HORIZONS/GORWELION – 32 WELSH ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2026
THE FLAGSHIP MUSIC PROJECT FROM BBC CYMRU WALES AND ARTS COUNCIL OF WALES ANNOUNCES THE NEXT WAVE OF ARTISTS TO RECEIVE LAUNCHPAD FUNDING FOR THEIR PROJECTS
SUPPORTED ARTISTS ANNOUNCED TODAY INCLUDE:
BETSAN
DAFYDD OWAIN
ELIN & CARYS
LLOYD
MARTHA ELEN
MORN
OGUN
PAPAYA NOON
SAGE TODZ
TAI HAF HEB DRIGOLYN
THE FAMILY BATTENBERG
+ MANY MORE
Today, Horizons, the flagship music programme for showcasing new music from Wales, announced a new round of successful awardees for Launchpad Funding. A shared award fund of £60,000 has been allocated to 32 artists and independent record labels from Wales.
For over 10 years the project has played a vital role in supporting and amplifying the voices of Welsh artists and labels, fostering a thriving and diverse music scene across the country. Horizons Launchpad Fund, part of Horizons – a partnership between BBC Cymru Wales and the Arts Council of Wales – invests in and platforms original Welsh music talent.
Punk rock, hip hop, folk, indie, electronic music and all sounds in between are represented in the list of successful awardees. They also represent talent from towns from all over Wales – from Caernarfon, Swansea, Wrexham, Aberystwyth, Blackwood, Cwmbran, Monmouth, and Cardiff.
The artists and their stories this year represent a host of different projects. New world music instruments for the psychedelic, unpredictable, low fi newcomers Tai Haf Heb Drigolion from Aberystwyth; Caernarfon rapper Sage Todz is developing a live band for his unique bilingual hip hop style; two brand new record labels, BWGiBWGAN, and Grwndi Records will be working with exciting new Welsh language artists MWSOG, Osgled, and Tonnau.
During the past ten years, Horizons has provided direct support to over 450 artists, significantly investing in the Welsh music ecosystem. Notable artists supported over the years include Adwaith, LEMFRECK, Buddug, Ben Ellis, Shale, Panic Shack and Melin Melyn. This vital funding has empowered artists to develop their careers, enabling them to spend time in studios, promote releases, purchase equipment and produce music videos.
Bethan Elfyn, Senior Producer at Horizons/Gorwelion for BBC Cymru Wales said, “What an honour it is for Horizons to be at this junction again, seeing a wave of new talent break through from all over Wales. Their stories are like a rich tapestry of what it is like to live in Wales today. It’s a pleasure to be able to inject and project their creativity with financial support, a real tangible help in this day an age. Music is the soundtrack to our time and so important to hear fresh new and young voices as part of our drive to reflect stories from Wales’ communities.”
“The projects supported by Launchpad reflect the strength, range and ambition of artists across Wales today,” said Catryn Ramasut, Director of Arts at Arts Council of Wales. “These awards will help artists develop their work, build audiences and take the next steps in their creative journeys.”
Monmouthshire based post-punk band MORN, one of this year’s awardees said: “We are honoured to be among the incredible Welsh artists being awarded with the Horizons fund this year! With so many barriers slowing down young Welsh people from pursuing their dreams of working in the arts, Horizons funding goes a long way to support artists, benefitting the amazing Welsh music scene that encompasses so many great artists today. We will be spending the money to help us tour without being at a loss, promoting upcoming releases and expanding our world that we want everybody to be a part of.”
Another artist to receive funding, Farai KD said “I am so grateful and happy for being selected for the funding which will enable me to work on my next album and collaborate with different artist from Wales.”
New Cardiff based independent record label Grwndi Records said “having financial support from Horizons is invaluable and we are extremely grateful for this special opportunity to be able to use the money for different projects and music on the label. Running an independent label is a true labour of love and it means the world to get this recognition.”
The 32 recipients of the Horizons Launchpad Fund 2026 are:
- Al Morrison – Bangor – recording costs
- Baby Schillaci – Swansea – recording costs
- Betsan – Cardiff – recording costs
- BWGiBWGAN (with artists MWSOG & Osgled) – Carmarthen – live sessions and music videos
- Chwaer Fawr – Caernarfon – recording costs
- Courtney Scotto – Cardiff – recording costs and visuals
- Dafydd Owain – Y Felinheli – live show development
- Elin & Carys – Rossett – recording costs
- Elliot Bradfield – Blackwood – recording costs
- Emyr Sion – Cardiff – album campaign costs
- Farai KD – Treforest – recording costs
- Grwndi Records (with artist Tonnau) – Cardiff – label costs and single campaigns
- Internet Fatigue – Aberystwyth – music videos and recording costs
- Lloyd – Cwmbran – equipment and recording costs
- Loki Bambino – Swansea – recording costs and campaign
- Mantis – Cardiff – recording costs
- Martha Elen – Cardiff – recording costs & visuals
- Martha O’Brien – Cardiff – recordings costs
- Meg Uppington – Cardiff – project campaign
- Molly Roberts – Cardiff – tour costs
- MORN – Monmouthshire – single campaigns and new equipment
- Ogun – Newport – music videos, live sessions and campaign
- ovajoi – Cardiff – instruments and equipment
- papaya noon – Cardiff – PR campaign and visuals
- Sage Todz – Cardiff – live band development and recording costs
- SHINOBii – Caernarfon – recording costs
- Slow Life – Wrexham – live session recording
- Tai Haf Heb Drigolyn – Aberystwyth – instruments and recording costs
- The Family Battenberg – Cardiff – recording costs
- Tokomololo – Caernarfon – recording costs and equipment
- Trystan Hughes – Powys – recording costs
- Waterpistol – Monmouthshire – PR campaign
Horizons/Gorwelion remains committed to supporting and championing music from Wales. The focus will continue to be on discovering and nurturing new talent, providing a platform for artists to thrive, and showcasing the very best of Wales to the world. The support will enable artists to advance their careers through skill development, new music recording, and touring opportunities.
Horizons/ Gorwelion is a scheme delivered by BBC Cymru Wales in partnership with Arts Council Wales to develop new, independent contemporary music in Wales.
Launchpad Fund by Horizons is made possible by funding from BBC Wales, Arts council Wales and National Lottery.
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