Connecting the live music industry
ESNS to spotlight Irish music scene in 2027
March12
The Dutch showcase festival and conference ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) has announced that Ireland will be the focus country for its 2027 edition.
The event will take place from 13–16 January in Groningen, the Netherlands, bringing together emerging artists and music industry professionals from across Europe.
Each year, ESNS highlights the music ecosystem of a selected European country. The focus programme typically includes artist showcases, conference sessions and networking opportunities designed to give international delegates deeper insight into a country’s music industry. For 2027, ESNS will collaborate with Ireland’s leading music development organisation First Music Contact and Irish national radio station RTÉ 2FM as media partner to present the Irish focus programme.
According to the organisers, the decision to highlight Ireland reflects the country’s continued investment in developing and exporting music talent. ESNS stated that Ireland’s support structures for artists and industry professionals have contributed to the emergence of internationally successful acts and a growing presence of Irish artists on European festival line-ups.
Irish music ecosystem in focus
This will be the second time ESNS has dedicated its focus to Ireland. The previous spotlight on the Irish music sector took place more than 15 years ago. Since then, the country has strengthened its international music infrastructure through initiatives aimed at professional development, export promotion and touring support.
First Music Contact plays a central role in this ecosystem. The organisation runs the annual showcase event Ireland Music Week in Dublin and operates the export office Music From Ireland, which promotes Irish artists internationally and supports them in building touring opportunities across Europe and beyond.
Angela Dorgan, CEO of First Music Contact, said that long-term public investment has helped strengthen the Irish music industry’s international reach.
“Through significant investment of resources from Culture Ireland and the Arts Council we have been able to invest in education, professionalisation and support for Irish artists and their teams,” she said. “With follow-up tour funding from Culture Ireland to help our artists benefit from the opportunities offered through ESNS, Ireland has taken its place as a producer of world-class artists.”
Irish artists building international momentum
Over the years, many Irish artists have used ESNS as an early international showcase platform. Several artists who later achieved international success first performed at the event during the early stages of their careers. These include CMAT, Dermot Kennedy, Fontaines D.C., Hozier, Inhaler, Kingfishr, Lankum, Madra Salach, The Mary Wallopers, Florence Road and Dove Ellis.
ESNS is widely regarded as one of Europe’s key showcase platforms for emerging talent. Artists performing at the festival automatically become eligible for the ESNS Exchange programme, a long-running initiative supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. Through the scheme, artists can secure bookings at a network of partner festivals across Europe, helping them expand their touring footprint and reach new international audiences.
Oskar Strajn, Head of Music at ESNS, said the timing was right to place a renewed spotlight on the Irish music sector.
“Over the past years we have all seen the Irish scene growing exponentially, and right now it is fully blossoming,” he said. “We want to embrace this moment and celebrate the artists that have emerged from Ireland as well as focus on future talents.”
Strajn added that Irish artists who performed at the most recent edition of the festival have already seen strong booking results. According to ESNS data, artists including Florence Road, Madra Salach and Dove Ellis were among the acts that secured the highest number of European festival bookings following their appearances at the 2026 edition of the event.
Conference programme and industry networking
Beyond the live showcase programme, the ESNS Conference will also highlight Ireland’s music sector through a range of panels, presentations and networking events. These sessions are expected to explore topics such as artist development, export strategies and the infrastructure supporting emerging talent in Ireland.
Industry delegates attending ESNS27 will have the opportunity to meet representatives from the Irish music industry, including artists, managers, agents, promoters and export organisations, as part of the focus programme.
Held annually in Groningen, ESNS is considered one of Europe’s most influential showcase festivals for emerging European artists. The event attracts thousands of music professionals each year, including festival bookers, agents, promoters, record labels and media representatives, making it a key platform for artists seeking to build international touring careers and secure festival bookings across the continent.
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