AIM Ireland is pleased to see four Irish acts included in IMPALA’s 100 Artists to Watch 2026: Jamie McIntyre, KhakiKid, MayKay, and Séamus Harty.
Now in its fifth edition, the initiative is presented by IMPALA in partnership with YouTube and co-funded by the European Union. The 2026 list features 100 artists from across Europe working with independent labels and self-releasing teams, highlighting the depth, diversity and international strength of the independent sector.
This year’s Irish artists reflect a broad spread of creative voices and career stages. Jamie McIntyre appears on the list as self-released, while KhakiKid is featured with 10K Projects, MayKay with Grainstore Records, and Séamus Harty with Paragon Records.
Their inclusion is a strong recognition of the quality of Irish independent talent and the teams helping to develop it. It also underlines the importance of independent labels, artist-led infrastructure and cross-border visibility in supporting sustainable careers.
The programme is designed to help artists reach new audiences across markets while shining a light on the role independent music companies play in Europe’s cultural and commercial ecosystem. As part of the 2026 campaign, IMPALA will continue to spotlight artists from the list through dedicated playlist and social media activity in the weeks ahead.
Congratulations to Jamie McIntyre, KhakiKid, MayKay and Séamus Harty on this recognition.
Explore the full 100 Artists to Watch 2026 list on the IMPALA website and listen to the accompanying playlist on YouTube.
