The total listing of nominees for the 2026 Mercury Prize has been introduced, with the shortlist together with Paul McCartney, RAYE, Olivia Dean and extra.
Celebrating the work of each esteemed and rising artists from U.Okay and Eire, the Mercury Prize is awarded yearly and acknowledges creative achievement in LPs throughout a spread of genres. Current winners embrace Sam Fender (2025), English Instructor (2024), Ezra Collective (2023), Little Simz (2022), and Arlo Parks (2021) The Prize was first awarded in 1992 to Primal Scream for Screamadelica, and winners embrace collections by Pulp (1996), PJ Harvey (2001, 2011) and Arctic Monkeys (2006).
Amongst these featured on this yr’s 12-strong shortlist are: RAYE for her chart-topping THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE, Olivia Dean for the chart-topping The Artwork of Loving, and Paul McCartney for his twentieth solo studio album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. It’s the primary time that the latter has been nominated for the prize in his storied profession.
Finishing the lineup is Dave’s The Boy Who Performed The Harp; Florence + The Machine’s All people Scream; Dove Ellis’ Blizzard; JADE’s THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!; Knats’ A Nice Day In Newcastle; Kojey Radical’s Don’t Look Down; Nia Archives’ Emotional Junglist; Suede’s Antidepressants; and Struggle Youngster compilation HELP(2).
Plenty of main artists miss out on the nod, nonetheless. Lily Allen’s West Finish Woman is omitted, as is Lola Younger’s I’m Solely F****ng Myself‘ Blood Orange’s Essex Honey, The Final Dinner Occasion’s From The Pyre and Boards of Canada’s Inferno had been additionally not chosen for this yr’s listing.
The prize shall be awarded at a ceremony at Newcastle’s Utilita Area on Oct. 22. The ceremony moved exterior of London for the primary time in 2025 with hometown hero Sam Fender amassing the prize for his third album, Individuals Watching, which options his No. 1 hit “Rein Me In.” Followers can buy tickets for the ceremony, which can embrace numerous performances by the nominated artists, on the awards’ official web site.
Albums launched between Aug. 30 2025 and July 17, 2026 had been eligible for consideration this yr. The 12 shortlisted albums had been chosen by an unbiased judging panel chaired by Jeff Smith, head of music, BBC 6 Music & Radio 2.
This yr’s committee consisted of: Afrodeutsche – composer & DJ; Danielle Perry – broadcaster & author; Jamie Cullum – musician & broadcaster; Lea Stonhill – music programming marketing consultant; MistaJam – songwriter, DJ & broadcaster; Phil Alexander – artistic director, Kerrang!/contributing editor, Mojo; Sian Eleri – broadcaster & DJ; Will Hodgkinson – chief rock & pop critic, The Instances; and Sophie Williams – author & broadcaster.
2026 Mercury Prize nominees:
Dave, The Boy Who Performed the HarpDove Ellis, BlizzardFlorence + The Machine, All people ScreamJADE, THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!Knats, A Nice Day In NewcastleKojey Radical, Don’t Look DownNia Archives, Emotional JunglistOlivia Dean, The Artwork of LovingPaul McCartney, The Boys of Dungeon LaneRAYE, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPESuede, AntidepressantsWar Youngster Data, HELP(2)
