In only 16 years, New York’s Governors Ball has proven to be a pillar of pop culture and a launchpad for music’s next breakout stars. The undeniable hustle the city is known for, mixed with the insatiable ambition of rising artists performing to a sea of people, seems untouchable—but it becomes a reality for one summer weekend in Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

It was one of Dua Lipa’s first forays on a festival stage after she released her debut album in 2017. In 2024, it bred one of the most iconic moments in pop diva history with Chappell Roan’s take on the Statue of Liberty. That same year, Peso Pluma fiercely displayed his artistry, introducing audiences to the corridos genre—all with a broken foot. These moments not only become core memories for attendees; they also elevate musicians to the next level of superstardom, transforming them from niche favorites to bona fide rock stars, genre be damned.

Now, a new class of artists has taken a bite of the Big Apple’s leading music fest at pivotal points in each of their respective careers. They have each built dedicated followings off their signature sounds and unmistakable points of view. Stepping on the Gov Ball stage has placed them in a lineage of artists who came to the city for more momentum—except they’ve left with something even bigger than they arrived with.

One thing’s for certain: Once New York approves, it’s only a matter of time until the rest of the world follows. And lucky for Cosmopolitan, we got to hang out with the artists leading Gov Ball’s new guard before they inevitably take over your Spotify Wrapped.