Showcase selections to celebrate, with Saskatchewan artists announced! More details to come shortly.
The Great Escape Festival & Conference (TGE) in Brighton UK, May 14-17, 2026:
- Greenwing showcase page
19 Canadian artists were selected for official showcases this year.
The Great Escape is the festival for new music, showcasing 450 emerging artists from all over the world in 30+ walkable venues across the city and a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. It’s the first place to discover your new favourite artist and see them in an intimate setting before they go on to headline major festival stages. TGE is also attended by the music industry who are on the hunt for the next big thing. They run a conference alongside the gigs featuring insightful panels, topical debates, keynote speeches and networking opportunities in abundance. The Alternative Escape, Spotlight Shows, secret gigs, club nights and spontaneous collaborations all add to the festivities and make this weekend in Brighton one not to miss.
Focus Wales in Wrexham Wales, May 7-9, 2026:
- Beau Nectar (SK/BC) showcase page
Performing
Thursday May 7, 2026 8:20 pm at The Parish
Friday May 8, 2026 11:00 am at Glyndwr TV
Friday May 8, 2026 8:00 pm at Ty Pawb Flexible Space
- Bitterfly showcase page
Performing
Thursday May 7, 2026 8:15 pm at The Rockin' Chair Room 1
Friday May 8, 2026 12:00 pm at Glyndwr TV
Saturday May 9, 2026 7:45 pm at The Parish
35 Canadian artists were selected for official showcases this year.
FOCUS Wales was established to provide the annual new music showcase event for the Welsh Music Industry. Their core work centres around the delivery of their international multi-venue showcase festival taking place in Wrexham each year, which places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world, alongside a selection of the best new acts from across the globe. FOCUS Wales 2026 will mark the festival’s 16th year, and will welcome over 25,000 people to Wrexham, building upon 2025′s record attendance across a jam-packed weekend of events. There’s no place like Wrexham during FOCUS Wales, as they showcase 250+ artists from across the world, fill out a variety of spaces and music venues, using 20 stages, and hosting a full schedule of interactive industry sessions, arts events, and film screenings, throughout the festival. In addition to the delivery of the FOCUS Wales festival, they also deliver a number of international FOCUS Wales events throughout the year under the #WelshMusicAbroad banner.
How were the Sask. artists chosen?
The Great Escape and Focus Wales post their ‘call for artists’ each year, which SaskMusic shares to our community. CIMA also posts a call for submissions for 'Canada House at TGE,' which we also share, and co-sponsor. SaskMusic does not run these intakes nor select any of the Canadian artists.
We do provide pre-event coaching and export preparation sessions for any SK artists once selected for international and domestic showcases.
More details to be announced regarding SaskMusic's participation in the above events.
