Queen Máxima Opens 40th ESNS

Máxima, Queen of the Netherlands, opened the 40th edition of ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) on Jan. 14 at De Oosterpoort in Groningen. Máxima attended the opening ceremony hosting shows by German theatre duo Siegfried & Joy, Ukrainian artist Alina Pash, Dutch group YĪN YĪN and Spanish singer Lia Kali.

She was joined on stage by ESNS managing director Anna van Nunen, who said, “See what 40 years of ESNS and European music has brought us. I’m thinking about superstars such as Stromae or Dua Lipa, but we are equally proud of Mario Batkovich, the Bosnian/Swiss accordion player that amazed festival goers after playing ESNS. We all love Fontaines D.C., Stormzy and AURORA, but we equally love harpist Remy van Kesteren, who flows between pop and classical scenes. Let’s embrace the mainstream and the niches that Europe has!”

Telling Stories, Talking Shop & Treading The Boards: ESNS Turns 40

The Queen, who said music was essential, as it expressed what we can’t do with words, also attended a live show by Dutch artist Goldkimono at the Kleine Zaal, who performed a rendition of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”. Later at the Binnenzaal, she witnessed a performance by Irish songwriter and performer Dove Ellis.

At the end of her visit to Groningen, the Máxima met with several artists who have played on the first day of ESNS 2026, according to a press release out of Groningen.

Some of the highlights to be found at this year’s anniversary edition: the free MEET@AIR program at Grote Markt, the very center of Groningen, once again spotlights talent from the north of the Netherlands; several projects open to the public, including a photo exhibition by concert photographer Ben Houdijk, long-time photographer of the event.

The ESNS Conference program features over 520 leading music industry professionals participating in panel discussions, workshops, and keynotes on a wide range of thought-provoking and cutting-edge topics, attended by over 4,000 music professionals from Europe. During the festival, acts from all over Europe are performing in 18 venues across Groningen.

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