Billboard’s 21 Under 21: See Who Made the 2026 List

This year’s roundup of fast-rising young talent includes solo stars and global groups, familiar names and newcomers — all of whom have something in common, aside from being under the age of 21. This group of 21 artists are all prioritizing authenticity over anything else — and proving that’s a winning strategy. As Disney star Freya Skye shares, “authenticity doesn’t expire.” It’s a sentiment that current cover star Bella Kay agrees with, noting “it’s really easy to get caught up in what people want you to be.” (Bella appears on the cover of Billboard‘s Up-And-Comers Issue with fellow rising stars Slayyyter and Trueno. Read their feature here.) The idea of remaining true to oneself is a concept underlined by CORTIS and Milo J as well, both of whom received breakout Q&As as part of this year’s 21 Under 21, alongside Violet Grohl and Sienna Spiro. Both Grohl and Spiro released their debuts albums this year. CORTIS’ Juhoon believes “sincerity lasts much longer than trying to impress everyone,” while Milo J also stresses the importance of remaining authentic over time, especially as these young artists’ careers continue to escalate at a rapid rate. Former 21 Under 21 lists have included superstars who have since aged out of eligibility, such as Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Tate McRae, Xavi, sombr, Ayra Starr and many more artists and acts who continue to climb the charts and festival lineups today. Read below to see who else made it onto this year’s 21 Under 21 list. KATSEYE Image Credit: Rahul Bhatt Names/Ages Daniela, 21; Lara, 20; Megan, 20; Sophia, 24; Yoonchae, 18Label HYBE x GEFFENPublisher HYBE x GEFFENManagement HYBE x GEFFEN Since forming on 2023’s Dream Academy competition series, the global girl group has enjoyed its loftiest year to date, from making its Lollapalooza debut to scoring its first two Grammy nominations (including best new artist) to landing three new Billboard Hot 100 entries following its 2025 debut on the chart: January’s “Internet Girl,” April’s “Pinky Up” and June’s “Iconic by Mistake” with K-pop powerhouses Le Sserafim and ILLIT. “Every moment has felt surreal,” Megan says. KATSEYE also embarked on its debut tour in November (“Getting to meet so many EYEKONS along the way meant so much to all of us,” Yoonchae says of the North American Beautiful Chaos tour) before launching its first global trek, The Wildworld Tour, this fall. This year also brought some unexpected change, as member Manon announced her “indefinite hiatus” in February. But the for-now-quintet has “learned to confide in each other,” Sophia says. “It took a big step of honesty to unlock genuine trust and vulnerability with where we’re at.” As they look ahead to the group’s third album, August’s Wild, Daniela is hoping she and her groupmates can stay true to what they love “even when things move really fast.” Understanding that getting to this level is an all-or-nothing pursuit, Lara advises, “You cannot succeed if you don’t truly want this with everything in you.” — KATIE ATKINSON North West Image Credit: Lily Lauria Age 13Label North West/gamma.Publisher AYO Music GroupManagement Damien Smith Being the oldest child of Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Kim Kardashian comes with enough pressure and scrutiny; following in the musical footsteps of her hip-hop legend father comes with a whole other level of towering expectations. But North West did just that, becoming one of the youngest acts to ever chart on the Hot 100 in 2024 when Vultures 1’s “Talking,” which features West alongside Ye and Ty Dolla $ign, debuted at No. 30. “Don’t wait for permission, don’t wait until you’re older,” West says. “Dream the biggest because nobody changes the world by thinking small.” Following collaborations with FKA twigs and Skaiwater, West continued to come into her own in 2026 with the release of her self-produced, emo rage-rap EP, N0rth4evr. She performed with her father in front of a sold-out SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in April and was a guest at Rolling Loud Orlando before making her official festival debut with a set at Summer Smash in June — all before she even became a teenager. “People have so much to say about what I’m doing and how I’m doing it,” she says. “As a young artist, you have to figure out who you are before the world tries to tell you who to be.” — MICHAEL SAPONARA Sienna Spiro Image Credit: Mathias Apap Age 20Label Capitol RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Method Music Just a few years ago, Sienna Spiro was posting videos of