ acts and a non-stop discovery zone. Expect raw energy, new bands and pub-based chaos in Europe’s biggest pub.

Date: Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 & Friday 16 January, 2026
Time: 16:00–02:00
Location: De Drie Gezusters, Grote Markt 36/39, Groningen

In addition to the photo exhibition Then and Now, ESNS Echo and ESNS Photo in Noorderlicht, there is even more visual art to be seen in the city as part of ESNS Art. Together with Kunstpunt Groningen, ESNS is presenting a temporary artwork by Aernout Mik on the Grote Markt. Furthermore, Vera Artdivision and Kunstlievend Genootschap Pictura are organising the European Poster Explosion (EPEX). The Kunstkantine is putting a series of talented Groningen artists in the spotlight, ranging from visual artists and performers to writers and creators from pop culture.

In addition, the Groninger Museum is offering ESNS ticket holders a discount on the Hip Hop Is exhibition. Finally, Galerie SIGN and NP3 are showing work that combines music, sound and performance art.

On Thursday 15 January, ESNS, in collaboration with researchers and students from the Master's programme in Popular Music and Sonic Cultures at the University of Groningen, is organising two talks that are open to the public. Between 5 and 6 p.m., Groningen artist Blanks (Simon de Wit) and music photographer Ben Houdijk will discuss identity and social media.

From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Márk Bóna, programmer of the Sziget Festival (Hungary), will talk to LGBTQIA+ artist and activist SexyTadhg (Ireland) about diversity and inclusion on European festival stages. The ESNS Talks will be in English.