20 New Artists for 2026

Elizabeth Nichols

After storming onto all of our playlists with the viral ‘I Got a New One’ at the start of the year, Elizabeth Nichols has proven throughout 2025 she is no one-hit-wonder.

Her Tough Love EP showcased the country phenom’s versatility, flitting between biting, playful wit and evocative sincerity with ease. Her latest single, ‘Oh The Things Men Do’, is a prime example of the former, with Nichols poking fun at men’s superficial chat-up lines and the various methods they’ll attempt in order to sleep with women.

We’ve long felt that country music ‘bros’ could do with taking themselves a little less seriously - and since they’re not going to do it, at least Nichols will.

Nichols is at the forefront of a growing wave of up-and-coming artists such as Gabriella Rose and Willow Avalon who are refusing to water down their traditional country roots, embracing pedal steel and unashamedly twangy choruses - and it’s striking a chord with us.

- Maxim Mower

Elizabeth Nichols' latest single 'Oh the Things Men Do' is out now on Pulse

Listen If You Like: Gabriella Rose, Willow Avalon, Maggie Antone

Joshua Slone

It's not really an exaggeration to say that the breakout star of 2025 was none other than Joshua Slone.

Practically overnight, the Kentucky singer-songwriter went from relative obscurity to one of the biggest artists in the country-folk-pop arena–the same place that acts like Noah Kahan, Gigi Perez, Lizzie McAlpine, Brenn! and others reside.

Slone first sprung into the limelight this past April after appearing in a handful of videos alongside country-folk behemoth Zach Bryan, opening up the floodgates across social media where the young artist garnered millions of views and followers. What's more, Slone was given the opportunity of a lifetime as he was tapped to open for Bryan at his record-breaking show at Michigan Stadium in late September, alongside John Mayer and Ryan Bingham.

Within a couple of months, Slone released his debut record, Thinking Too Much–a surprise Wednesday release which was only announced 24 hours ahead of time. Almost an instantaneous fan-favorite and one of the most revered releases of 2025, the 16-track project boasts its stellar, relatable and sometimes painfully vulnerable songwriting while also feeling like a warm hug, wrapped in acoustic guitars and Slone's gentle yet effective vocal delivery.

Sometimes garnering direct comparison's to Kahan's career-defining Stick Season, Slone and his pitch perfect introductory album have set quiet the bar as we head into 2026.

- Lydia Farthing

Thinking Too Much is available now.

Listen If You Like: Noah Kahan, Lizzie McAlpine, Ty Myers

Abbie Callahan

In 2026, it’s Abbie Callahan or bust. The dazzling singer-songwriter has been poised on the edge of her breakout for the last year, and we’re certain the dawn of her “Kaleidoscope Country” is just upon us.

Since the age of 19, the young artist has been on the road, enchanting fans with her disarmingly vulnerable brand of y’all-ternative. While it wasn’t until July 2025 that the Americana-folk-classic country starlet released her debut EP, Grossly Aware, which featured viral successes, like ‘Marry Jane’ and ‘Strawberry, California’, it’s been full steam ahead for the rising talent ever since.

Her recent single, ’Simon Says’, which arrived this past November, marks one more hit as she enters a New Year with all cylinders firing and no signs of stopping anytime soon.

- Alli Patton

Grossly Aware EP and 'Simon Says' are out now on Twelve6 Entertainment.

Listen If You Like: Lauren Watkins, Carter Faith, Laci Kaye Booth

Colton Bowlin

Hailing from the Appalachian town of Albany, Kentucky, Bowlin’s music is as earthy as you’d expect.

His latest release, the murky murder ballad 'Don’t Come Home', was inspired by his time working in his grandfather’s feed mill and the stories he heard there. It’s the kind of authenticity that can’t be contrived in writing rooms and one that thrives in his music as an independent artist.

His first track featuring a full live band, we see his musical vision realised with sleek guitar pitched perfectly against his voice, artfully weathered beyond its years.

Amongst the tortured boys with guitars, Bowlin is one to watch.

