A performer on stage with arms outstretched holding a microphone, illuminated by teal stage lights, with another musician playing guitar in the background and text about European Talent Exchange's event statistics.

240 bookings thanks to European Talent Exchange

As the 2025 summer festival season kicks off, a wave of European Talent Exchange partner festivals unveil their line-ups, highlighting a clear and immediate impact for artists who performed at ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) earlier this year. So far in 2025, European Talent Exchange presented a total of 240 shows by 110 artists from 29 countries playing at 77 festivals in 30 countries.

From Sziget in Hungary to Coachella in the US, major festivals across Europe and beyond are locking in fresh talent discovered at ESNS 2025. Think Reeperbahn Festival (Germany), Ypsigrock Festival (Italy), Paléo Festival Nyon (Switzerland), Rock For People (Czechia), Rock Werchter (Belgium), Electric Castle (Romania), Roskilde Festival (Denmark), Mad Cool Festival (Spain), Best Kept Secret (Netherlands) and Øyafestivalen (Norway) – all featuring European artists front and centre in their line-ups.

European artists take centre stage

Confirmed artists making their way from the ESNS stage to the international spotlight include Luvcat (9 bookings) and Big Special (7 bookings) from the U.K., Judeline from Spain (4 bookings), Daufødt from Norway (3 bookings), Erika Rein from Slovakia (3 bookings), Sylvie Kreusch from Belgium (7 bookings), Boko Yout from Sweden (5 bookings), Cliffords from Ireland (8 bookings), Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers from the Netherlands (3 bookings), Carpetman from Ukraine (4 bookings) and Woomb from Bulgaria (4 bookings). These names represent the future sound of Europe; fresh, bold and unbound by borders.

This wave of bookings proves how powerful European Talent Exchange is, fueling the rise of emerging artists beyond borders. Every artist who plays at ESNS automatically joins the European Talent Exchange programme. You can track their bookings at 130 partner festivals from all across Europe and beyond via ESNS Radar.

European Talent Exchange: a joint force of the music ecosystem

European Talent Exchange is dedicated to helping European artists secure bookings at festivals across and beyond Europe. In collaboration with YOUROPE and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the initiative connects artists to a network of around 130 partner festivals and benefits from the support of 31 media partners to amplify their promotion.

Additionally, European Talent Exchange unites 23 members and five associated partners, including 26 export offices, to create a powerful network for talent development. The platform is coordinated by ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag). European Talent Exchange is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

You can find all the information about European Talent Exchange on the website.

European artists can apply here to play at ESNS 2026 from now on till September 1st 2025.

About ESNS

ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is an independent platform that puts European music talent in the global spotlight. ESNS offers European artists career-defining opportunities to break through and become tomorrow’s headliners.

Founded in 1986, ESNS will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, which will take place from January 14 – 17 in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Pre-register for ESNS 2026 here.


Members and Sponsors:

Grid of logos from various European music export organizations and cultural councils including ESNS, European Union co-funded, EURORADIO, German Music Export, Italia Music Export, KulturLux Arts Council Luxembourg, Slovak Music Export, Lithuanian Music Business Association, Music Austria, Music Estonia, Music Finland, FNC, Music Norway, Music Export Denmark, PRS Foundation, Slovenian Music Information Centre SIGIC, Swiss Music Export, Sound Czech, VI.BE, WBM Wallonie Bruxelles, music exchange platform Portugal, YOUROPE Festival Association, Dutch Music Export, music export Ukraine, Music Export Latvia, Music Export Poland, Iceland Music, arts council of Northern Ireland, International Showcase Fund PRS Foundation, Musicians' Union, wales arts international, and swiss arts council pro helvetia.

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July Jones with tattoos singing into a microphone on stage, wearing a black outfit with knee-high boots, illuminated by spotlight beams with the backdrop labeled

European Talent Exchange