Spotify‘s annual and anticipated best new artist party will return for Grammy Week 2026.
The event was canceled in 2025, along with all other Spotify programming, due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles at the time. The company redirected funds from the canceled events to support L.A. wildfire-relief efforts.
This year, the celebration is back in a big way as Spotify announced Wednesday (Jan. 21) that all eight best new artist nominees will perform at the party, which is set for Thursday, Jan. 29.
“This event has been through so many iterations,” Joe Hadley, Spotify’s global head of music partnerships & audience, tells Billboard. “Different formats, different constraints, different realities, but the heart of it has always stayed the same. It’s about showing up for artists at a pivotal moment in their careers.”
“To return this year with a full, in-person celebration during music’s biggest week feels like a reflection of that resilience,” he continues. “We’ve learned how to be nimble, how to pivot and how to still make things meaningful no matter the circumstances. Being back together in the room, celebrating this next generation of artists in a big way, feels really special.”
The 2026 best new artist class includes Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, sombr and The Marías. All eight artists are also set to perform during the Grammys telecast on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Spotify first hosted its best new artist Grammy party in 2017, and just two nominees performed at the inaugural event: The Chainsmokers and Maren Morris. In recent years, it’s become standard for all best new artist nominees to perform, but for the 2026 edition, Spotify was able to secure and announce each artist earlier than ever.
“Honestly, it took a lot of trust, flexibility and close partnership across the board,” says Hadley. “The best new artist nominees are some of the busiest artists in the world during Grammys week … What made this possible was starting conversations earlier than ever and really listening to what each artist needed for the performance to feel right for them.”
“We’re also at a point where the party’s reputation is well established, and artists genuinely look forward to it,” Hadley continues. “Once nominations are announced, they know our call will follow shortly after, and it’s become a moment of partnership that everyone is excited to collaborate on.”
In his time at the company, he says the 2024 party put that collaboration to the test — and stands out as a favorite thanks to a high-energy set from Ice Spice. “We reworked the event flow just days before the party to bring in top fans,” he recalls. “That shift completely changed the energy in the room and made the night feel electric. Those moments, when things change and somehow get even better, are what make [this party] special.”
