30 July 2026
The 2026 Mercury Prize 12 ‘Albums of the Year’ have been announced, with JADE, RAYE, Nia Archives, Dave, and Kojey Radical all featuring. The news was broken on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds by Jamz Supernova.
Elsewhere, Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney, War Child Records, and Florence + The Machine also feature on the shortlist. They are joined by Dove Ellis, Suede, and Knats. The Mercury Prize aims to recognise the best new British & Irish music, celebrating artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres.
The Mercury Prize returns to Newcastle as the host city for 2026, in partnership with Newcastle City Council. The 2026 Awards Show will be held on Thursday 22nd October at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle and will feature live performances from many of the 12 ‘Albums of the Year’ artists, culminating in the announcement of the overall winner of the 2026 Mercury Prize. The Prize’s broadcast partner, BBC Music, will provide coverage of the event. Tickets for the 2026 Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ in Newcastle are available now HERE.
Mercury Prize shortlist in full:
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)’