# Olivia Dean and Paul McCartney shortlisted for Mercury Prize

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/olivia-dean-nominated-and-lily-allen-snubbed-in-mercury-prize-list/
- Published: 2026-07-30T13:32:33+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-30T19:47:39+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Entertainment (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6dmlr1gzeo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Olivia Dean and Paul McCartney are Mercury Prize nominees.
- Lily Allen’s acclaimed album is not shortlisted.
- The £25,000 winner will be announced on 22 October.

## Summary

Olivia Dean has been shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize for The Art of Loving, reinforcing her awards success after the album won album of the year at both the Brit and Mobo Awards. Sir Paul McCartney has also earned his first Mercury nomination, aged 84, for The Boys of Dungeon Lane, while Lily Allen’s critically acclaimed West End Girl is absent from the list; it is unclear whether she was overlooked or did not submit it.

The £25,000 award recognises outstanding albums and will be decided by a 12-member judging panel at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on 22 October. Former winners Dave and Suede are nominated alongside Florence + The Machine, Jade, Raye, Nia Archives and Irish newcomer Dove Ellis; other notable omissions include Harry Styles and Gorillaz.

## Coverage

- [BBC Entertainment: Olivia Dean and Paul McCartney shortlisted for Mercury Prize](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6dmlr1gzeo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
- [The Guardian: Paul McCartney becomes first-time nominee for Mercury prize, up against Olivia Dean, Dave and more](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jul/30/paul-mccartney-becomes-first-time-nominee-for-mercury-prize-up-against-olivia-dean-dave-and-more)
- [Billboard: RAYE, Olivia Dean & Paul McCartney Among 2026 Mercury Prize Nominees – See Full List](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/mercury-prize-2026-nominees-shortlist-raye-mccartney-1236304222/)

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