The 2020s have undeniably ushered in a new golden era for dance music, bringing with it a wave of emerging talent that is shaping the genre’s future. Among the scene’s thriving state, a select group of artists is standing out, proving that the next 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years of dance music are in capable hands. As always, we’ve narrowed the field down to highlight a few rising artists we believe are on the cusp of becoming household dance music names.
Artists appear in alphabetical order. A playlist with all selected tracks is included at the end.
For 19:26, 2025 marked a defining leap forward, cementing the Italian producer as one of melodic techno’s most compelling emerging forces. The release of The Passage — a five-track EP via Afterlife — alongside his remix of Henri Bergmann’s “Secrets Too Soon,” was matched by a run of high-profile performances, including Afterlife Tulum, a viral set at the Giza Pyramids, and appearances at Ushuaia Dubai. Carrying that momentum into 2026, 19:26 already has headline shows scheduled for 99 Scott in New York, Prysm Chicago, and a Los Angeles warehouse. With an upcoming collaboration with Anyma and a wave of new IDs already circulating, a true breakout year feels not just possible but inevitable. — Alex Lambeau
AVELLO played scene-stealer when Martin Garrix and Alesso unexpectedly flipped Red Rocks on its head in October, but his “Destiny” remix was only a snapshot of the momentum he’s been steadily building, especially throughout 2025. This past year, AVELLO hit the release cycle a meteoric 13 times with his compelling approach to bass music, including that aforementioned take on Alesso and Sacha, an Ophelia Records debut, a collaboration with Adventure Club, and more. And AVELLO also expanded his live presence with a slew of headline stops, opening slots for ILLENIUM and Deorro, and festival appearances at Lost Lands and Breakaway. Even before 2026 kicks off, AVELLO is proving his Artist to Watch status with secured tour dates alongside Subtronics and Seven Lions, plus major festival appearances at Electric Forest, Forbidden Kingdom, and beyond. — Ross Goldenberg
Broken Hill has emerged as one of house music’s most exciting rising producers, steadily building momentum through a run of high-profile releases. In 2025, he delivered standout records on Maccabi House — including a collaboration with fellow Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2026, Soraya — alongside releases on Black Book Records and a collaborative cut with BLOND:ISH and Darco. Looking ahead, an upcoming single on Solomun’s Diynamic label, paired with U.S. dates at Audio San Francisco and Walter WhereHouse in Phoenix, signals another clear step forward as he heads into 2026. — Alex Lambeau
Brunello has been quietly carving out a distinctive niche in indie dance and house, blending sharp production with a whimsical, circus-inspired aesthetic. The San Diego-based producer and Mellow Circus Records founder first gained attention in 2024 with “The Clown’s Corridor,” which earned widespread play across Ibiza clubs. That momentum carried into 2025 with the release of “Lost in The Mellow Circus” on Nervous Records, earning Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune of the Week. With upcoming U.S. dates at Jolene Soundroom, Decadence NYE, and Brooklyn Storehouse, Brunello is poised for a breakout year ahead. — Alex Lambeau
Delilah has quickly emerged as one of London’s most compelling new house music talents, recently making the leap to pursue music full time. Her blend of deep house and UK influences gained early traction online in 2024, before her 2025 single “We’re Done” was named SoundCloud’s Track of the Day, climbed to #1 on the platform’s global trending chart, and found its way onto a billboard in London. That momentum translated into key performances at The Warehouse Project Manchester, UNVRS Ibiza, and KOKO London. With her latest ID “Secrets” already topping release wishlists, Delilah heads into 2026 with unmistakable momentum. — Alex Lambeau
Rewind to around 2019 and you’d find a 17-year-old Discip daydreaming about the day the Solid Grooves boss would become familiar with his name. In 2025, Discip not only made that a reality, but cemented himself at the forefront of house music’s next generation. Beyond earning a rare Michael Bibi seal of approval, Discip’s unrelenting 2025 campaign hit milestone after milestone, from a debut North American tour — with stops at Space Miami, Brooklyn Storehouse, and Pacha Ibiza — to an upcoming Proper NYE set that Dancing Astronaut will personally attend, all while releasing one inescapable weapon after another across esteemed labels like Three Six Zero, Black Book Records, Insomniac Records, and Experts Only. — Ross Goldenberg
