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Off House 2026

Canadian music feels wide open right now. One minute it’s a country artist selling out arenas, the next it’s a Punjabi producer shaping global hits, an underground rapper blowing up online, or an indie songwriter building a fanbase strong enough to move from Discord chats to sold-out shows. Rolling Stone Canada’s Future of Music 2026 list highlights the artists in the middle of that momentum — the ones people genuinely can’t stop talking about. This year’s class includes Josh Ross, MICO, Lauren Spencer Smith, Connor Price, Ikky, bbno$, BLOND:ISH, Dylan Sinclair, Sofia Camara, Casper TNG and more, spanning country, hip-hop, dance, alt-pop, R&B and Punjabi music. Some are already charting globally, while others are just getting started, but all of them feel like artists shaping where Canadian music is headed next.


blond:ish

She built her name on the dance floor; now she’s using it to push something bigger

bbno$

The Vancouver artist built a global audience long before “Lalala” turned him into a mainstream name

angine de poitrine

They don’t explain much. They don’t need to. The work is already speaking loudly enough.

lauren spencer smith

She writes from wherever she’s at, even if that means moving beyond what people expect

ikky

The producer behind some of Punjabi music’s biggest global records is thinking bigger than ever

kuzi cee

Part of a new generation shaping R&B from the edges

cameron whitcomb

A fast-moving life gives him new material without needing to chase it

hntr

On momentum, creative control, and why the club still decides what lasts

dylan sinclair

He sees himself as part of a lineage that includes Drake, The Weeknd and Daniel Caesar, but is focused on carving his own path within it

connor price

With a tight-knit team and a steady release strategy, Price has turned independence into a long-term advantage

chris grey

He built his sound in isolation, then watched it travel everywhere. Now, he’s figuring out what to hold on to

casper tng

He sees himself shaping Toronto rap in real time, not following it

mico

On growing up online, building community before momentum, and keeping that closeness intact

owen reigling

As his audience grows, he continues to write what feels natural rather than adjusting for scale

sofia camara

She started with covers, but the shift to her own story changed everything

sacha

The rising country artist discusses vulnerability, personal transformation and turning difficult experiences into songs that connect

baby nova

How emotional chaos, confession, and sharp instinct collide in Baby Nova’s world

ekkstacy

On existential dread, instinctive songwriting, and making music untouched by trends

sadboi

Toronto nightlife, Caribbean influence, vulnerability, and confrontation collideto create a unique sound

sophia stel

The Vancouver artist opens up on the power of emotionally open songwriting and creative independence

josh ross

From small-town Ontario to Nashville, the rising country superstar never loses sight of the feeling

thxsomch

Inside the internet-born rise of an artist who makes A.I.-proof music

ruby waters

How vulnerability, freedom, and unpredictability shape Ruby Waters’ creative world

lou-adriane cassidy

The unique artist ransforming Québec chanson through ambitious world-building and shattering songwriting

tia wood

The Saddle Lake-raised artist reflects on representation, creativity, online discovery, and why authenticity remains her north star as her audience continues to grow.