Recommendations of the Editorial team
The 40th edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) opened with a ceremony at the Groningen cultural center De Oosterpoort on Wednesday evening (January 14th).
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was very popular at the cheerful anniversary celebration, as is usual in Holland. Her appearance in conversation with ESNS boss Anna van Nunes marked the official start of the showcase festival, which has been a platform for European newcomers for decades.
Accompanied by short performances, the queen followed a colorful opening program with the German slapstick magician duo Siegfried & Joy, the Ukrainian singer Alina Pash, the Dutch psychedelic pop band YĪN YĪN and the Spanish neo-flamenco interpreter Lia Kali.
Her Majesty Máxima emphasized the social importance of music. According to the monarch, it is “essential” because it can express feelings and thoughts for which words alone are not enough.
European success story
In her speech, Anna van Nunen referred to the festival’s European success story: “Forty years of ESNS represent an era of European pop music in all its diversity.”
In addition to international stars such as Stromae, Dua Lipa and Sahko de Sagazan, whose careers were once fueled in Groningen, she also highlighted acts beyond the mainstream – such as the Bosnian-Swiss accordionist Mario Batkovic or the Dutch harpist Remy van Kesteren. “ESNS thrives on making pop, club culture and niches equally visible.”
Queen Máxima in nightlife
After the show, Queen Máxima went into Groningen’s nightlife, without any obvious security effort. She attended a concert by Goldkimono from Holland in the Small Hall of the Cultural Center. The band presented the Queen with an idiosyncratic version of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”. Later she followed the gig of the up-and-coming Irish songwriter Dove Ellis, who presented himself here as a trio.
At the end of their visit there was a meet and greet in the artists’ environment, appropriately with a regional bitterballen snack.
European Festival Prize
At the European Festival Prize (EFA), which was also awarded on Wednesday evening in front of numerous guests of honor, FKP Scorpio managing director Stephan Thanscheidt was pleased to receive a special trophy: he received the “Award for Excellence & Passion”. An award for continued commitment to the concert and festival scene.
ESNS 2026 will be presenting almost 400 acts from all over Europe until the weekend and bringing musicians, the industry and cultural politics together in the accompanying conference program. In the context of a changing European music market in the wake of political upheavals and digital challenges; Keyword: AI.
The strong presence of Ukrainian representatives at the opening showed where the European music scene’s desire for self-assertion is headed.