Sir Paul McCartney has been nominated for the Mercury Prize for the first time at the age of 84, marking a notable moment in the award’s history since its inception in 1992. The Beatles icon is recognized for his 24th studio album, *The Boys of Dungeon Lane*, which reflects on his childhood in Liverpool and early years before the rise of the Fab Four. The album has reached number one in the UK charts and features 14 tracks inspired by places and experiences from McCartney’s youth.
The 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist, announced in London, includes 12 albums representing a broad spectrum of British and Irish music talent. Alongside McCartney, the list features a mix of well-established and emerging artists. Olivia Dean’s *The Art of Loving*, which spent eight weeks at number one and won album of the year at the Brit Awards, and Raye’s *This Music May Contain Hope* are both nominated, with Raye marking her second Mercury nod following her debut album. Rapper Dave returns to the shortlist with *The Boy Who Played the Harp*, featuring the hit single "Raindance." Dave previously won the award in 2019.
Other nominees include Florence + The Machine with her sixth album *Everybody Scream*, receiving her fourth Mercury nomination, and Suede with *Antidepressants*, their first nomination in nearly three decades after winning in 1993. The list also highlights new voices such as Dove Ellis, an Irish singer-songwriter whose album *Blizzard* has received widespread critical praise, and jazz ensemble Knats, who released *A Great Day in Newcastle* celebrating their hometown. Rounding out the shortlist are Jade, former member of Little Mix, with *That’s Showbiz Baby!*, UK rapper Kojey Radical for *Don’t Look Down*, Nia Archives’ *Emotional Junglist*, and *Help(2)*, a charity album supporting War Child featuring various prominent artists including former Mercury winners.
The *Help(2)* compilation is notable as a rare charity project nominated for the prize, echoing the 1995 *Help Album*, another War Child fundraiser. The album includes contributions from Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Sampha, and others.
The Mercury Prize is awarded based on artistic merit, independent of commercial success, and is judged by a panel of 11 music industry experts. The 2026 award ceremony will take place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 22. The winner will receive a £25,000 prize.
Notably, some high-profile albums were absent from the shortlist, including Lily Allen’s *West End Girl*, which drew considerable attention for its candid exploration of her personal life, Harry Styles’ *Kiss All The Time*, Disco, Occasionally, and Gorillaz’ *The Mountain*.
McCartney expressed his surprise and gratitude upon learning of his nomination, calling it a "brilliant and exciting surprise" and a "huge honour" to be included alongside such a diverse collection of artists. The announcement highlights a year that juxtaposes established legends with rising stars, reflecting the evolving landscape of British and Irish music.