Mercury Prize 2026 Shortlist Revealed | Music News

Music News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 30, 2026 · 1m

The 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist drops with a wild mix of legends and newcomers — Paul McCartney, Dave, Nia Archives, and JADE all in the running. Albums had to be released between August 30, 2025, and July 17, 2026, meaning Charli XCX’s latest missed the cut while Nia Archives’ ‘Emotional Junglist’ barely made it. Florence + The Machine and Olivia Dean return for their fourth and second nods, respectively, and even a War Child charity compilation, ‘Help(2)’, made the list. Big names like Lily Allen, Harry Styles, and Boards Of Canada are notably absent. The ceremony, held in Newcastle — home…