Paul McCartney becomes the first nominee for the Mercury prize, against Olivia Dean, Dave and more | The Mercury Prize

An impressive list of chart-A-listers shortlisted for the 2026 competition. The Mercury Prizea prestigious award that honors the best album of the year by a British or Irish artist.

Although the award’s history dates back to 1992, Paul McCartney was nominated for the first time this year, thanks to his album. Dungeon Lane BoysA great look back at his Liverpool childhood and his great relationships with his fellow Beatles.

Speaking to the Guardian when the album was released in May, McCartney said he felt John Lennon’s presence when writing. “My assistant was probably one of the most successful writers of the century, so, yes, you will miss him. But when I wrote (about a certain place), I knew he would know. ok, enter it.”

He may have the biggest pedigree of anyone on the list, but McCartney is up against one of the biggest British success stories of recent years: Olivia Dean, whose album. The Art of Love swept the Brit Awards this year and could do the same at next year’s Grammys. It has had all but one of its 43 weeks in the UK Top 5, eight of them at No 1.

Raye’s British counterpart is by his side, just as ambitious These Songs May Have Hopehis second consecutive album to be nominated after his debut, My 21st Century Blues.

Another big hit is rapper Dave, who has been nominated The Boy Playing the Harpwhich has an international program called the smash Raindance. The album was given five stars in the Guardian, with Dave being described as “an amazing, sharp musician”. Dave won a Mercury prize with his debut album Psychodrama in 2019, although he didn’t make the shortlist for his follow-up We’re All Together.

Florence + the Machine receives its fourth Mercury nomination, for its sixth album Everyone is Screamingwhich was also highly praised in the Guardian and described as “ambient and emotional music”. Had they lost, only Radiohead would have been nominated more than once without winning.

There’s a line-up of some big names on the rare compilation album set to be Mercury: Help(2), a charity album recorded at Abbey Road to raise money for War Child. It features new recordings by artists including previous winners Mercury Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Sampha, English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Young Fathers and Beth Gibbons (a winner with Portishead), as well as many other top UK and US artists. It is the follow-up to 1995’s The Help Album, the only other band to be nominated in Mercury’s history.

All of the above albums reached No 1 in the UK, with one reaching No 3: That’s Showbiz Baby! and Jade, whose post-Little Mix career continues to gain popularity. Goth-tinged Britpoppers Suede have been chosen for commercial success, Antidepressantswhich reached No. 2; the band won a Mercury for their self-titled debut in 1993, but haven’t been nominated since 1997’s Coming Up.

There are places for lesser-known artists, including an album that can be seen as a dark horse: BlizzardIrish songwriter Dove Ellis, who received 2025’s best reviews across the music industry, including a five-star Guardian album. They also appear on Help(2).

A jazz outfit Knats have been selected for the Big Day in Newcastle, which features a wide range of musicians, including vocal artists, plus a great, groove-driven listening experience. As residents of Newcastle where the award ceremony is held, they are hoping to repeat last year when local boy Sam Fender was awarded.

Stalwart UK songwriter Kojey Radical, celebrated for his cerebral, public-spirited but commercial spirit, has been nominated for a second time at Mercury, while Nia Archives – a producer and DJ who cleverly combines junglist music with indie rock and R&B – gets her second chance, because Emotional Junglistreleased only last week, on the last day of the qualifying period.

It adds to a diverse lineup where eight of the 12 albums feature artists of color. There is profanity, especially Lily Allen’s West End Girl, which was a big part of the cultural conversation of 2025.

Other missing artists include Harry Styles, Boards of Canada, Gorillaz, Sienna Spiro, Lola Young, Ed Sheeran, Kneecap, James Blake, Cribs, Celeste, Cat Burns, The Last Dinner Party, Robert Plant, Joy Crookes, Fakemink, Dry Cleaning and My New Band Believe. Charli xcx’s song Wuthering Heights was not selected, although her new album Music, Fashion, Film was out in the qualifying period. Blood Orange’s legendary Essex Honey was just one day short of qualifying.

The awards will be presented at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on 22 October, and the winners will be chosen by an 11-strong panel of experts from across the music industry.

Candidates for 2026 Mercury

Dave: The Boy Who Played the Harp
Pigeon Ellis: Blizzard
Florence + The Machine: Everyone’s Screaming
Jade: It’s Showbiz Baby
Knats: Big Day in Newcastle
Kojey Radical: Don’t Look Down
Nia Archives: Emotional Junglist
Olivia Dean: The Art of Love
Paul McCartney: The Boys of Dungeon Lane
Raye: These Songs Can Have Hope
Suede: Antidepressants
War Child Notes: Help (2)