Nia Archives, JADE, Paul McCartney and Olivia Dean nominated for 2026 Mercury Prize
Also on the shortlist for this year's prize, to be held in Newcastle once again, are RAYE, Dave, Florence + the Machine, Dove Ellis and more
The shortlist of nominees for the 2026 Mercury Prize have been revealed, with Nia Archives, JADE, Paul McCartney and Olivia Dean all up for the award.
This year’s prize returns to Newcastle for the second year in a row after taking place outside of London for the first time in 2025 and being won by hometown hero Sam Fender. The 2026 event will take place at the Utilita Arena on October 22.
Also nominated for this year’s prize are Florence + the Machine, Dave, RAYE, Dove Ellis, Kojey Radical, Geordie jazz band Knats, Suede and the War Child Records compilation album Help(2).
See the full 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist below.
Dave – The Boy Who Played the Harp
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Florence + the Machine – Everybody Scream
JADE – THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
Knats – A Good 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)
When winning the 2025 prize for his third album People Watching, Sam Fender described his home as “the best region in the country”. He went on to donate his entire Mercury Prize winnings of £25,000 to the Music Venue Trust.
Fender said: “I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out. These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
Of the success of the prize’s first year outside of London, Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO, and YolanDa Brown OBE DL, artist and BPI Chair, said in a joint statement: “Last year’s Mercury Prize and its brilliant performances and Fringe gave the region a £1.4m economic and cultural boost and the whole of Newcastle came together to give the event a warm, big Geordie hug.
“We are delighted to see the Prize return to the Toon and to the North-East for what we know will be another memorable occasion for artists and fans. We thank Newcastle City Council and all our valued partners for their continued collaboration and commitment, and we can’t wait for what is already shaping up to be another fantastic year of British and Irish music.”