Luxembourg acts set for centre stage at Eurosonic 2026

Luxembourg music takes a major leap onto the European stage: two home-grown acts from the Grand Duchy, DasRADIAL and Josh Island, have been confirmed to perform at the 40th edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS), to be held in Groningen, Netherlands, from 14–17 January 2026.

Festival overview

Eurosonic Noorderslag is one of Europe’s foremost showcase festivals and music industry conferences. Held annually in the Dutch city of Groningen, ESNS brings together emerging artists, professionals from labels, booking agencies, radio and live music, plus thousands of passionate music-lovers. The festival’s roots go back to the mid-1980s, when separate events, “Holland Belgium Festival” and “Noorderslag”, merged into the format now known. The event has grown into a vital platform for breaking artists across Europe. In 2026 the four-day event (14–17 January) will mark the 40th edition, making it a landmark opportunity for participating acts and for those representing their countries on a pan-European stage.

All Eurosonic performers take part in the ESNS Exchange programme: a Europe-wide initiative designed to help emerging acts reach new stages and audiences beyond their home countries. Backed by a vibrant network of partners, including the European Broadcasting Union (with Luxembourg’s Radio 100,7 among its members), export offices such as Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg, and local media, the programme boosts international visibility and helps promising European talent make its mark across the continent.

DasRADIAL

DasRADIAL is the multi-disciplinary solo project of Luxembourg actor, cinematographer and musician Max Thommes. Formerly active with the indie-rock band INBORN!, the artist transitioned to this electronic-solo persona, exploring themes of societal change, digital dystopia and performance art. His debut album RADIKAL_VIRAL was released in May 2025.

For ESNS 2026, DasRADIAL will perform on 16 January at 11:30pm on the Huize Maas stage, a late-night slot that promises a vivid, immersive experience. The selection of DasRADIAL was made in collaboration Radio 100,7, underscoring the importance of domestic platforms in identifying talent for the international stage.

Josh Island

Many of us know Josh Island is a Luxembourg-based singer-songwriter whose musical style blends pop, folk, soul and guitar-driven storytelling.

His 2023 debut album In My Head gained recognition in the Benelux and German-speaking markets. He has supported acts such as James Morrison, Passenger, Starsailor, and Alec Benjamin to name but a few, performed at major European festivals and toured extensively.

Looking ahead, his second studio album (titled Imaginary Borders) is due in early 2026. The album explores themes of physical and emotional boundaries, recorded across studios in Lisbon, Amsterdam and Athens. We are pleased to confirm that Josh Island will perform at ESNS 2026 during the event’s main programme (14-17 January 2026), as part of the 40th edition’s line-up.

What this means for Luxembourg

The presence of two Luxembourg acts at ESNS 2026 is a strong signal of the vitality and growing international ambition of the Luxembourg music scene. For the artists, ESNS offers high-level exposure to agents, promoters, festival bookers, media and fellow musicians across Europe. For the national ecosystem, radio, broadcasters, live promoters and cultural export networks, the event represents a valuable showcase opportunity.

Good luck to both DasRADIAL and Josh Island for January in Groningen!

• Check out DasRADIAL in the ESNS 2026 website

• Check out Josh Island on the ESNS 2026 website