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Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist revealed
The 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist has named 12 British and Irish albums competing for the annual award, which recognises artistic achievement across contemporary music. The selection combines major pop and rock figures with newer artists and a charity compilation.
– Dave — *The Boy Who Played the Harp*– Dove Ellis — *Blizzard*– Florence + The Machine — *Everybody Scream*– JADE — *THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!*– Knats — *A Great Day In Newcastle*– Kojey Radical — *Don’t Look Down*– Nia Archives — *Emotional Junglist*– Olivia Dean — *The Art of Loving*– Paul McCartney — *The Boys of Dungeon Lane*– RAYE — *THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.*– Suede — *Antidepressants*– War Child Records — *HELP(2)*
In short
- Twelve albums are shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize.
- The list spans established stars and emerging acts.
- The winner will be announced in Newcastle in October.
Explained simply
The Mercury Prize is an annual music award that honours artistic achievement across contemporary music in Britain and Ireland. Established in 1992, it emphasises musical quality and innovation rather than commercial success.
This year's shortlist of 12 albums includes both long-established artists and emerging talent, drawn from a range of genres. The selection also features a charity compilation, showing the breadth of work the prize recognises beyond traditional commercial releases.
The Mercury Prize carries significant prestige within the music industry and can materially boost an artist's career prospects. Being shortlisted or winning the award can influence radio play, streaming numbers and industry perception, making it one of the UK and Ireland's most important annual music awards.
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