Nordic film and TV talent to look out for in 2026

By Anders Lorenzen

Throughout 2025, we have looked at the most significant Nordic Film and TV releases featuring the cream of Nordic stars. But who are the stars of the future – which budding new talents should we look out for in 2026?

Across the Nordic region, a host of new talents are making waves, from children following in the parents’ footsteps to young aspiring actors making a name for themselves through the ranks of the Nordic film and TV sector. Below, we take a look at some of the eye-opening talent worth keeping an eye out for.

Denmark

The Danish actor Nicolai Coster-Waldau has been a household name in Denmark since his breakthrough in Nattevagten (Nightwatch) in 1994, but in the last decade, he has also established himself as an international name, most notably for his role in Game of Thrones and his charitable work for the Red Cross and the United Nations (UN).

Both of his daughters, Filippa and Safina, have followed in his footsteps, pursuing a career in acting and entertainment. So far, the older sister, 25-year-old Filippa, has made the most waves. Currently, she is topical in Smilla’s Sense of Snow, the serial adaptation of Peter Høeg’s 1992 bestselling novel Frøken Smillas fornemmelse for sne (Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow).

Coincidentally, the Danish director Ole Bornedal, who also made his breakthrough in Nattevagten, also has a daughter, Fanny, who is making something of a name for herself. The 25-year-old actress appeared in all three seasons of the Danish hit drama Carmen Curlers, a period drama following the Danish innovator Axel Byvang, who pioneered electric hair curlers.

Filippa Navarana Coster-Waldau in series 3 of Salsa. Photo: DR Jesper Christensen

Sweden

At the age of 32, Swedish actor and model Frida Gustavsson already has several impressive titles and performances on her CV. For instance, she was named on The European Film Promotion’s (EFP) top-ten list of promising European talent and won accolades for her portrayal of Marieanne in the 2024 drama, Faithless. Other noteworthy credits on her CV include supporting roles in the Netflix series The Witcher (2019) and Vikings: Valhalla (2022).

Frida Gustavsson. Photo: Kevin Payravi

Iceland

The Icelandic multi-talented performer, 27-year-old Elín Hall was also named on EFP’s top-ten list. She received praise for her ability to combine her music and film talent. In addition to her two music albums, she starred in the internationally recognised 2024 Icelandic film When the Light Breaks, which opened the prestigious Un Certain Regard selection at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. In the film, her character explores the complexity of grief, and many critics noted the depth of the way she internalised her character.

Norway

35-year-old director Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel is one of the most promising filmmakers to emerge from Norway in recent times, with many anticipating that his emergence will propel Norwegian filmmaking to new heights.

Ullmann Tøndel’s breakthrough came in 2024 with his directorial debut Armand and was also selected in the Un Certain Regard selection at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The storyline centres on a 6-year-old boy who is accused of crossing boundaries against his best friend at elementary school. The film was Norway’s selection for the 2025 Academy Awards.

Though Tøndel has certainly made a name for himself, he did not emerge out of nowhere. His grandparents, Liv Ullman and Ingmar Bergman, are acting and filmmaking legends from Norway and Sweden respectively, with their work internationally recognised.

Finland

From Finland, 29 year-old actor Saku Taittonen is also making waves. Having made a name for himself through his focus and ability to get into character, the actor has been earmarked to represent the next generation of Finnish talent.

He portrayed the Finnish rockstar Pertti Neumann in the 2024 Finnish film Levoton Tuhkimo, (My Name Is Dingo), a role which earned him a Jussi Award (a Finnish film award). In preparation for the role, he used a method-acting technique, which involved adopting and training a new dialect, and undergoing a physical transformation in order to capture the presence of Neumann. He has also just secured his first international role in a major production, which is, however, not yet announced.

This is just a few of the superb Nordic film and TV talent emerging. With a crop of talent so extensive, it is impossible to do it justice in one single article. But we will continue to follow the developments of Nordic Film and TV talent, eager to see what artistic delights they will bring us in the new year.