- Holly Smith

How To Be Me EP is out now on State Line Records

Listen If You Like: Turnpike Troubadours, Tyler Halverson

Jack Wharff Band

Their number of releases can be counted up on two hands, but their streams are in the millions.

The Jack Wharff Band have slowly been weaving their way in and out of live venues and “Best New” lists across 2025, and have already recruited a fair share of loyal fans. Looking towards next year, it seems like they’ll be following their bluegrass-tinged rhythms and picking up speed.

The Virginia band’s killer EP Richmond’s Most Wanted came out blazing and made the kind of impressively original impact that few bands can. Featuring the hit song ‘Washed’ and the sickly-sweet yet indisputably charming ‘Picture Perfect’, the collection felt crafted enough to define the name, yet kept us guessing when it comes to what the follow up might be.

Combining traditional sounds with country elements and a rock confidence, Jack Wharff and Co. are sitting just outside of genre boundaries and instead, taking each step in their stride. On their latest release ‘Saved’, the group took one more leap into the personal with a song held up by the pillars of strength they find in their faith.

Like a more youthful, and a little less southern rock Red Clay Strays, in 2026, it’s pretty likely that The Jack Wharff Band will become one of country’s ‘Most Wanted’.

- Daisy Innes

Latest single 'Saved' is out now on Big Machine

Listen If You Like: Waylon Wyatt, Red Clay Strays, Dylan Gossett

Just Jayne

Get ready for your new favourite country trio to make a splash.

Before even releasing a single, Just Jayne marked major successes on tour with Maddie and Tae, huge festival billings and a buzz-worthy performance at CMA Fest.

This year, they began to release their own music, starting with their debut, the Morgan Wallen call-and-response of ‘This Morning’, back in February. From there, the band went on to roll out six more catchy, original songs, culminating in their highly anticipated EP, ‘Just Jayne: The Beginning’.

The trio, made up of Taylor Edwards, Jillian Steele and Rachel Wiggins, blend their harmonies with their storytelling to bring forwards a new wave of country pop. Their beachy, blue jean, contemporary sound captures fans of all genres, which was echoed in their feature on the immeasurably popular, ‘Nobody Wants This’ soundtrack with their song, ‘Climate Change’.

Wrapping on a phenomenal first year of releasing music, the girls are starting to announce their plans for next year, including joining Maddox Batson for his World tour in spring.

2026 has a lot to beat considering their 2025 achievements but, in reality, these girls are just warming up. Just Jayne are definitely a group to keep an eye on.

- Georgette Brookes

Just Jayne: The Beginning EP is out now on UMG Recordings

Listen If You Like: Kelsea Ballerini, Trousdale, Carter Faith

Zach John King

Zach John King has been a Holler favourite ever since his impressive run of singles in late 2023 and early 2024, but this year, everyone else finally cottoned on.

The Georgia prodigy saw an explosion in popularity after sharing stadium stages with Morgan Wallen on his I’m the Problem Tour throughout the summer.

King has an ear for an infectious, galvanising melody and a penchant for down-home, nostalgic lyricism, but he infuses his tracks with an alternative, almost rock-adjacent sensibility.

His latest release, ‘Happy For You’, sees him stripping away the cushioning production and electric-guitar-fuelled sonics of high-powered hits such as ‘Space’ and ‘Life Behind Bars’, instead opting for an acoustic, intimate ode to a particularly painful break-up.

With King joining up with Wallen again in 2026 as he readies his debut album, we’re predicting a massive year.

- MM

Zach John King's latest singe 'Happy For You' is out now

Listen If You Like: Morgan Wallen, Josh Ross, Vincent Mason

Baylee Lynn

Tucked away on the soundtrack to the second series of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated smash-hit rom-com Nobody Wants This alongside country heavyweights like Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and Ella Langley, was country newcomer Baylee Lynn with only the fourth song she'd ever released.

'That's What I'll Be' followed previous singles 'Cautiously Optimistic,' 'John, Dear' and 'Heart On My Sleeve' as she blended traditional three-chord country with the kind of hooky, playful pop of Sabrina Carpenter or Tate McRae to come up with a fresh, TikTok friendly, Gen Z take on classic country.