herself singing on social media. In the past 12 months, she’s emerged as a major star. That rise reached a peak in July when the London native’s debut album, Visitor — grounded by classic pop and jazz influences and led by her raspy powerhouse vocals — debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200. Before its arrival, in March, she simultaneously charted three songs on the Hot 100: the viral “Die on This Hill,” “You Stole the Show” and “The Visitor,” all of which have hit peaks of Nos. 19, 55 and 43, respectively. Following a series of memorable TV and late-night performances, Spiro will set out on a global tour this fall. In the last year, what are you most proud of and why? Finishing my album. That might be an obvious choice, but it was a big dream of mine to make an album. I just feel very proud of it. What’s the biggest challenge for a young artist in today’s music industry? There’s so much access these days. You can wake up and scroll and see about nine different things in the space of, like, a second, and I think that can be quite overwhelming, and it clouds people’s vision. It’s very hard these days to make sure you’re listening to yourself. Is longevity something you’re already thinking about? Oh, I’m always thinking about that. When I [talk about] wanting to be timeless, I feel like some people might [misinterpret that] as wanting to be, like, classy or old-school. But it’s more than that. I want to make things that aren’t just for the “now.” I’m very much always considering what will last. Like, “Is this something that I’ll be proud of in 10 years?” – HANNAH DAILEY Freya Skye Image Credit: Mollie Hosmer Age 16Label Hollywood RecordsPublisher Disney Music PublishingManagement State of the Art It took a song called “silent treatment” to make 16-year-old British singer-songwriter Freya Skye feel like “people were really hearing what I had to say” for the first time. When the poignant pop hit arrived in December, she had already amassed a Disney-­powered fanbase from her breakout role in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires; the deeply personal single about getting the romantic cold shoulder widened her audience, becoming Freya’s Hot 100 debut and peaking at No. 14 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. “I feel really lucky that being ghosted and sad would lead me to connect with people all over the world who have been through the same thing,” she says with a laugh. Following the February 2026 release of her debut EP, Stardust, and the launch of her Stars Align Tour (not to mention filming 2027’s Zombies 5), Freya plans to stay singular while tackling universal teen topics in her music. “It is so easy to adapt and tweak yourself to become what you think people want,” she says, “but authenticity doesn’t expire and imperfection is far more interesting.” —K.A. Wyatt Ellis Image Credit: Britt Bossert Age 17Label Knee High RecordsPublisher Wyatt Ellis Music/Limited Edition (administered by Warner Chappell Music)Management Red Light Management Mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis has fast become one of bluegrass music’s most dynamic artists. The East Tennessee native’s 2024 debut album, Happy Valley, featured collaborations with artists including Marty Stuart and Sierra Hull and topped the Bluegrass Albums chart. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2023 and has since shared stages with Billy Strings and Peter Rowan. Through it all, he remains clear-eyed about the hurdles that come with being a new artist. “One of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to grow while staying true to yourself,” Ellis says. “Young artists have more opportunities than ever, but there are also a lot of opinions, expectations and business decisions that come with building a career. Finding the right team while maintaining your own vision can be difficult, but it’s essential.” — JESSICA NICHOLSON Milo J Image Credit: Violeta Capasso Age 19Label Sony Music LatinPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Milo J Management At 19, the Argentine artist born Camilo Joaquín ­Villarruel has a voice with real weight — dusky, weathered, intimate — and he knows how to wield his skill in multiple directions, from sharp rap cadences to the folkloric sounds of chacarera, chamamé, zamba and Uruguayan murga. Milo J showcased that range on his third album, 2025’s La Vida Era Más Corta; an NPR Tiny Desk performance followed (it’s now been viewed over 14 million times), as did his 10-country global La Vida Era Más Corta tour that included a closing 21,000-attendee show at Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes on June 6. “We’re touring in places I never thought we’d tour, and we’re going to places I never thought we’d be,” Milo says. “The album is crossing borders I never thought it would cross. I’m in a really beautiful moment.” In the last year, what are you most proud of and why? It’s the whole journey from this year and the end of the last one — the album that represents me, my country and my life in general, and everything that happened as a result. If I had to say one thing, I think the tour that came after the album is what I’m most proud of — and what I’ll keep being proud of, because we’re still touring this year. What does growing up in public ask of a young artist? I think the biggest challenge is having to mature quickly. You’re maturing as a person at the same time that you’re growing as an artist. What advice would you give a young artist who’s just starting out? I’d say to try to stay original and to keep questioning whether you’re doing things right all the time. Because sometimes, with so many things happening, you can think you’re doing everything right even when your personal life is a mess. So I’d say keep rethinking things all the time, keep creating all the time and stay authentic as the years pass. — ISABELA RAYGOZA Ty Myers Image Credit: Libby Danforth Age 19Label RECORDS Nashville/ColumbiaPublisher Universal Music Publishing GroupManagement Starstruck Entertainment As a nod to recently turning 18, Ty Myers kicked off his headlining The Legal Tour in June that included a sold-out show at New York’s The Rooftop at Pier 17. Following his 2025 debut album, The Select — highlighted by his breakthrough Billboard chart entry, “Ends of the Earth,” which peaked at No. 11 on Country Airplay — Myers released his second album,Heavy on the Soul, in March. With his uncompromising, soulful songwriting, the Austin native continues on the path of generations of troubadours from his home state. “I have stayed rooted to the music and live performance,” he says. “Being an artist means focusing on the art and trusting my instincts. I’m proud that I know this early on and leave no room for regret. Life is too short for regret.” — MELINDA NEWMAN Bella Kay Image Credit: Katia Temkin Age 20Label Bella Kay/Atlantic RecordsPublisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Immersive Management Before she’d even officially dropped her breakout single in January, the prerelease virality of Bella Kay’s emotionally charged “iloveitiloveitiloveit” had already made her one of music’s most promising young artists. As the song climbed to No. 17 on the Hot 100 in April, Bella continued to build momentum, embarking on a run of intimate headline dates in the United Kingdom and the United States earlier this year and nabbing an opening stint on Noah Kahan’s upcoming European arena trek — all leading up to the July release of her debut album, My Reckless Abandon. “It’s really easy to get caught up in what people want you to be,” she says of maintaining authenticity amid the whirlwind of rising stardom. “Stay true to yourself. That’s the one thing you always have and can always count on. Don’t betray that.” (See Bella’s cover story, page 32.) — H.D. GIRLSET Image Credit: Linus Johnson Names/Ages Camila Ribeaux Valdes, 20; Lexi Vang, 20; Kendall Ebeling, 20; Savanna Collins, 19Label JYP America x Republic RecordsPublisher JYP America, JYP EntertainmentManagement JYP America After rebranding as a quartet last summer, GIRLSET launched singles featuring hip-hop legend Missy Elliott (“Little Miss”) and sampling R&B icons SWV (“Tweak,” which reached No. 22 on Digital Song Sales). The pop group is keeping busy thus far in 2026, with Collins sharing the members have “taken a larger role in [its] writing sessions this past year.” With increased creative control, Ebeling hopes GIRLSET’s upcoming music emphasizes the importance of knowing “what you want with your music, what you stand for, how you want your music to be perceived and what genres you are inspired to do.” — KYLE DENIS Laila! Image Credit: Dylan DeJong Dougherty Age 20Label Three Times Louder/Warner RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Lailabug Productions Since breaking big in 2024 with her viral hit “Like That!,” which hit No. 3 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50; debuting on Hot R&B Songs with “Not My Problem”; and dropping her first album, Gap Year!, Brooklyn rapper Laila! has continued rising. Last year, she went on her first 10-city headlining tour and landed opening gigs for Kali Uchis and Mariah the Scientist; so far this year, she