By Olive Walton
Inside Spotify’s Star-Studded Best New Artist Party
The Grammy’s Best New Artist category boasted an impressive and well-deserved lineup this year, with nominees including Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, sombr and The Marías. The artists came together to celebrate their nominations with Spotify at its annual Best New Artist celebration in LA, featuring standout performances from each nominee and underscoring Spotify’s commitment to championing the next generation in music.
The night opened with an unforgettable performance of Leon Thomas’ hit MUTT, followed by Lola Young’s emotional rendition of d£aler and a crowd-wide singalong to Alex Warren’s Ordinary.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 29: Addison Rae performs onstage during Spotify’s 2026 Best New Artist Party at LA’s The Lot at Formosa on January 29, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Spotify)
Additional highlights included Addison Rae’s performance of Diet Pepsi, sombr’s back to friends, KATSEYE’s Gabriela and a powerful closing performance from Olivia Dean with Man I Need rounding out the night on a high.
If the stage was star-studded, the audience rivalled it, boasting major names from across the music industry and reflecting a shared sense of inspiration between artists and fans alike. Guests in attendance included Diplo, Zara Larsson, KAYTRANADA and Benson Boone among others.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 29: sombr performs onstage during Spotify’s 2026 Best New Artist Party at LA’s The Lot at Formosa on January 29, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Spotify)
If you didn’t make the guest list, there’s no need to fret – the lineup is available to stream now via Spotify’s Best New Artist 2026 playlist.
With momentum building both on and off stage, it’s undoubtedly shaping up to be an exciting year ahead for these artists.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 29: Olivia Dean attends Spotify’s 2026 Best New Artist Party at LA’s The Lot at Formosa on January 29, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Spotify)
