Mercury Prize Shortlist 2026: All Artists And Albums

The Mercury Prize, a prestigious award given to outstanding British and Irish albums, has just released its 2026 shortlist.

Artists include former winners Dave (who won in 2019) and Suede (1993), alongside first-time nominees like Sir Paul McCartney.

RAYE and Florence + The Machine, who have both received previous nominations but no wins, will return to the competition too.

To be in the running, musicians’ albums have to come from British or Irish artists and be released between August 30 2025 and July 17 2026 (inclusive).

Some have suggested that the absence of Lily Allen’s zeitgeisty West End Girl – which would qualify – from the list amounts to a “snub”. Charli XCX’s new album, Music, Fashion, Film, is just outside of the qualifying timeline, meanwhile – if she submits it for consideration, it’ll have to be for 2027’s award.

Other UK and Irish artists who’d released music in the set timeline but do not appear in the shortlist include Harry Styles, Kneecap, Gorillaz, Joy Crookes, Lola Young, and Ed Sheeran.

The winner, which is decided by a panel of 12 judges, will be announced on October 22 at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.

Previous awardees include Little Simz, Ezra Collective, English Teacher, and last year’s victor, Sam Fender.

• The Boy Who Played Harp, by Dave
• Blizzard, by Dove Ellis
• Everybody Scream, by Florence + The Machine
• That’s Showbiz Baby! by JADE
• A Great Day In Newcastle, by Knats
• Don’t Look Down, by Kojey Radical
• Emotional Junglist, by Nia Archives
• The Art Of Living, by Olivia Dean
• The Boys From Dungeon Lane, by Paul McCartney
• This Music May Contain Hope, by RAYE
• Antidepressants, by Suede
• HELP(2), by War Child.