As Janet Devlin looks beyond a landmark year, 2026 feels less like a reset and more like a natural continuation of an artist firmly in her stride. That sense of continuity has been underscored by her recent return to BBC Radio Ulster’s Blackstaff Sessions. Following the success of Emotional Rodeo and its expanded deluxe edition Not My First Emotional Rodeo, Devlin enters the next chapter of her career with a clear sense of identity and creative confidence.
January 2026 opens with Janet Devlin’s voice ringing out from the BBC’s Blackstaff Studios in Belfast. As part of The Blackstaff Sessions on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, her live performances sit alongside a hand-picked selection of Northern Ireland’s most respected and exciting artists, a celebration of songcraft designed to banish the winter blues. For Devlin, it’s a fitting way to step into the new year: grounded, confident, and centred on the songs themselves.
Their performances will be played on Vinny & Cate (Mondays-Fridays at 10.30am), Connor Phillips (Mondays-Fridays at 3pm), Anne-Marie Wallace (Mondays-Thursdays at 6pm), Ralph McLean (Mondays- Wednesdays at 8pm) and Stephen McCauley (Fridays at 7pm), Saturday With John Toal (Saturdays at 11am) and Taylor Johnson, Saturdays at 6pm). See here for further information.
Having spent 2025 reconnecting with audiences through high-profile festival appearances, headline shows from C2C and The Long Road Festival Devlin to her own standout live dates, Devlin has once again has reaffirmed her reputation as a compelling live performer. These moments, coupled with the warmth and intimacy of projects like My Little Christmas Special, suggest an artist increasingly comfortable balancing large stages with more personal, stripped-back storytelling. It’s a balance that feels poised to shape her creative direction moving forward.
Above all, Janet Devlin heads into 2026 with momentum on her side and a fanbase that has grown alongside her. Grounded in storytelling, unafraid of vulnerability, and driven by a genuine love of the album experience, she stands at a point where the next chapter feels wide open, not defined by expectations, but shaped by instinct, authenticity, and an ever-expanding artistic vision.