released her single “Miss Mango” in June. Yet, she’s most proud of being able to “buy my mom a Benz,” she says. “My mom had a beat-up Honda all my life, and I really wanted to be able to give her something I knew she needed.” Laila! is paying it forward in other ways, too, advising young artists to “stick to it and don’t feel like things need to happen at a certain time,” she says. “It’s going to all happen exactly as it should as long as you believe in yourself and you don’t give up on that vision.” — ANGEL DIAZ FloyyMenor Image Credit: Diego Andrade Age 20Label UnitedMastersPublisher Sony Music Publishing ChileManagement YTSQS At 18, FloyyMenor made history with his provocative reggaetón song “Gata Only,” released in 2024 with Cris MJ. That same year, the viral track hit No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart (and stayed there for 14 consecutive weeks) and won top Latin song at the Billboard Music Awards — a historic feat for a Chilean artist. Since “Gata Only,” the urban artist born Alan Cepeda Galleguillos has released collaborations with J Balvin and Gabito Ballesteros, among others, and has dropped two studio albums: YTSQS, which peaked at No. 34 on Top Latin Albums, in 2025 and Man in Black in 2026. “It’s easy to get lost in the numbers, the comments or the people who only approach you when you are at the top,” he says. “That’s why the real challenge is keeping your feet on the ground, looking after your mental health and remaining true to your essence.” — JESSICA ROIZ Trim Image Credit: Akhbar Khan Age 19Label BuVisionPublisher N/AManagement Jordan Ayoub Hailing from South Carolina, rapper Trim has been bubbling since “Timbs” put her on the BuVision team’s radar in 2025, helping her land a distribution deal. She broke through later that same year with the twerk anthem “Boat,” which debuted at No. 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in April. The music video has racked up nearly 7 million YouTube views — her most to date — and her current single, “Coconut Water,” has reached No. 23 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart, both of which helped her earn the title of Billboard’s Hip-Hop Up-and-Comer in May. “The biggest challenge is continuing to push my boundaries to create new music that tops what I have already given my fans,” she says of what fans can expect from her in the future — including her already-teased Pass the Tiara EP. —A.D. Violet Grohl Image Credit: Bella Newman Age 20Label Auroura Records/RepublicPublisher Morphine Music/Sony Music PublishingManagement Silva Artist Management In March, rising rocker Violet Grohl made her chart debut with the melodic “THUM,” which entered Billboard’s Triple A Airplay chart at No. 38. Two months later, in May, she ­celebrated the arrival of her debut album, Be Sweet to Me — a collection of sweet-tempered songs and volcanic production — with a gig at Los Angeles venue The Moroccan Lounge. “It was our first show,” she recalls, “which was fucking awesome.” She’s since banked some more, notably opening for The Breeders; in August, she’ll tour Europe before returning stateside for a handful of festival ­performances. Before you released your debut album, what was the best advice you got and who was it from? My dad [Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl] and my dad’s mom, Virginia, have both been these massive pillars of influence for me in all aspects of my life. They both really pushed self-expression and individuality and autonomy when it comes to work — and just being able to advocate for yourself. How did you know this was the right time to launch your career? I had been wanting to start working on an album for years. Even in middle school, once I started learning how to use a recording program, I was like, “This is all I want to do.” I had so many conversations with my parents about dropping out to make music. And they were like, “No. You need to finish high school.” Once I finished, I had all this free time. My dad had gone to see Kim Gordon play up in Copenhagen, two years ago now … They started talking about Justin [Raisen, who produced Gordon’s 2024 album, The Collective]. My dad got his number and sent it to me. We hung out … it was six hours of conversation, listening to music, talking about making art and how much we loved it. And at that moment, I was like, “This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for.” In the last year, what are you most proud of and why? I just finished opening up for The Breeders, which was a fucking dream come true. The Deal sisters are truly my idols. It really made me feel very proud of