“Artists to watch” lists are usually wrong. I know this. Half the acts I tipped last year are still playing the same rooms to the same sixty people. But the exercise of identifying emerging talent is useful even when the predictions miss, because it surfaces music that deserves attention regardless of commercial trajectory.

Here are seven Australian artists I think are positioned for significant growth in 2026, based on the quality of their music, their live show development, and the industry momentum building around them.

1. Mala Vista (Sydney)

This post-punk outfit has been building steam on the Sydney circuit for the past eighteen months, and their BIGSOUND showcase last year was a turning point. The combination of Arabic-language lyrics over driving post-punk instrumentation is distinctive in a way that grabs attention immediately.

Their debut EP is due in the first half of 2026, and based on the singles released so far, it’s going to be significant. Multiple booking agents are circling, and the band has a live energy that translates to festival stages. Watch for them at Splendour and Laneway sideshows.

2. Kota Banks (Melbourne)

Kota Banks has been releasing music for several years, but her recent material feels like a step change. The production has become more adventurous — harder, weirder, more confident — and her vocal performances are commanding in a way they weren’t before.

She’s built a dedicated online following that should translate to stronger live attendance in 2026. If the right single connects with algorithmic playlists, she could break from “emerging” to “established” quickly.

3. Elsy Wameyo (Adelaide)

Elsy Wameyo has already won an ARIA and performed on some of Australia’s biggest stages, but I’d argue she hasn’t reached her ceiling yet. Her artistry keeps expanding — the music videos are cinematic, the performances are theatrical, and the songwriting is getting more personal and specific.

2026 feels like the year she makes the jump from nationally recognised to internationally relevant. The ingredients are all there.

4. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers (Canberra)

Don’t let the name fool you — this band makes serious indie rock with hooks that could power a small city. They’ve been building steadily through touring, and their live show has tightened into something genuinely impressive.

Canberra doesn’t produce many nationally prominent bands, which means Teen Jesus have had to work harder to get noticed. That work ethic shows in their performances and their rapidly growing streaming numbers.

5. Nerve (Brisbane)

A Brisbane-based producer making electronic music that draws from jungle, breakbeat, and ambient. The production quality is exceptional, and the sound sits at an intersection that’s commercially viable without being generic.

Nerve’s tracks have been picked up by several influential Spotify playlists, and their monthly listener count has grown steadily. Live shows are rare, which adds mystique but also means the first festival appearance will be a moment.

6. Sam Alfred (Perth)

Perth’s geographic isolation often means its artists are late to national attention, but Sam Alfred is building something too good to ignore. His folk-tinged singer-songwriter material is emotionally direct in a way that Australian music sometimes avoids, and his voice is genuinely beautiful.

A debut album is reportedly in the works, and if it captures the quality of his live performances, it’ll be one of the year’s best.

7. Kobie Dee (Sydney)

Kobie Dee has been on the radar for a while, but his recent music suggests a maturity that could take him to the next level. A Kamilaroi rapper who can switch between introspective storytelling and high-energy bangers, he represents the growing strength of First Nations hip-hop in Australia.

His live show has developed significantly, and festival programmers are taking notice. A strong album campaign in 2026 could establish him as one of Australia’s most important hip-hop voices.

The Common Thread

What connects these seven artists isn’t genre — they span hip-hop, post-punk, electronic, folk, and pop. It’s a combination of artistic distinctiveness, live performance ability, and a sense that they’re still growing rather than coasting.

The Australian music ecosystem produces an absurd amount of talent relative to our population. The challenge isn’t finding good artists — it’s ensuring the infrastructure exists to support them. Venues, funding, media coverage, and audience engagement all need to be there for potential to translate into careers.

Listen to these artists. Go to their shows. Buy their records. Tell your friends. The music is there. It just needs ears.