Vagrant Real Estate Wins SAY Award 2026

Aberdeen producer Vagrant Real Estate has won Scotland’s SAY Award 2026, which recognises albums and is often compared with the Mercury Prize. The win highlights the strength of Scottish music beyond the central belt, a point the producer emphasised in thanking collaborators and encouraging musicians outside the main industry hubs.

The winning debut, *Neither Collar Nor Crown*, features 25 musicians from Scottish hip-hop and beyond. The award was presented at Dundee’s Caird Hall after a 20-album longlist was narrowed to one winner. Nikhita was also named The Sound of Young Scotland and received a funding package worth up to £10,000 towards a debut album.