how far we’ve come from the recording process. I still can’t even believe it. — LYNDSEY HAVENS JayDon Image Credit: Ben Allen Age 19Label Mega/gamma.Publisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Pen Play Ent/Invisible Ink After announcing in March 2025 that he’d signed to mentor Usher (and Antonio “L.A.” Reid’s) Mega label, in partnership with Larry Jackson’s gamma., JayDon spent the following months reimagining the traditional R&B playbook for a new generation. The singer-­songwriter — who scored an early guest feature with Childish Gambino in 2016, followed by a breakout role in 2019’s The Lion King — hit a new career high last year when he reached No. 4 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay with “Lullaby” from his 2025 debut mixtape, Me, My Songs & I. The track’s Usher-assisted remix affirmed JayDon’s R&B bona fides while another remix with South Korea-based artist Jay Park bolstered his global appeal. Stressing the importance of “having a solid team,” JayDon has spent 2026 barreling through his headlining Flamed Up Tour, which brought him to intimate venues across New York, Chicago, Atlanta and more. — K.D. Najeeriii Image Credit: Courtesy of Najeeriii Age 20Label N/APublisher N/AManagement N/A After closing out last year with his Book of Bob debut album — on which he linked with Caribbean superstars like Govana, Popcaan, Skillibeng and Yung Bredda — Najeeriii has kept his foot on the gas. So far in 2026, the Jamaican dancehall deejay has dropped a pair of EPs (February’s Gyalentine’s and May’s Heatwavs) and linked up with cross-genre producer and Drake collaborator MXSSIVH for the resilient single “Still Standing.” From the Afrobeats-informed “Lagos” to the steamy, R&B-­infused trap dancehall of “Victoria’s Secret,” Najeeriii remains committed to expanding his sound, helping him to earn a best new dancehall artist nomination at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards. — K.D. Maddox Batson Image Credit: Aaron Meighan Age 16Label Warner RecordsPublisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Prosper Entertainment In 2024, Maddox Batson broke through with his viral hit “Tears in the River” and scored a co-write on Quavo and Lana Del Rey’s “Tough”; in 2025, he released the EP First Dance and its deluxe edition,First Dance (The After Party). This year, the rising country singer embarked on the 44-city Live Worldwide Tour and in May made his acting debut in comedy The Breadwinner, starring Nate Bargatze. “Don’t be afraid,” Batson advises. “If you are passionate about something, go for it. I was 13 when I posted my first-ever video. I’m now 16 traveling the world, doing what I love. Never in a million years did I think that my job would be music. And I couldn’t be more grateful.” — J.N. CORTIS Image Credit: BIGHIT MUSIC Names/Ages Martin, 18; James, 20; Juhoon, 18; Seonghyeon, 17; Keonho, 17Label BigHit MusicPublisher HYBE/Republic RecordsManagement BigHit Music Vibrant South Korean pop quintet CORTIS is one of the fastest-growing pop acts on the Billboard charts. The group has already leapfrogged the chart debut of its first EP, Color Outside the Lines, at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 with this year’s follow-up, GreenGreen, which entered at No. 3. The new set’s lead single, the throbbing dancefloor banger “RedRed,” has also served as a breakout streaming hit for CORTIS, reaching No. 38 on the Billboard Global 200 and becoming the group’s first entry on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. In the last year, what are you most proud of and why? SEONGHYEON When our first EP, Color Outside the Lines, entered the Billboard 200. It was something we had dreamed about … Then our second EP reached the top three, which still feels unreal. Moments like this made us realize that our music is starting to reach people far beyond where we began, and we’re truly grateful for that. KEONHO A moment I’m especially proud of was the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Halftime Show. We performed “Youngcreatorcrew” there for the first time, even before it was officially released. Seeing the crowd surprised was fun, but what I really liked was how ­quickly they got into the moment even though it was their first time hearing the song. It’s something that stuck with me. What’s the biggest challenge for a young artist in today’s music industry? MARTIN There’s a lot of pressure to keep showing results instead of really taking time to grow, and since we’re still figuring things out, our direction can change and shake our confidence sometimes. I think learning how to grow