Paul McCartney, Knats and War Child among nominees for 2026 Mercury Prize

Continuing to recognise and platform the best new British and Irish music, the Mercury Prize will be returning to Newcastle following its biggest year in 2025. This year's shortlist was curated by a judging team comprised of AFRODEUTSCHE, Danielle Perry, Jamie Cullum, Jeff Smith, Lea Stonhill, MistaJam, Phil Alexander, Sian Eleri, Sophie Williams, and Will Hodgkinson. Returning nominees include Dave, who won the Mercury Prize in 2019 for his debut album, Psychodrama, Florence + The Machine, who was nominated for Lungs in 2009, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful in 2015, and High As Hope in 2018, Olivia Dean nominated for her 2023 debut Messy, Kojey Radical for his 2022 debut Reason to Smile, and War Child Records nominated for the original 1995 Help compilation. Despite losing to Pulp for their album Different Class, Pulp notably donated the £25,000 prize money to War Child. Last year, the shortlist included CMAT, FKA Twigs, Jacob Alon, Fontaines D.C., and more, with Sam Fender ultimately taking the prize home for his third album, People Watching. Previous recipients have also included English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, and Arlo Parks. The winner of the 2026 prize is set ...