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Welsh Music Prize 2026<\/p>\n Welsh Music Prize 2026<\/p>\n
Stephen Price<\/p>\n
The shortlist for the 16th Welsh Music Prize 2026 has been announced, with 15 artists across genres from rap and metal to pop, folk, rock and indie rock in the running for the prestigious award and \u00a310,000 prize money.<\/p>\n
Artists up for the prize for the best Welsh album of the past 12 months include previous winner Gruff Rhys with his latest album, Dim Probs. The Super Furry Animals frontman won the inaugural Welsh Music Prize in 2011 with Hotel Shampoo. You Got This, the UK number one album from ragga-metal stalwarts Skindred, becomes the Newport band\u2019s third nomination.<\/p>\n
Several other previously nominated artists have another chance at winning the coveted prize including champion of the finger picked guitar Gwenifer Raymond\u2019s Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark, alongside Art School Girlfriend\u2019s dreamy shoegaze LP Lean In, while international reggae sensation Aleighcia Scott makes the shortlist again with her first Welsh language album Taith.<\/p>\n
A number of Welsh language albums from previous nominees make the shortlist: Ani Glass and dreampop long player Phantasmorgia, join Ymarfer Byw by Caernarfon composer Dafydd Owain and Angel from multi-instrumentalist Cerys Hafana.<\/p>\n
First-time nominee and folk star Mari Mathias makes the cut with Cyfarwydd alongside electro pop wizards Dewin with their debut album Dan y Dderwen.<\/p>\n
Adjua\u2019s Everything Is Beautiful is the other debut album to make the list and she\u2019s joined by second-time nominees, the hardcore heartthrobs CHROMA with 25 Forever. Making the shortlist for the first time are Cardiff\u2019s rising rap star Local with Too Broke to<\/p>\n
Be This Busy. Caldicot indie rockers The Bug Club make the shortlist for the first time with Every Single Muscle and are joined by North Walian guitar heroes The Royston Club and their album, Song For The Spine.<\/p>\n
The winner of the 2026 Welsh Music Prize is part of Cardiff Music City Festival and will be announced at a ceremony held at the Wales Millennium Centre\u2019s Donald Gordon Theatre on Wednesday, October 7, hosted by BBC Radio 1\u2019s Sian Eleri. The event will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru and kickstarts the celebrations for Llais festival.<\/p>\n
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2025 Welsh Music Prize Winner Don Leisure. Image credit: Welsh Music Prize<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s Welsh Music Prize winner was Don Leisure with his album Tyrchu Sain, which breathed new life into the archive of Welsh language label Recordiau Sain. Speaking about the recognition, the Cardiff-based producer said: \u201cIt\u2019s mind-blowing to win.<\/p>\n
Making the album was a real voyage of discovery. My ethos is always \u2018would this song sound good as a hip hop sample?\u2019 and so much did. There\u2019s so much amazing Welsh music of all genres that I\u2019m still discovering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Welsh Music Prize co-founder, Huw Stephens said: \u201cFor the 16th year running, the Welsh Music Prize will celebrate these great albums in a special night. The longlist and subsequent shortlist of albums is a yearly reminder of the incredible breadth of music from Wales. From hip hop and rap to folk, electronica, and heavy rock, this year\u2019s artists showcase the rich, diverse, and vibrant creativity thriving across the Welsh music scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
Welsh Music Prize 2026<\/p>\n
Heledd Fychan, Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport, said: \u201cThis year\u2019s shortlist perfectly captures what the breadth of talent we have across the Welsh music scene. It brings together artists from across a wide range of genres, backgrounds and communities, all producing work of exceptional quality.\u00a0Congratulations\u00a0to every artist recognised. Through Creative Wales, we are proud to support the Welsh Music Prize as it continues to champion the talent, ambition and creativity that define Wales\u2019 vibrant music scene. It\u2019s going to be a fantastic evening of music and celebration. Llongyfarchiadau!\u201d<\/p>\n
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: \u201cThe Welsh Music Prize showcases the very best of Wales\u2019s music scene \u2013 it\u2019s a great opportunity for artists to broaden their audience and for fans to find new music to fall in love with. That\u2019s why we support it, and why we\u2019re so pleased it\u2019s part of Cardiff Music City Festival.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Welsh Music Prize 2026 shortlist<\/p>\n
ADJUA -Everything Is Beautiful
Aleighcia Scott \u2013 Taith
Ani Glass \u2013 Phantasmagoria
Art School Girlfriend \u2013 Lean In
Cerys Hafana \u2013 Angel
CHROMA \u2013 25 Forever
Dafydd Owain \u2013 Ymarfer Byw
Dewin \u2013 Dan y Dderwen
Gruff Rhys \u2013 Dim Probs
Gwenifer Raymond \u2013 Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark
Local \u2013 Too Broke to Be This Busy
Mari Mathias \u2013 Cyfarwydd
Skindred \u2013 You Got This
The Bug Club \u2013 Every Single Muscle
The Royston Club \u2013 Songs For The Spine<\/p>\n
The Welsh Music Prize is supported by Welsh Government via Creative Wales and Cardiff Council as part of Cardiff Music City Festival.<\/p>\n
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