Beatport Next 2026 opens applications to spotlight the next wave of electronic talent

Applications are now open for Beatport Next 2026, the annual artist development programme championing breakthrough artists at the forefront of electronic music. Launched in 2021, the initiative selects 12 rising artists each year for a full year of creative, promotional, and performance support, helping tomorrow’s names cut through the noise and build sustainable careers.

Each artist receives tailored support across the Beatport ecosystem: from homepage features and playlists to editorial coverage, brand partnerships, and festival bookings. The idea’s simple: find the producers shaping the sound of tomorrow and give them the same push that’s elevated names like TSHA, Nia Archives, Coco & Breezy, HoneyLuv, and Kilimanjaro.

Applications for Beatport Next 2026 are open now via Beatport’s website.

For a new generation of producers, Beatport Next has become a genuine lifeline. With so much music being uploaded daily, breaking through can feel impossible. But this programme has been quietly turning unknown names into globally recognised artists. From online digital campaigns to real-world live opportunities, the 2026 class will benefit from festival stage slots, livestream appearances, free music tool access, in-store promotion, and networking sessions with Beatport’s label and marketing teams.

To qualify for Beatport Next 2026, artists must already be active, with releases due on Beatport in the next 6–12 months and club or festival shows booked for 2026. You shouldn’t have dropped a full debut album on a major Beatport-listed label, but should show technical skill behind decks and in the studio. Applicants need recent recognition from a global DJ platform or publication, pro press shots or an EPK, and a positive, inclusive ethos that aligns with Beatport’s DANCE values. Management helps, but it’s not essential.

For full eligibility details, check the application form.

Past alumni haven’t held back on their praise. “Beatport Next gave me the tools to bring my musical ideas to life in ways I’d only dreamed about before,” said DJ Fucci. Another participant, Ma Sha, called it “an incredible support system that helped me reach audiences both online and in real life through features, interviews, and performances.”

“We’re committed to championing the next wave of talent - making sure the artists shaping the future of electronic music have the platform they deserve.”

Teresa Aramburu, Beatport’s Director of Artist Marketing

Know someone absolutely shelling it right now, but not getting the support? The DJ you keep telling people about before everyone else catches on? Send them this. Beatport Next has helped spotlight some of today’s most exciting names in electronic music. Who will be the stars of tomorrow? 

Want to see what Beatport Next actually does for an artist? - Check out the Beatport Next Stories series on YouTube to see testimonials from some of the scheme's most successful. 

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