# Mercury Prize 2026: check out this year’s shortlisted albums

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/mercury-prize-2026-check-out-this-years-shortlisted-albums/
- Published: 2026-07-30T10:03:18+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-30T16:12:19+00:00
- Original publisher: NME
- Original article: https://www.nme.com/news/music/mercury-prize-2026-check-out-this-years-shortlisted-albums-3959760?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mercury-prize-2026-check-out-this-years-shortlisted-albums
- Topics: Entertainment, Music, UK, World

## Key points

- Mercury Prize shortlist names 12 UK and Irish albums
- Winner announced in Newcastle on 22 October
- Paul McCartney receives his first Mercury shortlist nod

## Summary

The 12 albums shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize have been announced, recognising UK and Irish releases across pop, rock, rap, electronic music, jazz and poetry. The winner will be revealed at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on 22 October, with performances from several nominees and BBC coverage planned.

- 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 — ‘Help(2)’

## Coverage

- [NME: Mercury Prize 2026: check out this year’s shortlisted albums](https://www.nme.com/news/music/mercury-prize-2026-check-out-this-years-shortlisted-albums-3959760?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mercury-prize-2026-check-out-this-years-shortlisted-albums)
- [Far Out: Mercury Prize 2026: The full shortlist revealed](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/mercury-prize-2026-the-full-shortlist-revealed/)
- [Clash: Mercury Prize 2026: Full Nominations Announced](https://www.clashmusic.com/news/mercury-prize-2026-full-nominations-announced/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.