For Gabss, the word “banger” has become practically synonymous with his name. That reputation was cemented in his fifth year as an artist, when he posted a towering 18 — yes, 18 — separate releases, an unmistakable signal that his inclusion on this list was inevitable. Each release was met with mounting anticipation in the months leading up to its arrival, spanning labels like Nervous Records, CamelPhat’s When Stars Align, Ayybo’s GBD Records (for its inaugural release), and Chris Lake’s Black Book Records, capped by an official Frank Ocean remix alongside Vintage Culture that felt like the ultimate victory lap. One of the most-supported producers of the year — as confirmed by Beatport and 1001Tracklists — the Brazilian talent now heads into 2026 with serious excitement already set. — Ross Goldenberg
More than a decade ago, London-based twins Rhett and Conran Lee watched a teenage Martin Garrix begin to upend the dance music world and decided that was the lane they wanted to pursue. That long-term vision has already paid dividends behind the scenes, with the brothers earning production and songwriting credits for the likes of John Summit, Solardo, and Sonny Fodera under their Twin Lee moniker. They’ve channeled that experience into their own artist project, IDEMI. Launched in 2023, IDEMI has quickly emerged as one of dance music’s most intriguing new names, marrying a unique house style with the polish of seasoned hitmakers. Across seven standout releases in 2025 — including one that earned live support from Swedish House Mafia — IDEMI showcased a clear artistic identity and upward trajectory, positioning the duo as a project primed to break through in 2026. — Ross Goldenberg
Sometimes you hear just one song from an artist and immediately know they’re destined for greatness. That was the overwhelming consensus for many after J Ribbon released an instant Anjunabeats classic in 2025, “Lifetime.” To zoom out, his journey began five years earlier, when he signed his first label deal with Pete Tong’s famed FFRR Records at just 15 years old, before ultimately reemerging under the J Ribbon moniker. His discography began to take shape in 2024 via the 18th edition of Anjunabeats Rising, followed by five additional releases heading into 2025. And while this year only saw J Ribbon appear on the release scoreboard twice, both “Lifetime” and “Won’t Stop” made a definitive case for quality over quantity, landing in between opening slots for Above & Beyond and Eric Prydz — including an entire season of opening duties for Prydz’s HOLOSPHERE 2.0 residency at UNVRS — alongside a run of Anjuna25 shows and more. Considering the July upload of his HOLOSPHERE set features 14 original, unreleased IDs, J Ribbon heads into 2026 with a ceiling that feels limitless. — Ross Goldenberg
Kotiēr has only been releasing original music for the past couple of years, yet his sound already feels strikingly refined beyond the 24-year-old’s years. A lifelong pianist with a background in computer science, he leveraged both disciplines early on, experimenting with layered visuals alongside synths and piano-driven reinterpretations that helped launch his artist project. In the past year alone, he released EPs on RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Rose Avenue Records and Solomun’s Diynamic, and collaborated with CamelPhat and Yellowitz on their new single, “Goddess.” On the road, he’s already supported the likes of CamelPhat, Adriatique, Aaron Hibell, and Kölsch, among others. Based in New York City, Kotiēr produces and DJs while also showcasing a distinctive hybrid-live approach across his social channels. — Zach Salafia
California-based melodic house producer mölly only began releasing music within the last two years, yet she’s already established herself as a rising force within the scene. Signed to Colorize — the melodic-focused sublabel of Enhanced — she’s delivered standout releases including her Rushing In EP and an enchanting remix of Blonde Maze, Polar Inc., and Channy Leaneagh’s “Asleep In My Head.” Outside the studio, mölly is also a yoga teacher — even leading sessions at Lightning in a Bottle — an influence that clearly informs the calm, emotive energy woven throughout her music. In 2025, she toured with the Colorize team, appeared at festivals such as Dreamstate, and served as direct support for MYRNE, Shallou, and Forester, further solidifying her momentum. — Zach Salafia
At just 19 years old, nikko is already making waves with his “I ❤️ FUN MUSIC” mantra. The rising DJ and producer began self-releasing tracks in 2022 and quickly caught the attention of labels like Nightmode and Sable Valley, as well as tastemakers including ISOxo, Knock2, and NGHTMRE. His back-to-back set with fellow Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2026 WINK was a standout moment at this year’s niteharts festival, part of a growing streak of collaborative work between the two emerging artists. nikko is currently on tour as direct support for Eliminate, further cementing his presence on the scene. — Zach Salafia
