2026 is moving real fast

If you blinked, you missed it. 2026 is already here and this is what we're gonna do about it: some new cities, some familliar stages, some new ones, some familiar faces, and a few well-placed secrets - this year is shaping up the way we like it: busy, loud, and international.

We started the year in Groningen, NL, with ESNS and The Family Men setting the tone. No soft launch, straight into it. Next up: Norway. Nora Lucia hits Trondheim Calling 28-30 of Januari, keeping the momentum firmly in the Nordics, as part of Nordic Live Incubator.

March takes things west. Wolfschmidt heads to New York for New Colossus Festival. Same month, Mika Häkki & Dark Yonder and Pär Hagström & Charlatans of Love will be in Austin for SXSW. Different cities, different time zone but the same scheme: short sets, long days and no time to rest.

Spring stays packed. April and May bring tours and a bunch of TBA's across Slovakia, Spain, Portugal, and the UK. As always, we’ll also be running our annual stage at HQ during SPOT Festival in Denmark - a constant in an otherwise fast-moving calendar. Along the way, we're heading out as delegates at some events, keeping close to what’s happening, what they say is next, and at the same time hunting down people and bands to invite for Viva Sounds.

Stage is set for the return of Viva Summer Sounds, our early-summer par-tay before things become summer for real. And while plans for the rest of fall are stacking up nicely, one thing is already locked: Viva Sounds returns for its 9th edition on November 26–28. The 2025 edition was our biggest yet. We’re not aiming to beat it, but we’re also pretty sure we won’t stay out of trouble trying. 

2026 is in motion.
Let’s go.

Pic by: Elena Perota, Viva Sounds 2025