A viral clip of her wearing an 'Am I Okay?' trucker cap and singing Dan Seals' 'Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold' in tribute to her late grandpa gives you an idea of how deep and wide the 17-year-old's love of country spans.

If you like Megan Moroney and Elizabeth Nichols, you are going to love Baylee Lynn.

- Jof Owen

'That's What I'll Be' is out now via The Core Records/UMG Recordings

Listen If You Like: Emily Ann Roberts, Megan Moroney, Mackenzie Carpenter

Buffalo Traffic Jam

We're not short of folky groups and acts from far-flung small towns in the west who are all in their feelings, with little but a guitar and a pained voice to vent.

Buffalo Traffic Jam fold all those songwriters into one, yet stand singular in their raw vulnerability and uncanny ability to capture a feeling we shouldn’t, by rights, be able to envision.

'Forgot Your Roots' stands in the bitter coastal cold, punishing itself in the pained storm of regret and what could-have-beens as they inhale the last, desperate toke on hope. 'Comfort in Misery', while a gentle whisper in comparison, takes their 'sad songs for degens' moniker and introduces it to an open window, a fresh spring day, and one deep draw of ambition.

Take us home fellas, we're ready to settle in with you.

- Ross Jones

Take Me Home EP is out now on Arista Records

Listen If You Like: Sam Barber, Noah Rinker

McCoy Moore

McCoy Moore arrives in 2026 with momentum; his self-titled debut EP (out November 7, 2025 via Sony Music Nashville) has already laid the groundwork for what could be a breakthrough year.

Moore mixes old-school heart with modern polish. His debut single 'Something To You' blends warm nostalgia with poetic hooks, giving a glimpse of his knack for turning simple moments into something deeper. Songs like 'John Deere Blue' and 'Memories We Never Made' show off his storytelling clarity and the richness of his baritone, while tracks like 'Naming Boats' bring a subtle effortless sound that hints at bigger stages to come.

Moore’s strength lies in balance between vulnerability and grit, between tradition and modernity. If 2025 was his introduction, 2026 might be when country music really catches on that McCoy Moore isn’t just a rising artist, he’s the real McCoy.

- Caitlin Hall

McCoy Moore's self titled EP is out now on Sony Music Entertainment

Listen If You Like: Kip Moore, Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery

Ava Hall

Made in Michigan, ready for the world. You're going to be hearing a lot more about Ava Hall.

Ava has a treasure trove of a catalogue across her TikTok and Instagram, but the three released songs we've actually held in our arms since March have shown us the breadth and focus of Hall's talent.

'What About Yours' is a stunning excavation of love that possesses a vocal performance we still haven't gotten over and the song came out in August. 'Georgia Heat', in all its front porch ambition and bedroom dreaming, unravels that knot in your chest that only a cherished memory or moving song can quell.

While someones out there getting a pay check for six figures and crying at the sound of Tyler Childers, Ava Hall is reaching the stars and never looking back.

- RJ

'What About Yours' is out now on Java Records

Listen If You Like: Julia DiGrazia, Wyatt Flores

Scott Wolverton

Hailing from the vast prairies and rolling hills of Seward, Nebraska–a city that's home to less than 8,000–Scott Wolverton had the quintessential midwest upbringing.

From herding cattle on his family's farm to a successful collegiate baseball career, Wolverton is midwest country to his core, something that you can hear in every note of his growing catalogue.

His first single, 2022's 'Dreamer,' eventually led to his debut record, Chasing A Simply Feeling, in June of 2023. Yet after taking 2024 away from releasing music, the Cornhusker State native spent 2025 churning out a steady quartet of singles that have put him front and center on our artist to watch radar.

Whether it's the absolute earworm of 'Do Si Do,' the crooning ode of 'Cattleman's Call,' the endearing duet with Madalynn Rose on 'Good Hearted Woman' or the daring plea of 'Running and Racing,' Wolverton paints dazzling portraits doused in equal parts nostalgia and comfort.

As he continues popping out singles into 2026, we can only hope and pray that it will lead to Wolverton's long-awaited sophomore record, no doubt bringing the midwest to the rest in stunning, toe-tapping fashion.

