Each year, the Times Breakthrough award celebrates emerging talent across the United Kingdom’s music, theatre, and literary fields. The 2026 shortlist highlights three distinctive figures whose recent work has garnered critical acclaim and signals promising futures in their respective disciplines.

Nancy Farino, a 28-year-old playwright and actress, gained attention with her debut play Fatherland, which premiered at Hampstead Theatre in London last year. The semi-autobiographical work explores the complex relationship between a father and daughter traveling from England to County Mayo in a dilapidated school bus. Farino not only wrote the script but also starred as Joy, the reserved daughter, alongside Jason Thorpe as her charismatic, somewhat flawed father, a struggling life coach. Raised in Leamington Spa, Farino trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has accumulated experience performing in intimate pub theatres. During the pandemic, she worked at Tesco, an experience that inspired her to pursue writing more directly. Currently, she is developing several projects, including a chamber play about medieval mystic Margery Kempe, and has appeared as Josepha Weber in the television adaptation of Amadeus.

Ben Nobuto, who recently turned 30, is establishing himself as one of the most performed young classical composers worldwide. In 2026, his compositions have been featured by an eclectic range of ensembles, from trombone quartets to unaccompanied choirs. His piece Sol is gaining recognition as a choral classic, while Hallelujah Sim combines choir and orchestra with virtual-reality elements to create an innovative and playful experience. Nobuto, of British-Japanese heritage and raised in Kent, began with drums before focusing on piano, drawing significant influence from French impressionist composers like Debussy and Ravel. With degrees from Cambridge, he seeks to blend lush harmonies with modern textures and often integrates electronic and acoustic sounds. Nobuto has expressed skepticism about the impact of artificial intelligence on music composition, noting that he neither uses nor finds AI-generated music compelling.

Harry Shukman is an investigative journalist and author whose debut book, Year of the Rat: Undercover in the British Far Right, won the Sunday Times young writer of the year award. A former reporter for a major national newspaper, Shukman spent months infiltrating far-right groups under the alias "Chris," documenting his experiences for the anti-extremism organization Hope Not Hate. His undercover work, which involved covert recordings and close contact with various factions, offers a nuanced portrayal of contemporary extremist movements. Shukman’s approach balances rigorous investigative journalism with literary sensitivity, eschewing caricature in favor of exploring the human complexities within dangerous political networks. The project demanded considerable personal risk and secrecy, with only close confidants aware of his true identity. Shukman continues to collaborate with Hope Not Hate while advancing his writing career.

The three shortlisted candidates represent a diverse array of voices engaging with distinct themes and forms, from intimate family dynamics and innovative musical composition to in-depth political investigation. Their work embodies the vibrant creativity and critical insight defining the current UK cultural landscape.