Not every artist can tout collaborative credits with Fred again.. — a Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch alum — along with an official co-sign from him in a 2023 Instagram post. But on that extremely short list is Nova Blue, who leveraged a behind-the-scenes career in mixing, mastering, co-production, and more — including work alongside artists like Daya, Tate McRae, and Stargate — into her own forward-facing project. Debuting in late 2024, she became STMPD RCRDS’ newest signee in 2025, turning in three promising singles this year that showcase a refreshing approach to house music and all but guarantee she’s the next A-lister to join Martin Garrix’s label. — Ross Goldenberg
Few artists are reshaping modern house music quite like Omar+, whose fusion of smooth R&B vocals and groovy, bumpy club production has made him instantly recognizable. The UK-based singer and producer broke through in 2025 with two of the year’s most notable tracks, “Back It Up” with Josh Baker — a Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2025 — and “Make Believe” with Luke Dean. As his sound continues to gain international traction, Omar+ is poised to break through even further in 2026, including dates at Red Rocks, CRSSD Festival, and headline shows in Washington, DC, and Boston. — Alex Lambeau
Pegassi has firmly established himself as one of Europe’s leading forces in Eurodance and trance, pairing high-impact productions with scene-defining moments. After two years of anticipation, the Belgian producer finally released his fan-favorite ID “227Kg” via his Sweet Nothing imprint this past week. His rise has been underscored by standout achievements, from becoming the first artist to play Tomorrowland’s makeshift mainstage in 2025 to producing the official soundtrack for Team Belgium at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. With U.S. dates confirmed at 99 Scott in New York and CRSSD Festival in San Diego, Pegassi is poised for a significant step forward stateside in 2026. — Alex Lambeau
Soraya made her musical debut in 2025 with standout releases on Maccabi House — including “Brain Delay,” a collaboration with fellow Dancing Astronaut Artist to Watch in 2026 Broken Hill — as well as Realm Records with “Danse de L’amour.” The Filipino-American artist also maintained a robust touring schedule, supporting an array of notable acts such as Azzecca, Max Styler, Jamie Jones, Ayybo, Adam Ten & Mita Gami, Linska, and Gorgon City. The San Diego native recently signed with Wright Bookings and closed out the year with her debut headline set in New York City, signaling even more to come over the next year and beyond. — Zach Salafia
St. Mary operates at the intersection of trap and melodic bass, pairing emotional depth with high-octane energy. Her production range is on full display across her debut EP AMEN — released earlier this December via bitbird — which flows seamlessly between soaring melodies and hard-hitting low end. In 2025, she earned major co-signs from SLANDER and San Holo with an official remix of their Julia Church collaboration, “Broken Hearted.” A Berklee College of Music graduate, St. Mary recently opened for Subtronics at The Shrine and has served as direct support for San Holo, Adventure Club, and more, further establishing her as a rising force in the scene. — Zach Salafia
WELKER’s first formal year of releasing music had as much impact as he could have hoped for, culminating in exactly why he now earns this nod. A grand opening with “Element” on Diynamic’s 41st edition of Four To The Floor set an auspicious tone, as his growing catalog of weapons quickly snowballed — landing releases on labels like Repopulate Mars, When Stars Align, and Three Six Zero, earning support from Solomun, Max Styler, Vintage Culture, and more, while also securing opening slots for the likes of Ayybo and Max Styler. In the process, WELKER further solidified Brazil’s reputation as a hotbed for house music’s next wave and now heads into 2026 with one of the most anticipated IDs in circulation, ‘Ice In My Eyes,’ expected to arrive on Nu Moda in the new year. — Ross Goldenberg
WINK was first recognized by the trap godfather RL Grime himself as a rising force in the scene, a sentiment now reinforced with Dancing Astronaut’s Artist to Watch in 2026 nod for the Sable Valley mainstay. He made a definitive leap forward in 2025 with standout releases, including the WIIINK EP, high-profile collaborations with NGHTMRE and RL Grime, and an August ID showcase featuring a colossal 24 unreleased tracks at the time. His momentum is closely tied to frequent collaborator and close friend Nikko, with the duo’s standout B2B set at niteharts festival further solidifying both as artists to watch in the year ahead. — Zach Salafia
Featured image: NASA
Categories: Features
