Shazam reveals the artists you should look out for in 2026
Shazam’s Fast Forward 2026 playlist is here, predicting the artists set to breakthrough in 2026 and beyond.
Shazam has thrown its hat in the ring for which artists could be on the rise in 2026, with its Fast Forward 2026 list. It joins the likes of Spotify and Vevo who have shared similar lists in the last few days.
The Fast Forward 2026 list takes a look at the artists currently being discovered through the song’s identification tool and those who are expected to breakthrough this year.
Shazam’s track record speaks for itself, with the platform noting that last year’s cohort more than doubled their collective Apple Music streams last year. Previous Fast Forward alumni include The Last Dinner Party (2024), Benson Boone (2023), Ice Spice (2023), Stephen Sanchez (2023), and Ayra Starr (2022). All of whom went on to have major breakout moments after appearing on the list.
This year’s list features 65 artists from across genres and regions, reflecting just how global music discovery has become. Fast Forward 2026 comes with an accompanying Apple Music playlist, with one track for each artist.
Want to discover those artists early? Check out the playlist here:
Shazam describes this year’s playlist as follows:
“Every day, Shazam gets millions of requests from users around the world who are curious about the artist behind a song. These requests come all over – TikTok videos, car commercials, overhearing something in the wild – which makes it a powerful tool for predicting tomorrow’s heavy hitters. For 2026, we’ve assembled a playlist featuring over 60 artists – based on Shazam data and reviewed by our editors – that are poised to have a breakthrough year. From K-pop group CORTIS to Alabama country crooner Kashus Culpepper to Irish rock band Florence Road, it’s a remarkably diverse group of artists hailing from all corners of the globe. Have a listen and add the ones you love to your library before the world catches on.”