The 2026 shortlist puts Dove Ellis alongside Paul McCartney, Florence + The Machine, Raye and Suede, with the ceremony returning to Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 22nd.
Dove Ellis has been shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize, nominated for his debut album Blizzard. The Galway singer-songwriter released the record in December 2025 off the back of a run of US dates supporting Geese, and it’s since picked up serious acclaim with myself saying “much of the album operates in that vein, slightly fuzzed low-slung acoustic indie rock with Ellis quivering voice at the centre…a general pleasing air of Jeff Buckley and early Thom Yorke in his vocals.”
Ellis also features on a second shortlisted record, HELP(2), the War Child Records compilation, appearing on the track ‘Sunday Light’. Fontaines D.C. also contribute to that project, covering Sinéad O’Connor’s ‘Black Boys on Mopeds’, with frontman Grian Chatten turning up again on ‘Flags’.
The 12-strong shortlist was revealed today on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds, and includes some big names alongside Ellis: Paul McCartney picks up his first ever Mercury nomination for The Boys of Dungeon Lane, an album built around his early memories of growing up in Liverpool, while Florence + The Machine’s Everybody Scream brings her total nominations to four, still without a win. Suede return with Antidepressants, their first nomination since winning the inaugural prize in 1993 for their self-titled debut.
As Shaad points out, seven of the albums were released under the Warner Music umbrella.
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Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist:
- 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)
The ceremony takes place Thursday October 22nd at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, the award’s second year running in the city after last year’s debut there.
Sam Fender won the 2025 prize for his third album People Watching, beating competition from FKA Twigs, CMAT, Fontaines D.C., Jacob Alon, PinkPantheress and Wolf Alice, and donated the £25,000 prize money to Music Venue Trust.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
