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Music fans react to Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist

Sam Fender

Music fans are reacting to the Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist.

  • READ MORE: James Ford talks us through the huge new War Child ‘Help(2)’ album – track-by-track

Today (July 30), the 10 nominees for the shortlist have been unveiled for the prize. The winner will be crowned on October 22 at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, where Sam Fender bagged the prize last year for his third album ‘People Watching‘.

Paul McCartney, JADE, Nia Archives, Dave, Suede, Florence + The Machine, Olivia Dean, RAYE and Dove Ellis are all up for the Mercury Prize, with the War Child ‘Help(2)‘ compilation rounding out the nominations.

Now, fans are reacting to the shortlist on social media, with many praising the list as “stacked”. “Omg Knats, Raye, Florence and Dove Ellis shortlisted for Mercury Prize who do i pick”, one fan agonised.

Some commented on McCartney’s inclusion on the list, which will mark his first time being nominated for a Mercury. “2026 music scene is so wild even Paul McCartney is competing with Nia Archives,” one fan remarked, while another said: “Paul McCartney being shortlisted was not on my bingo card this year.”

Meanwhile, other fans were upset at this year’s snubs – and in particular, with Lily Allen‘s absence from the list. “How the fcuk has Lily Allen not been nominated for the Mercury Prize? What a pile of poo this award is,” one user wrote. On the Mercury Prize Instagram, another user listed Gorillaz as another notable exclusion: “What’s the criteria and the period you’re looking at? Why no gorillaz”.

Previous winners Harry Styles, Arlo Parks, and James Blake were also absent from the list, despite releasing albums this year.

Take a look at a range of reactions and see the full shortlist below:

 

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The full shortlist for the Mercury Prize 2026 is:

Dave – ‘The Boy Who Played the Harp’
Dove Ellis – ‘Blizzard’
Florence + The Machine – ‘Everybody Scream’
JADE – ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’
Knats – ‘A Great 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)’

Recent winners of the Mercury Prize include English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, Dave, Wolf Alice, Young Fathers and more.

The judging panel consists of music writer and broadcaster Sophie Williams, The Times‘ rock and pop critic Will Hodgkinson, composer, DJ and radio broadcaster AFRODEUTSCHE, and broadcaster and musician Danielle Perry.

Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum, Jeff Smith, Lea Stonhill, MistaJam, Kerrang‘s creative director Phil Alexander and Sian Eleri will join the judging panel, with Jeff Smith acting as The Chair of the judging team.

Tickets to the Mercury Prize 2026 are on sale and available here.

Elsewhere, Sam Fender previously donated his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venue Trust.

The post Music fans react to Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist appeared first on NME.