Amazon Music reveals 2026 Artists to Watch list

Amazon Music has unveiled its global 2026 Artists to Watch campaign, spotlighting 49 emerging names expected to break through across the year. Moreover, the initiative will push these acts across 28 key playlists worldwide, giving fans a clear starting point for new music discovery in 2026.

This year’s list covers a wide mix of scenes and regions, including Destin Conrad, Seyi Vibez, EJAE, Max Styler, PRESIDENT, NewDad, MEOVV, and Adam Klobi. Instead of limiting the campaign to one sound, Amazon Music will highlight artists across R&B, hip-hop, country, dance, Latin, rock, alternative, K-Pop, J-Pop, classical, and more, while placing them in playlists such as “Country Heat,” “Platino,” “Rotation,” and “K-Pop Now.”

Additionally, the platform has launched a dedicated ‘2026 Artists to Watch’ playlist that gathers the full global selection in one place. Throughout the year, Amazon Music will update the playlist as the featured artists drop new releases, keeping the campaign active beyond launch week.

To mark the rollout, the company also commissioned seven exclusive Amazon Music Originals, recorded specifically for the program. These include JayDon covering Aaliyah’s ‘One in a Million,’ VENGAYO reworking ‘Chikkama,’ and fresh interpretations from Zach John King, Chloe Qisha, Jamie MacDonald, and Bebo Dumont. Meanwhile, friqtao contributed an instrumental built for the ‘Peaceful Meditation’ soundtrack.

Fans can listen to the official playlist here.