Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) disease cases increased in the first half of 2022 in the Netherlands, with a remarkably high proportion ofemm4 isolates. Whole-genome sequence analysis of 66emm4 isolates, 40 isolates from the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period 2009–2019 and 26 contemporary isolates from 2022, identified a novelStreptococcus pyogeneslineage (M4NL22), which accounted for 85 % ofemm4 iGAS cases in 2022. Surprisingly, we detected few isolates of theemm4 hypervirulent clone, which has replaced nearly all otheremm4 in the USA and the UK. M4NL22displayed genetic differences compared to otheremm4 strains, although these were of unclear biological significance. In publicly available data, we identified a single Norwegian isolate belonging to M4NL22, which was sampled after the isolates from this study, possibly suggesting export of M4NL22to Norway. In conclusion, our study identified a novelS. pyogenes emm4 lineage underlying an increase of iGAS disease in early 2022 in the Netherlands and the results have been promptly communicated to public health officials.