Sound of 2026: 10 acts you’ll be obsessed with next year

The nominees for 2026 include (L-R): KWN, Skye Newman, Chloe Quisha, Royel Otis and Sombr

The soundtrack to the next 12 months will match cutting-edge pop with jangly guitar anthems. That’s according to the shortlist for BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026, which tips new music for the coming year.

The nominees include US singer-songwriter Sombr, whose lush harmonies and yearning pop-rock songs have already earned him a clutch of UK top 10 singles.

Also in the running are Aussie skate-rock duo Royel Otis and nervy post-punk outfit Geese. They’re joined by up-and-coming pop singers Chloe Qisha, Skye Newman and Alessi Rose – who supported Dua Lipa on tour this summer.

Previous winners include Adele, Haim and Chappell Roan. The 2026 winner will be announced in January on Radio 1 and BBC News.

This year’s list was compiled from votes by an international panel of more than 170 industry experts and artists including Sir Elton John, Dua Lipa, Jade, Olivia Dean, Yungblud and Sam Smith.

It is open to acts who have yet to score a number one album or more than three top 10 singles by 31 October 2025. Artists who already have a “significant public profile” are also ineligible.

The remaining nominees for 2026 include breakout rap star Jim Legxacy, Irish rockers Florence Road, R&B singer Kwn and singer-songwriter Sasha Keable – a former collaborator with Disclosure and Jorja Smith.

The list has been running since 2003, when US rapper 50 Cent was the first winner.

Since then, it has also predicted success for Stormzy, Frank Ocean, Wet Leg, Florence + The Machine, Raye, Fred Again, Vampire Weekend and Yungblud.

Here’s what you need to know about the 10 nominees on the Sound Of 2026 shortlist.