Music BC Announces 15 Artists for 2026 ARC Accelerator Program

On July 2 2026, Music BC announced the 15 emerging artists chosen for the 2026 cohort of its Artist Development Accelerator (ARC) program. The lineup includes Anna Katarina, Bealby Point, CHLO, Chopping Spree, Cold Fame, Connor Roff, Dani Black, Dour, Felisha and the Jazz Rejects, Mauvey, Maya Jade, Paris Pick, Revay, Seven Taviss, and Talel McBriar.

ARC is Music BC’s flagship accelerator, designed to turn promising projects into sustainable careers. The program is funded by Creative BC, the Province of British Columbia, FACTOR and the Canada Council for the Arts. It blends business education, mentorship and creative collaboration to help emerging artists navigate an increasingly complex music industry.

The accelerator unfolds in three phases. The first, The Clinic, delivers workshops on branding, marketing, revenue generation and career planning. The second, The Retreat, is an intensive creative residency focused on songwriting, recording and performance development. The final phase, The Show, culminates in a showcase performance before fans and industry delegates.

ARC launched in 2022 and has since worked with 60 artists from across the province. Participants have released eight songs that originated during the program’s songwriting retreat, turning what could have been demos into tracks that reached the world.

According to a release from Music BC, executive director Scott Johnson said, “In just a few short years, ARC has become an important part of the artist development ecosystem in British Columbia. Seeing alumni such as Desirée Dawson, Kimmortal, Missy D, Vox Rea, daysormay, Teon Gibbs, FKA Rayne, Concrete Vehicles (fka Computer) and others continue to build audiences, access new opportunities and achieve significant career milestones is incredibly inspiring. It reinforces why programs like ARC matter: they help talented artists develop the skills, relationships and confidence needed to build sustainable careers.”

The 15 new participants span a wide spectrum of genres and backgrounds. Anna Katarina is an introspective pop singer‑songwriter, while Bealby Point blends folk and electronic textures. CHLO and Chopping Spree are experimental electronic acts, and Cold Fame is a hip‑hop duo. Connor Roff performs solo indie‑rock, and Dani Black brings a jazz‑influenced vocal style. Dour is a folk‑rock band, Felisha and the Jazz Rejects form a jazz collective, and Mauvey is a pop‑rock trio. Maya Jade is an R&B‑tinged singer‑songwriter, Paris Pick offers folk‑pop, Revay works as a producer‑artist hybrid, Seven Taviss is a solo hip‑hop performer, and Talel McBriar is a folk‑blues guitarist.

Funding partners play a pivotal role in supporting music development in British Columbia. Creative BC is a provincial agency that promotes the growth of the province’s creative industries, including music and sound recording. FACTOR, the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records, provides financial support to Canadian musicians. The Canada Council for the Arts is a federal Crown corporation that funds artistic projects across Canada.

ARC’s impact is evident in the number of songs that have progressed from retreat sessions to released tracks. The program’s alumni network also offers a built‑in community for participants to connect with industry professionals and peers.

Music BC’s announcement of the 2026 cohort follows a similar release in 2025 that highlighted 15 artists for that year’s program, underscoring the accelerator’s ongoing commitment to sustaining a pipeline of emerging talent in the province.

The 2026 cohort will begin the Clinic phase in early September, followed by the Retreat in late October, and the Show in early November. The final showcase is scheduled to take place at a venue in Vancouver, though the exact location has not yet been announced.

Music BC has not yet released a detailed schedule for the program’s events, but participants and industry observers expect the same structure that has proven successful in previous cohorts.

The announcement underscores the importance of structured development programs in the Canadian music ecosystem. By combining education, mentorship and creative collaboration, ARC provides a comprehensive pathway for emerging artists to refine their craft and build sustainable careers.

As the 2026 cohort prepares to begin its journey, the music community in British Columbia watches with interest to see how these 15 artists will evolve and what new music they will bring to the province’s vibrant scene.