at our own pace is one of the biggest challenges, but also one of the most important lessons. What’s your best advice for aspiring young artists? JAMES Nobody really knows exactly what they’re doing, including me. So try new things and don’t be too scared to do so. People care way less than you think. JUHOON I think it really comes down to having fun … People can tell when you’re being authentic, and I think that kind of sincerity lasts much longer than trying to impress everyone. Even when things get physically or mentally exhausting, that sense of fun is what brings me back and keeps me going. — ANDREW UNTERBERGER BabyChiefDoIt Image Credit: Virisa Yong Age 18Label Artist Partner GroupPublisher Whittier-Jones PublishingManagement Fred Jay Like Chief Keef and G Herbo before him, BabyChiefDoIt is part of a lineage of Chicago drill rappers who left their mark on hip-hop as teenagers. The Chi-Town rapper born Jayden Jones broke out in 2024 with his viral “Rollin,” which topped the TikTok Billboard Top 50, and he carried that momentum into 2025: He notched his first Hot 100 entry that July with the punchy “Went West,” which peaked at No. 71, and earned a co-sign from fellow Chicago native Chance the Rapper with an appearance on Chano’s Star Line (“Drape­tomania”). This June, BabyChiefDoIt dropped his debut album, Rise Against My Broken Odds — his most cohesive project to date — and is now on a North American headlining trek. “From top to bottom, I’d like to think [my debut album] showcases how I’ve evolved over time as a human and as an artist,” he says. “[It’s] a testament and a big ‘fuck you’ to everyone who bet against me.” — M.S. Waylon Wyatt Image Credit: Cole Silberman Age 19Label Music Soup/Darkroom RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Pretty Sweet Management It has been a busy few months for Waylon Wyatt, who released his debut full-length album, the often searing, raw Dustpiles, on July 17; was set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on July 22 (though delayed due to illness); and is now preparing for his world headlining tour that begins in August. “In the last year, we’ve gone from being in a van towing a U-Haul trailer and now I got my own tour bus,” Waylon says. He’s well aware that standing out is harder than ever for emerging artists and advises, “One of the biggest things you can do in order to find success is be that difference and not copy-paste everyone else. With it being so hard to find originality out there, you should be that change.” — M.N. The Linda Lindas Image Credit: Jaxon Whittington Names/Ages Lucia de la Garza, 19; Mila de la Garza, 15; Bela Salazar, 21; Eloise Wong, 18Label Reprise/Warner RecordsPublisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Fly South Music Group At the end of August, punk band The Linda Lindas will release its third studio album, Gotta Get Out — its first since signing a major-label deal in June with Reprise/Warner Records. “We’re much more intentional with everything we do now,” says Mila, with her sister, Lucia, adding that part of the band’s new contract dictates that the group will own its masters in 12 years. Listeners can expect that mentality reflected in the new music, too; from the band’s aptly titled major-label debut single, “Burning Out,” to its Hayley Williams-assisted coming-of-age song, “Closer.” “It’s difficult thinking about how many people are watching us and having opinions on us as we grow, make mistakes and change,” Wong says. “But what’s great about being in a band is we have each other to lean on.” — JOSH GLICKSMAN Chino Pacas Image Credit: Street Mob Records Age 19Label Street Mob RecordsPublisher Street Mob PublishingManagement N/A After breaking through with 2023’s “El Gordo Trae El Mando,” which became Chino Pacas’ first Hot 100 entry (peaking at No. 58), the artist born Cristian Humberto Ávila Vega has kept building. That same year, “Qué Onda” with Calle 24 and Fuerza Regida reached No. 5 on Hot Latin Songs, his highest-charting entry to date. His 2024 debut album, Que Sigan Llegando Las Pacas, reached No. 7 on Top Latin Albums and No. 6 on Top Regional Mexican Albums. And last year, Pacas returned with Cristian, which debuted at No. 10 on Top Regional Mexican Albums. So far in 2026, he’s maintained a steady run of singles, including the drill- and reggaetón-leaning “Madrugada” with Flcvkka and the corridos track “Jajaja.” After appearances at festivals including Sueños 2026, Pacas says he’s most proud of “the legacy I am creating, because this is only the beginning.” — I.R. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox Sign Up