- LF

Scott Wolverton's latest single 'Cattleman's Call' is out now

Listen If You Like: Noah Kahan, Mumford & Sons, Charles Wesley Godwin

Next Of Kin

In just over a year, the Texas three piece Next of Kin have built a small but dedicated following with their ethereal harmonies and textured heartbreak songs.

All individual descendants of the Austin music scene, their career as a trio quickly transcended the success of their solo efforts when Lili Hickman, Madison Baker and Caelin began performing together with 2024’s Jekyll & Hyde.

Variously described as alt, queer or cult country, Hickman told the Austin Chronicle “We’re like The Chicks, but as gay as Natalie Maines’ haircuts.”

On their 2025 EP Homemaker, they capture the euphoric highs and crushing lows of the pursuit of love. From the gothic title track which lays bare the sorrow of only attracting heartbreakers, to the rose-tinted heartsprung joy of 'Good As Gone', their sound is joyous and breezy, brought together under the vision of a thoroughly modern country band.

- Holly Smith

Next Of Kin's latest single 'The Alley' is out now

Listen If You Like: I’m With Her, The Chicks

Trey Pendley

Trey Pendley is a singer-songwriter whose music captures the emotional grit and quiet resilience of rural life.

Raised in the tiny town of Toad Suck, Arkansas, a place without stoplights and barely 300 people, Trey grew up on cassette tapes, vinyl records, and the hand-me-down guitar his grandfather left behind.

With no internet at home, he learned by listening, shaping a sound that blends outlaw country, heavy rock, and the plainspoken honesty of storytellers like Merle Haggard, George Jones and Terry Allen.

A songwriting retreat in Louisiana later anchored his creative identity and introduced him to his wife, Lexi, opening a new chapter rooted in purpose and craft.

Pendley’s presence on social media has become undeniable, marked by a natural star quality that feels far from manufactured. His breakout track ‘Daddy’s Son’ struck a nerve, drawing millions into his world of hard-won truths and generational storytelling. His latest single, ‘The Dog,’ leans into that same down-home charm, offering the kind of relatable writing that makes you pause and take stock of the blessings right in front of you.

Now living just outside Nashville, Trey continues to build a body of work grounded in authenticity, heart, and the belief that real stories still matter.

- Soda Canter

'The Dog' is out now on Leo33

Listen If You Like: Tyler Childers, Aaron Raitiere, Ben Chapman

The Creekers

Some bands have that one shining gem, the song that you’ll be bound to hear at every live gig for the rest of their (hopefully long) career. In 2025, Kentucky bluegrass band The Creekers unearthed their diamond with the viral hit ‘Tennessee’.

Despite their first release coming in 2024, it was with their 2025 EP River Rats that the group burst onto the scene with the kind of confidence that typically comes with a group that has a fair few more years under their belt than The Creekers do. Firmly planted in their bluegrass roots, the six-piece group’s instrumental skills know no bounds, an immediately impressive sound paired with Stapleton style vocals sent us straight to the mountains of Kentucky in 2025.

Having topped off their year signing with Warner Brothers Nashville, though, it seems like this bluegrass band will be bringing their traditional sound to Music City - and there’s no doubt we’ll be hearing their name a little more often in the new year. Long live bluegrass.

- DI

The River Rat EP is out now on Warner Music Nashville

Listen If You Like: The SteelDrivers, Molly Tuttle, Colby T. Helms

Faith Hopkins

Some of country's most exciting moments of 2025 came from the poppier end of the spectrum, with artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Dasha and Mackenzie Carpenter all proving that catchiness and commercial appeal didn't have to exist exclusively from depth and innovation.

After kicking off 2025 with 'Am I The Only One?' newcomer Faith Hopkins kept up with the big hitters all year with a string of near perfect pop country singles leading up to her debut EP, Love & Insanity, in October.

From moony ruminations on messy relationships and playful post-break up anthems, she embraced all the contradictions and complexities of womanhood in the modern age, all wrapped up in deliciously catchy, hard relatable country pop songs that slipped down like a frothy cappuccino with a boozy shot of bourbon in.

