{"id":575850,"date":"2026-07-30T18:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T18:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/575850\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T18:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T18:01:17","slug":"music-fans-react-to-mercury-prize-2026-shortlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/575850\/","title":{"rendered":"Music fans react to Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Music fans are reacting to the Mercury Prize 2026<\/a> shortlist.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Utilita Arena, where Sam Fender bagged the prize last year for his third album \u2018People Watching<\/a>\u2018.<\/p>\n

Paul McCartney<\/a>,\u00a0JADE<\/a>,\u00a0Nia Archives<\/a>,\u00a0Dave<\/a>,\u00a0Suede<\/a>, Florence + The Machine<\/a>, Olivia Dean<\/a>, RAYE<\/a> and Dove Ellis<\/a> are all up for the Mercury Prize, with the War Child \u2018Help(2)<\/a>\u2018 compilation rounding out the nominations.<\/p>\n

Now, fans are reacting to the shortlist on social media, with many praising the list as \u201cstacked\u201d. \u201cOmg Knats, Raye, Florence and Dove Ellis shortlisted for Mercury Prize who do i pick\u201d, one fan agonised.<\/p>\n

Some commented on McCartney\u2019s inclusion on the list, which will mark his first time being nominated for a Mercury. \u201c2026 music scene is so wild even Paul McCartney is competing with Nia Archives,\u201d one fan remarked, while another said: \u201cPaul McCartney being shortlisted was not on my bingo card this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, other fans were upset at this year\u2019s snubs \u2013 and in particular, with Lily Allen<\/a>\u2018s absence from the list. \u201cHow the fcuk has Lily Allen not been nominated for the Mercury Prize? What a pile of poo this award is,\u201d one user wrote. On the Mercury Prize Instagram, another user listed Gorillaz<\/a> as another notable exclusion: \u201cWhat\u2019s the criteria and the period you\u2019re looking at? Why no gorillaz\u201d.<\/p>\n

Previous winners Harry Styles<\/a>, Arlo Parks<\/a>, and James Blake<\/a> were also absent from the list, despite releasing albums this year.<\/p>\n

Take a look at a range of reactions and see the full shortlist below:<\/p>\n

I want that ” HELP 2″ win for thousands of reasons @WarChildUK<\/a> \ud83e\udef6<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u026a \u1d00\u1d0d \u028f\u1d0f\u1d1c \ud83c\udf1e (@MDepeche) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Great list\u2026 so excited that Knats are on!! Got my tickets to the show.. it\u2019s going to be superb!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Denise Bennett\ud83d\udc99 \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@denisebennett) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

florence or nia will be winning<\/p>\n

\u2014 harley (@runningtopain) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

What an absolute stacked shortlist for the Mercury Prize this year! So many incredible records on this list \ud83c\udfb6\ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n

\u2014 C#Minor (@albert_blur) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

2026 music scene is so
wild even Paul McCartney
is competing with Nia
Archives.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Emmy Remote Jobs (@ChuksEmma947401) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Paul McCartney\u2019s first Mercury nod at 84?! Absolute legend. This shortlist is stacked \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dividend Trucking (@quiet8302) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

JADE for the win!! pic.twitter.com\/ig5HeQiye2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 HAKU (@im_a_cachcow) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

A lineup packed with brilliance but RAYE feels like the album to beat<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nancy Evans (@NancyEvans69185) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Emotional Junglist should win the mercury prize imho<\/p>\n

\u2014 \ud83c\udf19Karl D’Silva\ud83e\udd40 (@krldslv) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

omg Knats, Raye, Florence and Dove Ellis shortlisted for Mercury Prize who do i pick<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dylan (@feelbadjazz) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist. Paul McCartney being shortlisted was not on my bingo card this year. I\u2019m hoping @archives_nia<\/a> gets the big award. But all other artists are just as deserving as well https:\/\/t.co\/2LNWlx303Z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Life In FEH (@MickEFlip) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

How the fcuk has Lily Allen not been nominated for the Mercury Prize? What a pile of poo this award is. Probably doing her a favour \u2013 I\u2019m speech debelle less.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Kramer-remarK (@PaulHitsheet) July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The full shortlist for the Mercury Prize 2026 is:<\/p>\n

Dave \u2013 \u2018The Boy Who Played the Harp\u2019
Dove Ellis \u2013 \u2018Blizzard\u2019
Florence + The Machine \u2013 \u2018Everybody Scream\u2019
JADE \u2013 \u2018THAT\u2019S SHOWBIZ BABY!\u2019
Knats \u2013 \u2018A Great Day In Newcastle\u2019
Kojey Radical \u2013 \u2018Don\u2019t Look Down\u2019
Nia Archives \u2013 \u2018Emotional Junglist\u2019
Olivia Dean \u2013 \u2018The Art of Loving\u2019
Paul McCartney \u2013 \u2018The Boys of Dungeon Lane\u2019
RAYE \u2013 \u2018THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.\u2019
Suede \u2013 \u2018Antidepressants\u2019
War Child Records \u2013 \u2018HELP(2)\u2019<\/p>\n

Recent winners of the Mercury Prize include English Teacher, Ezra Collective<\/a>,\u00a0Little Simz<\/a>, Dave,\u00a0Wolf Alice<\/a>, Young Fathers and more.<\/p>\n

The judging panel consists of\u00a0music writer and broadcaster Sophie Williams, The Times\u2018 rock and pop critic Will Hodgkinson, composer, DJ and radio broadcaster AFRODEUTSCHE, and broadcaster and musician Danielle Perry.<\/p>\n

Radio 2\u2019s Jamie Cullum, Jeff Smith, Lea Stonhill, MistaJam, Kerrang\u2018s creative director Phil Alexander and Sian Eleri will join the judging panel, with Jeff Smith acting as The Chair of the judging team.<\/p>\n

Tickets to the Mercury Prize 2026 are on sale and available\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Sam Fender previously donated his \u00a325,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venue Trust<\/a>.<\/p>\n