40th ESNS To Forgo National Spotlights In Favor Of Unified European Theme

Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) will celebrate its 40th anniversary Jan. 14-17, 2026. Instead of the usual country focus celebrating the unique cultural stories of individual European markets, organizers have opted for a more unifying theme as the European music sector stands at what they’ve described as “important crossroads”

By choosing the theme “Europe Calling”, ESNS’s organizers want to counteract the geopolitical tensions, and cultural fragmentation that seem to have taken a hold of the world, as well as the rapid shifts this industry has to contend with.

It’s a notable shift from the individual country profiles of past editions. Poland, for instance, was the focus country in 2024, Italy in 2025.

“But with rising global geopolitical pressures, the call for European unity has never been more urgent. Europe Calling is ESNS’s new manifesto: a shift from national spotlights to a shared cultural movement,” according to a press release.

The manifesto can be read in full here.

Talking The Beating Heart Of ESNS With Managing Director Anna Van Nunen

Anna van Nunen, managing director of ESNS, commented, “For years, shining a light on individual countries has helped us celebrate Europe’s rich diversity, but the challenges we face today demand more. Now is the time to bring those voices together and build an even stronger, connected European music community. Europe Calling is about more than identity, it’s about taking responsibility for our shared future. Music can bring us together. It’s time to make that connection louder than ever.”

What hasn’t changed is that hundreds of Europe’s most exciting emerging artists will have an opportunity to play a showcase at ESNS26.

For the festival’s 40-year anniversary, visitors can expect “curated archival deep-dives, exclusive collaborations with media partners, pop-up activations and unique anniversary events that will highlight success stories of artists who started on ESNS stages and went on to shape European music.”

Artists who’ve profited from ESNS’s mission to promote European talent outside of their home territories over the past four decades include Dua Lipa, Stromae, Aurora, Robyn, and countless others.

As organizers point out, “Europe is the second-largest music market in the world, with artists breaking international barriers in their own languages. But this position is not guaranteed. Europe Calling is more than a theme, it is a call to action. A rallying cry to invest in artists, in infrastructure and in the future of a unified European music sector.”

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