Jazzy and Curtisy fly the flag for Ireland at Sziget 2026

The GAA jerseys and tricolours were out in force at Sziget 2026 – as one of Europe’s biggest and most diverse festivals played host not only to a strong Irish contingent among its 360,000 visitors, but stand-out sets from two of the country’s most thrilling acts: dance sensation Jazzy and boundary-pushing rapper Curtisy.

Following in the footsteps of the likes of Fontaines D.C., Niall Horan and KNEECAP – who've all played acclaimed sets at the Budapest festival over the years – the pair made their Sziget debuts on the opening night of the festival, drawing in crowds that reflected the festival’s famously rich mix of nationalities and backgrounds, and highlighted both artists’ appeal far beyond their loyal fanbases at home.

First up was Curtisy, in the hip-hop-centred dropYard area. Taking the stage after First Nations rapper Miss Kaninna – fresh from her sets in Ireland earlier in the month – the Tallaght-raised artist demonstrated his skills not only as a playful yet profound lyricist, but as a performer who can exude both confidence and vulnerability.

His status as one of the most intriguingly original forces in alternative Irish hip-hop was undeniable, particularly across standouts like ‘Sonny’, from this year’s collaborative Get a Life! project with owin. Backed by DJ Cian Bolger, Curtisy revelled in relaying distinctly local tales to the international crowd – who showed lots of love for his native Jobstown throughout.

 

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The lights and lasers of the Yettel Colosseum signalled the beginning of Jazzy’s set later that night. Located inside a massive amphitheatre made entirely of pallets, in the heart of the festival’s buzzing Delta District, the scale of venue highlighted just how high the Crumlin dance sensation’s profile has grown over these past few years – with Jazzy garnering over one billion catalogue streams in just three years, and becoming Spotify’s most-played female DJ/vocalist globally.

With a set full of the euphoric energy she’s built her career on, Jazzy’s command over the joyous sea of bopping bodies was effortless – having honed her chops, and developed her confidence, in venues right across the world at this stage. She also offered a taste of what to expect from her eagerly awaited debut album, Peace & Patience, out in October.

 

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But Jazzy and Curtisy weren’t the only Irish talent on display at Sziget 2026. Over on the Main Stage, Naomi MacLeod – a well-known figure on the Irish music scene, formerly of Bitch Falcon and Square Pegs – played a blinder on bass with Biffy Clyro, while unique covers of The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’ were performed by both Natasha Bedingfield at the Revolut Stage, and Palestinian pop artist Bashar Murad at Magic Mirror.

All of which served to showcase the border-transcending capabilities of Irish music, right across the board – from bold, genre-bending approaches to hip-hop, to dancefloor-conquering club hits.

Funded by the News Reporting Scheme.