These German (Speaking) Newcomers Will Be On Our Playlists In 2026

New year, new music! We’re already pretty excited to see what 2026 will bring musically. But with these newcomers, we’re already pretty sure it’s going to be a big year for music. Six German-speaking artists that no one can ignore.

Anna Grey

No matter how musical trends develop and no matter which beats, instruments, or vocals are currently all the rage, there’s always room for good pop. And Anna Grey fills that space like no other in Germany.

A young woman with dark hair in a ponytail, wearing a black crop top and black miniskirt, stands in front of a white wall, illuminated by the setting sun. — Image: Tommy White

The 26-year-old singer, who had already made her mark on the Berlin electro scene at the beginning of the decade, switched to German with her EP “Träume” in 2025 and filled clubs during a club tour at the end of the year. No wonder, because the mix of catchy pop melodies, rap and trap elements, and the memorable voice of the Berlin-based singer are easy on the ear and hard to get out of your head. An album is (perhaps) in the works for 2026, with an extensive tour planned for the spring.

GRENZKONTROLLE

Does everything come back eventually? Yes, and that’s not a bad thing. When the sound of the punk quartet GRENZKONTROLLE sounds a lot like german punk urfathers Fehlfarben, we think that’s a good thing. Because the 2020s are just as ripe for smart and angry punk as the 80s were back then.

A young woman and three young men are standing next to each other on a lawn, dressed smartly, and looking at the camera. A dog is also lying next to them in the grass. — Image: Binh Minh

And songs like “REVOLUTION,” “SCHLECHTER MENSCH” (bad person) and “KELLERLOCH” (basement hole) make it clear from their titles where the musical journey is headed – with themes ranging from rent gouging to the self-promotion of the super-rich to police violence, they strike a chord with the spirit of the times.

Kauta

Emotional pop without schmaltz and a memorable, powerful voice – that’s the recipe that should really launch Bonn-based singer Kauta‘s career in 2026. As the child of Moroccan parents, she switches effortlessly between German, French, and Arabic in her songs, without ever losing sight of the deep emotions in her lyrics.

A young woman with thick black hair held back by a headband stands in front of a building and looks up to the left. She is wearing a blue top and a metal chain with a pendant bearing the letter “K.” — Image: BTA

Authenticity is particularly important to the singer. “I don’t like this fan-star dynamic, which is why I see my community more as a big clique of besties.” The best way to experience this community is at one of her concerts: in January, Kauta will be going on a club tour through Germany.

Akryl

Is the heyday of indie music over? Hardly, when the local music scene can rejoice in artists such as Akryl. She has been playing music on the piano since early childhood and wrote her first songs at the age of 14.

A young woman with long, black curls sits cross-legged on a sofa and looks directly into the camera. — Image: Lilli Witte

Powerful lyrics, carefully composed arrangements, and that spark of magic that good music simply needs—all this is what makes Akryl’s songs so special. No wonder that in 2025 she was already supporting acts such as Mine, nand, and Bruno Kawelke, and went on a small club tour in the fall. From here, the only way is up.

Paulinko

Paulinko define themselves as making “in-your-face pop,” and after listening for just a few seconds, it’s clear that this definition fits. Their sound fluctuates between indie, pop, and punk, while the Düsseldorf trio’s stance on issues is clear in songs like “Skandal im Patriarchat” (Scandal in the Patriarchy) and “ficken wen du willst” (fuck whoever you want).

Started as a solo project by singer Anna Pauline Kohn during the coronavirus pandemic, Paulinko has now released a considerable number of songs, which will hopefully get Germany dancing on a tour in 2026 (we can’t wait). For now, the band is playing three concerts in March as support for Schmutzki. That gives us hope.

Vicky

For a long time, German rap was a male-dominated scene, with a few exceptions. Fortunately, that has changed significantly in the past few years, as demonstrated by the rapid rise of Vicky.

A young woman with dark hair and sunglasses stands in a dark room, illuminated only by blue light. She is wearing a bra and sweatpants, and her stomach and arms are covered in numerous tattoos. — Image: Prime Entertainment

The Berlin-based artist posted excerpts of her debut song “T-Shirt hoch, Titten raus” (T-shirt up, tits out) – clearly inspired by German rap star Ikkimel – on TikTok in 2024, and it immediately landed in thousands of videos. It didn’t take long for her to land a record deal, and in 2025 she released her first EP, went on tour, and performed at several festivals. We would be very surprised if things didn’t continue in the same vein in 2026. The first dates of the “Vicky, wann Welttournee” (Vicky, when world tour) are already sold out.