Up Next: The Indie Index 2026
Your essential guide to the artists poised for a big year in 2026.
2025 has been a busy year for music, and as ever, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the UK’s most exciting rising talent, spotlighting the names you’ll want to know before everyone else does.
From the artists who stopped us in our tracks with phenomenal debuts and standout EPs to those who proved their star power on stage, these are the fifteen acts you should have firmly on your radar in 2026.
1. Westside Cowboy
Photo: Charlie Barclay Harris
After opening the Woodsies stage at this year’s Glastonbury, releasing their debut EP This Better Be Something Great and supporting the likes of Blondshell and Black Country, New Road, it’s safe to say 2025 was pretty mega for Westside Cowboy.
Now set to support cult superstars Geese on their UK and European tour, head out on their own headline run, and release their sophomore EP So Much Country ‘Till We Get There, the rapidly rising band are showing no signs of slowing anytime soon.
Keep up-to-date with Westside Cowboy on Instagram here.
2. Keo
Photo: Hermione Sylvester
Another band to have a massive 2025, London four-piece Keo captured the attention of guitar music fans with their breakout single I Lied, Amber and debut EP Siren. With a headline slot at this year’s Liverpool Sound City already confirmed and festival appearances lined up at Tramlines, Truck, Reading & Leeds, and more, 2026 is set to be even bigger for Keo.
Keep up-to-date with Keo on Instagram here.
3. Madra Salach
Photo: Robbie Stickland
After generating word of mouth buzz through relentless gigging, Madra Salach released their debut single Blue & Gold in September, before translating their on-stage captivity online via a Next Door Session that has since racked up thousands of views. With their debut EP It’s a Hell of an Age, arriving January 23rd, the Irish band are primed to tear straight into the new year.
Keep up-to-date with Madra Salach on Instagram here.
4. Cardinals
Photo: Steve Gullick
Already at the forefront of the Irish independent rock scene, Cardinals have shed their early influences to arrive at a sound that feels fully formed and entirely their own.
Marking this new era with the release of their debut album, Masquerade – set for release February 13th via So Young Records – the quintet’s recent singles have already confirmed that it will be an emotionally expansive record that balances bright-eyed vulnerability with darker, grittier undertones.
Keep up-to-date with Cardinals on Instagram here.
5. Brooki
Photo: Emilyn Cardona
Brooki’s rise began with a viral TikTok clip of the band performing their unreleased track amber, which quickly snowballed into a growing online following as fans continue to eagerly await its official release.
Having supported the likes of The Wombats and Keo, the Irish band have successfully built momentum on multiple fronts without releasing a single track.
Keep up-to-date with Brooki on Instagram here.
6. Bleech 9:3
Photo: Tatiana Pozuelo
Another buzzy band more than worth the hype, Bleech 9:3 made a striking first impression in 2025 with two releases: their 90s grunge-infused debut single Ceiling and frenzied follow-up Jacky.
Defined by their heavy alt-grunge sound and lyrics that toy with themes of longing, desire and erasure, the Dublin-formed, London-based band should definitely be on every rock fan’s radar.
Keep up-to-date with Bleech 9:3 on Instagram here.
7. Man/Woman/Chainsaw
Photo: Charlie & Charlie
Following a UK tour, a sold-out show at London’s Scala, and live sessions for both KEXP and Steve Lamacq at BBC 6 Music, Man/Woman/Chainsaw recently announced their signing to Fiction Records (The Cure, St. Vincent, The Horrors).
Announced alongside their latest single Only Girl – a playful love song with a gorgeous violin top-line – it’s an exciting indication of what their rumoured 2026 debut album might sound like.
Keep up-to-date with Man/Woman/Chainsaw on Instagram here.
8. Radio Free Alice
Photo: Sasha Eisner
Since forming in Australia in 2020, Radio Free Alice have built their reputation on consistency, spending the last few years refining a sound that draws from classic new wave and post-punk while remaining firmly rooted in the present.
Although three well-received EPs laid the foundations, it’s their live presence – sharpened through relentless gigging and major festival slots – that truly sets them apart.
Keep up-to-date with Radio Free Alice on Instagram here.
9. Imogen and the Knife
Photo: Press
Set against a lush orchestral backdrop, Imogen and the Knife’s debut EP Some Kind of Love announced her as an artist unafraid of grandeur and emotional incision.
Using ‘the Knife’ as a symbol of reclamation, Imogen’s music cuts to the core of love in all its complexity, balancing vulnerability with poise, and leaving a lasting impression long after the final note.
While no new music has been officially released since 2024, a recent support slot for The Last Dinner Party on their UK tour suggests that Imogen’s next chapter may be closer than it seems.
Keep up-to-date with Imogen and the Knife on Instagram here.
10. Wasia Project
Photo: Press
After a year away, the indie-pop duo dropped earworm Letters From The Day in November, positioning themselves for an exciting 2026.
Formed in 2019 by siblings Olivia Hardy and William Gao, the pair have enjoyed numerous festival slots and featured on the Heartstopper soundtrack, thanks in part to William’s spot in the main cast, playing the shy and lovestruck Tao Xu.
Keep up-to-date with Wasia Project on Instagram here.
11. Esme Emerson
Photo: Press
For sibling duo Esme Emerson, this year was about growth. The release of their latest EP, Applesauce, was followed by their debut UK headline tour, which brought their charming world to life on stage.
Blending sharp musicianship with sugary melodies and quick-witted charm, the playful pair quietly demonstrated that they are one of the most compelling indie pop duos to emerge in recent years.
Keep up-to-date with Esme Emerson on Instagram here.
12. Cliffords
Photo: Press
Cork indie-rock band Cliffords solidified themselves as a live force to be reckoned with in 2025. Balancing power with sensitivity through their soaring yet emotional soundscapes, the quartet effortlessly showcased their multi-dimensional sound at venues across the UK and Ireland. Capturing love, heartbreak and cathartic joy with lyrics and melodies that nod to the likes of The Cranberries and Wolf Alice, Cliffords are a rising band not to be underestimated.
Keep up-to-date with Cliffords on Instagram here.
13. daydreamers
Photo: Joe Magowan
After a whirlwind rise in 2024, September saw daydreamers launch their highly anticipated new era with latest single, Good Intentions. Brimming with confidence and emotional clarity, the single showcases a band hitting their stride. With plenty more new music already lined up, daydreamers seem ready to cement their place as a rising mainstay of British indie.
Keep up-to-date with daydreamers on Instagram here.
14. Balancing Act
Photo: Indy Brewer
Never ones to stand still, Balancing Act are known for keeping listeners guessing, and next year is set to be no different. As well as heading out on their biggest headline tour to date, the London-based quartet will also release the second part of their debut album, Who’ve You Come As? Part 2. Described by the band as more live and unconstrained, the record promises a bold shift in sound.
Keep up-to-date with Balancing Act on Instagram here.
15. Saint Clair
London’s Saint Clair are a four-piece band blurring the lines between shoegaze and alt-rock. Defined by moody guitars, introspective lyrics, and a no-frills approach to songwriting, the band have already secured slots at next year’s Sound City, The Great Escape, Tramlines and Truck Festival.
Despite having just one official release to their name, Saint Clair’s recent SubCat Session and two SoundCloud demos mark them out as a clear band to watch next year.
Keep up-to-date with Saint Clair on Instagram here.
