Audiences can expect close to a hundred and twenty concerts across a dozen plus venues over the span of three music-packed days. The festival offers a reference for many other events, serving as space for exploration and discovery with a strong focus on emerging artists poised to become the talk of Poland. This year's slogan at Next Fest, "Find Your Evergreen", reflects the idea of discovering music that endures over time.

As noted by Agnieszka Kopiewska, Head of Communications at Next Fest Music Showcase & Conference, the key point of the event is the moment the artists first meet their audience. "When I think about the festival, I picture the joy of the crowd and the debuting bands, their smiles and emotions. When you shake someone's hand and bring them onto a stage, you take on a huge responsibility. It's a project built on the love of music. Falling in love is all about chemistry, which music creates every day," she explains.

As in every previous edition, this year's Next FEST extends across the whole town. The venues include Tama, Blue Note, Pod Minogą, Dragon Social Club, Schron, W_sercu, BaRock, and The Dubliner. The line-up also includes concerts at the Grand Hall of the Zamek (Castle) Cultural Centre, Lokum Stonewall, Przystanek Dartera, and Muzyka na Nowo (formerly the Muchos club). Neither is there going to be a shortage of open-air stages, among them Plac Wolności, serving traditionally as one of the festival's main gathering points. The festival's vast geographical scope helps it to increasingly cement its place on the European showcase scene right alongside the likes of Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen, the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, and Waves Vienna.

The line-up traditionally brings together established artists as well as brand-new names. Expect to see the likes of Vito Bambino, Ewa Farna, and Natalia Szroeder. Audiences will also hear Misia Furtak, long associated with alternative pop and indie rock, Natalia Grosiak, known for her distinctive self-written songs, and Wojciech Baranowski, who combines modern pop with elements of soul and electronica.

The rock strand of the festival features John Porter, while the electronic vibe will be provided by the duo Xxanaxx, recognised for their melancholic synth-population. Bass Astral will guide audience members into the realm of club electronics and techno. Two local artists: Słoń, known for his dark, horrorcore style, and Peja, one of the key figures in classic Polish rap, make up the hip-hop line-up. The comeback of Meza and Kasia Wilk may prove to be one of the festival's standout moments, with tracks such as Sacrum and Ważne performed in new arrangements with the band.

Those venturing into the festival's more alternative corners will hardly be bored. The features ensembles include Kresy, blending post-punk with art rock; Sztylety, delivering uncompromising noise rock with touches of emo; and Torschlusspanik (a German term referring to the fear of missing out on life's opportunities - ed.), moving between post-hardcore, emo, punk, and math rock. Also on the bill are We Watch Clouds, one of the most prominent acts of the new wave of Polish screamo.

This year's programme has ensured a solid presence of female artists shaping their own songwriting identities. Among them are Weronika Drybs and Natalia Marczuk, both of whom stem from the alt-pop scene; Agata Radziszewska, performing her own songs; and Zofia Justyńska, who merges indie pop with a retro aesthetic. Also in the line-up are Helena Anna, Wanesa Adamska, Ajla, Shaley, Yulka, Ola from Paris, Aurelia, Justyna Chachuła, and Pola Błasik. Expect improvisation and experimentation from Tantfreaky, Sedno, Babyhats, and Jerz Igor, drawing from jazz traditions and the dynamics of ensemble performance, appearing alongside artists balancing between electronic and alternative music, such as Lunamë, Clayknot, and Manoid.

The conference segment will run under the banner "Welcome to the Jungle", offering debates on streaming, music exports, and the use of AI in production. A new feature, "Mind Space", is dedicated to mental health in the industry. Attendees will also be able to take part in "Meet Your Mentor", a series of one-to-one meetings with industry professionals, and "Pitch Your Demo", where participants get the chance to showcase their track in a one-minute presentation to industry representatives. In a new Next Award format, a jury will shortlist 20 bands after which the audience will pick the winner using the festival app. The prize is an opportunity to perform in the BitterSweet Festival to be held in Poznań from 13 to 16 August.

Sebastioan Gabryel

translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski

Next Fest Music Showcase & Conference
multiple locations, 16-18 April, passes
more: nextfest.pl

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2026