- JO

The Love & Insanity EP is out now on Play It Again Music

Listen If You Like: Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Lauren Alaina

Tyce Delk

Tyce Delk. Remember that name as we enter 2026.

The New Mexico-bred crooner made a splash over the summer of 2025 with his country-soul ballad, ‘Adaline’. Since then, it’s been difficult to think of the rising star’s spine-tingling pipes and not want more of his powerful Country & Western. While he recently followed through, dropping his debut EP, Enough Ain’t Enough, this past November, we’re eagerly anticipating more from the singular star.

Contemporary country could undoubtedly benefit from Delk in the New Year, with his stunning voice and stark style marking a breath of fresh air for the current mainstream. Right now, his repertoire may be sparse, but his talent isn’t. Whatever he’s planning for 2026, we’ll be all over it. Make sure you are too.

- AP

Enough Ain't Enough is out now on River House Artists

Listen If You Like: Kashus Culpepper, Randall King, Vincent Mason

Harper Grace

Harper Grace is a singer-songwriter from McKinney, Texas, whose journey from viral infamy to rising country star reads like a modern redemption story.

At just eleven, she faced national ridicule after a shaky rendition of the national anthem, but she turned that moment into fuel. Years later, she reached the Top 50 on American Idol and returned for the finale to perform her original song ‘Yard Sale,’ earning widespread praise for her authenticity and grit.

Guided by faith and an unshakable sense of purpose, Grace has built a career grounded in honesty and self-reflection. Her songs blend sharp storytelling with a soulful Southern pop-country edge, as heard on fan favorites ‘Yard Sale,’ ‘Sparkle,’ and her autobiographical anthem ‘Oh Say Can You See.’

Now, with her newest release ‘Take It to the Grave,’ Grace opens an exciting new chapter. The soulful track reveals an artist stepping confidently into her own sound, pairing powerful vocals with hard-won perspective and proving once again that Grace’s story is one of perseverance, purpose, and undeniable talent.

- SC

'take it to the grave' is out now on Curb Records

Listen If You Like: Mackenzie Carpenter, Megan Moroney, Mackenzie Porter

Cole Goodwin

Although definitely positioned in the folk-tinged edges of the country scene, Cole Goodwin gives his honest storytelling enough polish and modern energy to draw in a wider audience too. The Pooler, Georgia native signed with Big Machine Records earlier in 2025.

Goodwin’s sincere flair and classic-country roots come through his recent songs. On 'Dust On The Dancefloor', he wraps heartbreak in steel-guitar melancholy and old-school country charm. Meanwhile 'Girlfriend’s Got A Boyfriend' rides more playful, two-stepping energy with a throwback vibe and witty lyricism.

Whether he's leaning into raw heartbreak or lighthearted heartbreak-with-humor, Cole Goodwin feels like the next artist carrying forward the torch of traditional country, but with a self-awareness and polish that readies him for the mainstream. As 2026 gears up, good luck staying under the radar.

- CH

'Messin' With My Mind' is out now via Big Machine Label Group

Listen If You Like: Cody Jinks, Zach Top, Drake Milligan

Tyler Nance

Tyler Nance takes his humble, blue-collar background and uses it to form the heartbeat of his music.

From working on his family’s farm, to his time as a travelling welder, Nance works his roots into his songwriting, demonstrating what classic country music is all about.

His viral hit, ‘Keeps Me Sane’, released in July this year, racked up a staggering 1 million streams across all platforms in just five days. With an explosion of success, it landed him a spot on the Spotify Viral 50-Global list. Currently, the track sits at over 41 million streams.

Nance also released his EP, ‘I’m Not Him’, in May this year, with fan favourites, ‘Whiskey Me or the Pain’ and ‘Same Song and Dance’, continuing to weave his lyrical prowess with beautiful fiddles and twangy guitars.

With support slots like Ian Munsick’s ‘The Eagle Flies Free Tour’ and appearances at festivals such as Rock the South and Cattle Country, already booked in, Tyler Nance is set for a busy, but career-making 2026.

- GB

'Keeps Me Sane' is out now on Santa Anna

Listen If You Like: Wyatt Flores, Tyler Childers, Ty Myers