Mercury Prize 2026

[AtomsForPizza]

Shortlist to be announced on Thursday, with the winner to be announced in Newcastle in October.

 

Scratching my head as to who the nominees will be. Possibilities - Olivia Dean, Lily Allen, Dry Cleaning, My New Band Believe, Yard Act. Any other ideas? On reflection, makes me think it hasn't been a stellar 12 months in UK/Irish music 

[Ben7amin_]

Tomora, Nia Archives, Boards of Canada, Lime Garden -  Could see any/all of these getting a nod 

 

Maybe Kneecap if they are feeling daring 

 

PVA, Sorry, Art School Girlfriend, Ellur, Gretal-  Probably too small for Mercury Prize gaze these days would be well worthy of a nomination

 

 

Edited Monday at 12:25 by Ben7amin_

[Meerkat]

Wolf Alice potentially? They seem to do quite well with Mercury Prize nominations and I thought The Clearing was another solid album

[Ben7amin_]

7 minutes ago, Meerkat said:

Wolf Alice potentially? They seem to do quite well with Mercury Prize nominations and I thought The Clearing was another solid album

 

It was in last years list 😉

 

time flies 

Edited Monday at 13:13 by Ben7amin_

[Ben7amin_]

Lauren Lavernes gave a list of potential candidates in April -   

 

Lola Young 

Olivia Dean

Lilly Allen

The Last Dinner Party

Cat Burns

James Blake

Raye

Gorrilaz

Mandy, Indiana

Holly Humberson

Dove Ellis

Cardinals

Dave

Joy Crookes

My New Band Believe 

Arlo Parks

Elminene

Dry Cleaning

Knucks

Jessie Ware

 

[TheBoz]

I was just about the mention Dave and James Blake there.

 

I've love a nomination for Maruja - Pain to Power. I think it just qualifies

 

[Starburster]

James Blake nailed on for me

[Ben7amin_]

I checked it, as I wasn't sure Tomora are elegible for the Mecury Prize. The rule is 50% British -  and although there is 3 of them in the live show - only 2 writing so they pass the bar. 

 

 

[TheBoz]

I'd go for West End Girl if I was a betting man, but i'm always terrible at predicting these things

[Meerkat]

40 minutes ago, Ben7amin_ said:

 

It was in last years list 😉

 

time flies 

Jesus, don’t know what I’ve been doing for the last year, but didn’t realise it had been out that long 😮 

[Ben7amin_]

17 hours ago, Meerkat said:

Jesus, don’t know what I’ve been doing for the last year, but didn’t realise it had been out that long 😮 

 

If it makes you feel better, it came out very close to the cut off 

[Ben7amin_]

Im still slightly bitter that Complicated Woman by Self Esteem wasn't nominated last year,  and then even more bitter that Sam Fender won.

 

 

[SPW]

Last year felt a more predictable list (possibly because bands I like released albums last year). Notwithstanding that, I'd have thought Gorillaz would be up there.

 

Re Kneecap, if they didn't pick Kneecap's first album I imagine they won't this one and can't imagine they are brave enough to have them perform.

[Jack H]

Think new charli album will be on there, maybe the new Cribs album too. Got my fingers crossed for Basement, Chalk and Joshua Idehen. 

[Ben7amin_]

Yeah Joshua Idean is a very good shout - 

 

 

Any one got any incling on a token weird jazz album that makes the list? 

[adequate8]

49 minutes ago, Ben7amin_ said:

Yeah Joshua Idean is a very good shout - 

 

 

Any one got any incling on a token weird jazz album that makes the list? 

Knats?

[sheffinghell]

3 hours ago, Ben7amin_ said:

Yeah Joshua Idean is a very good shout - 

 

 

Any one got any incling on a token weird jazz album that makes the list? 

I came across Tara Clerkin Trio recently. There's definitely some jazz in their mix, amongst many other things

[sheffinghell]

Also would love Joshua Idehen to be in with a shout. Just imagine how much joy he would bring to the proceedings!

[lazyred]

Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist

    The Boy Who Played the Harp Dave
    Blizzard Dove Ellis
    Everybody Scream Florence + the Machine
    That’s Showbiz Baby! Jade
    A Great Day in Newcastle Knats
    Don’t Look Down Kojey Radical
    Emotional Junglist Nia Archives
    The Art of Loving Olivia Dean
    The Boys of Dungeon Lane Paul McCartney
    This Music May Contain Hope Raye
    Antidepressants Suede
    Help(2) Warchild

 

[Ben7amin_]

Not Sure how I feel about the Warchild Album being nominated -  Its Brilliant - but its a compilation feels wrong

 

From that list im hoping for a Nia Archives win

[sheffinghell]

17 minutes ago, Ben7amin_ said:

Not Sure how I feel about the Warchild Album being nominated -  Its Brilliant - but its a compilation feels wrong

 

From that list im hoping for a Nia Archives win

Was surprised to see that too. If it gets any kind of prize it should be a special category.

[WhoOdyssey]

For what it's worth, the original Help album was also nominated in 1996.

[sheffinghell]

2 minutes ago, WhoOdyssey said:

For what it's worth, the original Help album was also nominated in 1996.

Interesting! 

[Justcalledtosay]

The list feels a bit ..meh

[The Nal]

Just now, Justcalledtosay said:

The list feels a bit ..meh

 

Yeah. A rare miss......