Cypriot artist Della is among the winners of the Music Moves Europe Awards (MME Awards) who were officially unveiled during a festive awards ceremony at Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) in Groningen, the Netherlands, on Thursday.
The British-Cypriot artist grew up in Nicosia, surrounded by a small but resilient independent music community, and is now based in Liverpool.
Drawn early to both the intimacy of singer-songwriting and the intensity of post-rock, she began writing songs that felt both confessional and cinematic. Equal parts bedroom diary and widescreen score.
MME Awards said in a press release on Thursday that Camille Yembe (Belgium), Carpetman (Ukraine), Della (Cyprus), Sarah Julia (Netherlands) and Sofie Royer (Austria) are the winners of an MME Award. The prestigious Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Lia Kali (Spain), who also received the MME Public Choice Award, as chosen by music fans across Europe and beyond.
“Europe’s music scene continues to thrive through its diversity, creativity and bold artistic voices. The Music Moves Europe Awards celebrate the artists who are shaping the future sound of our continent and taking it beyond Europe’s borders,” Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, pointed out, warmly congratulating all the winners.
European Union Prize
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“Co-funded by the European Commission’s flagship Creative Europe programme, the MME Awards are the European Union’s prestigious prize celebrating the continent’s most exciting emerging artists, the ones shaping the sound of Europe today and tomorrow,” the press release noted. Designed to support international careers, the MME Awards have spotlighted some of Europe’s most influential breakthrough acts over the past 22 years, including Judeline, Zaho de Sagazan, Stromae, Alyona Alyona, ROSALÍA, Meduza, Dua Lipa, Night Tapes, Fontaines D.C, and Christine and the Queens. Each winner reflects the diversity, creativity, and bold innovation driving Europe’s vibrant music scene.
Public Choice Award
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The MME Public Choice Award 2026 was decided by music fans across Europe, who voted for their favourite emerging artist via the official MME Awards website. This award highlights the strong connection between Europe’s audiences and its next generation of musical talent.
Prize Package
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“The winners were selected by an international jury consisting of Jess Iszatt, (presenter BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing), Filip Košťálek (music programmer at Colours of Ostrava), Kenza Naaïmi El Fezzazi (French-Moroccan music journalist for Red Bulletin and FIP), Annika Walsh (head of International Music Strategy at Spotify) and Judeline (Public Choice MME Award 2025 winner),” the press release added.
In total, seven awards were presented: five MME Awards, one Grand Jury Prize, and one Public Choice Award. Each MME Award winner receives €10,000. The Grand Jury Prize winner also receives an additional €5,000 green touring voucher. The MME Public Choice Award 2026 winner receives €5,000.
Taking the stage at ESNS
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“All 15 nominated artists performed at ESNS, Europe’s leading music showcase festival and conference, in Groningen, the Netherlands. They also took part in the MME Education Programme, which provides insights and best practices from across the music industry,” the press release said.
The programme is organised by ESNS and Reeperbahn Festival in collaboration with the MME Awards partners: Liveurope, Yourope, Live DMA, IMPALA, Digital Music Europe, ICMP-CIEM, International Music Managers Forum (IMMF), and European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE).
The Music Moves Europe Awards are a cornerstone of the European Union’s commitment to supporting and promoting the European music sector. By empowering both emerging artists and industry professionals, the MME Awards foster a united, diverse, and future-facing European music scene. Presented annually during ESNS, the awards aim to accelerate the international careers of Europe’s most promising musical talents.