YouTube Music has revealed the Indian artists selected for its Foundry Class of 2026, extending support to four emerging acts from the country’s independent music ecosystem.
The latest intake includes Antara and Ankita Nandy, Damini Bhatla, Garvit-Priyansh and OutStation. Through the programme, the artists will receive backing from YouTube Music as they look to grow their audiences and expand their visibility on the platform.
Foundry was launched in 2015 as YouTube Music’s artist development initiative and has since featured hundreds of independent musicians from around the world. Previous participants from India include Kayan, Lost Stories, Seedhe Maut and Noor Chahal.
The four artists selected this year reflect the increasingly varied paths through which Indian musicians are building careers. While some have drawn attention through reinterpretations of traditional and regional sounds, others have cultivated audiences through social media, creator-led content and original releases aimed at digital-first listeners.
Antara and Ankita Nandy have built a following through performances that incorporate folk influences, vocal harmonies and unconventional instrumentation. Damini Bhatla’s work spans classical, contemporary and regional music traditions, while Garvit-Priyansh have gained recognition for bringing together elements of Indian classical music and popular song formats.
OutStation, one of the newer entrants in India’s pop landscape, has focused on audience-building through a combination of music releases, live performances and online engagement, helping establish the group among a growing crop of homegrown pop acts.
The announcement comes amid increasing attention on India as a source of emerging talent for global streaming and content platforms. As barriers to distribution continue to fall, artist development programmes have become an important way for platforms to identify and support creators showing early signs of momentum.
For Indian independent artists, initiatives such as Foundry offer access to additional exposure at a time when competition for attention across digital platforms continues to intensify.
The 2026 cohort adds another set of Indian names to a programme that has increasingly looked towards the country’s evolving independent music sector as a source of future global talent.
