ROTTERDAM, 15 October 2026 – MOMO Festival has announced the first eleven acts for its 2027 edition, taking place across Rotterdam from 15 to 17 April. MRCY will become the festival's new artist in residence, while Ibibio Sound Machine, Willem, Luwten, Pigeon and a new wave of emerging British artists are also heading to the city.
MRCY becomes artist in residence
British soul project MRCY will have a larger presence at MOMO Festival 2027 as this year's artist in residence.
The duo brings together producer Barney Lister and vocalist Kojo Degraft-Johnson. Lister has worked with artists including Obongjayar, Olivia Dean and Celeste, while Degraft-Johnson has collaborated with Little Simz, Cleo Sol and Ego Ella May.
Their music draws on classic soul as well as contemporary influences, with Marvin Gaye sitting alongside artists such as Khruangbin and Sault in their musical reference points.
MRCY follows previous MOMO artists in residence including caroline, Black Country, New Road, Tom Skinner and Nusantara Beat. Exactly what the 2027 residency will involve has not yet been announced, but the festival says MRCY will appear in several different forms during the April programme.
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First wave brings several UK discoveries
The first announcement has a particularly strong British contingent.
Scottish singer-songwriter Alice Faye, named Scottish Act of the Year, will present material from her debut album in Rotterdam. She is joined by Dermot Henry and alternative folk band Little Grandad.
Modern Woman moves between noise rock, art pop and alternative folk, while Knats brings jazz played with what MOMO describes as a punk mentality and an explosive rhythm section.
From Margate comes Pigeon, whose music combines Afro-disco, electroclash and krautrock influences.
Ibibio Sound Machine joins the programme
One of the more established names in the first announcement is Ibibio Sound Machine.
The London-based group mixes West African highlife and Afrobeat with post-punk and electronic music, creating a sound that has travelled far beyond a straightforward interpretation of any one genre.
Their addition immediately gives the opening announcement one of its larger live acts, while remaining in keeping with MOMO's habit of placing recognised names next to artists who are still far earlier in their careers.
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Willem and Luwten return to Rotterdam
Dutch artists are represented by Willem and Luwten.
Willem, known from The Opposites, has increasingly explored themes around identity and personal history in his solo work, while his most recent album moves into a more optimistic direction.
Luwten is the musical project of composer and songwriter Tessa Douwstra. Her blend of folktronica and alternative pop returns to the festival programme after a period away.
Japanese-born, Montreal-based songwriter Jonah Yano completes the first group of eleven announced names. Born in Hiroshima, Yano works with intimate songwriting and looping improvisation while exploring subjects including heritage and identity.
MOMO Festival 2027 line-up so far
The first eleven announced acts are:
- Alice Faye
- Dermot Henry
- Ibibio Sound Machine
- Jonah Yano
- Knats
- Little Grandad
- Luwten
- Modern Woman
- MRCY
- Pigeon
- Willem
More music, performance and art will be announced in the run-up to April.
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Rotterdam becomes the festival site
MOMO Festival takes place from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 April 2027 at different locations across central Rotterdam. The exact venue programme will be published closer to the festival. MOMO's format traditionally spreads performances across established cultural venues as well as less conventional spaces around the city.
The festival describes its role as a “doorway to discovery”, reflecting its long-running focus on introducing audiences to artists before they become widely established.
Previous MOMO performers have included Obongjayar, The Last Dinner Party, Fontaines D.C., Big Thief, Black Country, New Road and Kokoroko.
The festival has been running for 26 years and combines music with performance, visual art, talks, club nights and other forms of programming. Its free Playground programme also gives Rotterdam-based makers, artists, collectives and communities space within the festival.
Tickets for MOMO Festival 2027
The press announcement lists the Regular 3-Day Pass at €110.
MOMO has also been selling a limited Discovery 3-Day Pass for €95, so availability of that cheaper early option may depend on when you book. Day tickets are expected to go on sale closer to the festival.
Tickets and the latest programme information are available through the MOMO Festival website.
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How to get there
MOMO is a multi-venue festival rather than an event with one fixed address. The 2027 edition will take place at different locations in Rotterdam city centre, with the complete venue list and timetable still to be announced.
Once the programme is published, it is worth planning your route around individual performances rather than heading to one central festival site. Rotterdam Centraal is a useful starting point for many city-centre venues.
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