BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2026 Longlist Reveals Ten Artists Tipped for Success Next Year
The annual BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2026 longlist has been announced, featuring ten exciting new artists who are expected to make a significant impact in the music industry next year. Among those making the cut are Sombr, Geese, and Sasha Keable, showcasing the diversity and talent of emerging artists.
Established in 2003, the Sound of list has become a trusted marker of future success, with past winners including Adele, Lady Gaga, and Lewis Capaldi. The current longlist includes Alessi Rose, Chloe Qisha, Florence Road, Jim Legxacy, kwn, Royel Otis, Skye Newman, and Sombr.
The shortlist and eventual winner will be selected by over 170 UK music industry professionals and artists, including Elton John, Dua Lipa, and Sam Smith. The top five from the list will be announced from January 5, 2026, with the overall winner crowned on January 9.
Changes have been made to the criteria for this year's Sound of longlist, in response to criticism following last year's winner, Chappell Roan. The revised rules now cap artists at three top 10 singles and two U.K. top 10 albums or singles, aiming to provide a more balanced selection of emerging talent.
Sombr has made the cut with their highest-charting album, I Barely Know Her, which reached number 10 in 2025. Geese's acclaimed third album, Getting Killed, followed closely behind at number 26. Meanwhile, Skye Newman boasts three top 40 U.K. singles, including a standout hit "Family Matters" that reached the top 10.
The revised Sound of list is designed to provide a fresh and representative snapshot of emerging talent in the UK music scene. With this year's longlist featuring such a diverse range of artists, fans and industry insiders are eagerly anticipating the announcement of the shortlist and eventual winner.
The annual BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2026 longlist has been announced, featuring ten exciting new artists who are expected to make a significant impact in the music industry next year. Among those making the cut are Sombr, Geese, and Sasha Keable, showcasing the diversity and talent of emerging artists.
Established in 2003, the Sound of list has become a trusted marker of future success, with past winners including Adele, Lady Gaga, and Lewis Capaldi. The current longlist includes Alessi Rose, Chloe Qisha, Florence Road, Jim Legxacy, kwn, Royel Otis, Skye Newman, and Sombr.
The shortlist and eventual winner will be selected by over 170 UK music industry professionals and artists, including Elton John, Dua Lipa, and Sam Smith. The top five from the list will be announced from January 5, 2026, with the overall winner crowned on January 9.
Changes have been made to the criteria for this year's Sound of longlist, in response to criticism following last year's winner, Chappell Roan. The revised rules now cap artists at three top 10 singles and two U.K. top 10 albums or singles, aiming to provide a more balanced selection of emerging talent.
Sombr has made the cut with their highest-charting album, I Barely Know Her, which reached number 10 in 2025. Geese's acclaimed third album, Getting Killed, followed closely behind at number 26. Meanwhile, Skye Newman boasts three top 40 U.K. singles, including a standout hit "Family Matters" that reached the top 10.
The revised Sound of list is designed to provide a fresh and representative snapshot of emerging talent in the UK music scene. With this year's longlist featuring such a diverse range of artists, fans and industry insiders are eagerly anticipating the announcement of the shortlist and eventual winner.
i've been listening to sombr nonstop since their album i barely know her dropped in 2025 it's like they're speaking straight to my soul 
geese is also on my radar after hearing getting killed, it sounds like an emotional rollercoaster that i need to get into ASAP 
and skye newman's music is giving me all the feels with "family matters" being a total bop 
i'm loving how diverse the longlist is this year, can't wait to see who makes the shortlist and what they have in store for us next year 
anyway im loving the diversity on this longlist from geese to skye newman there's something for everyone
whats up with the changes to the sound of list? like they changed the rules cuz some ppl were salty about last yrs winner 
i get it tho, dont wanna just pick someone bc theyre popular or whatever... but now its more about balancing it out so we get a good mix of artists. 
its def gonna be interesting to see who makes the cut this year, especially with sombr and geese on the list... how much longer do u think its gonna take for them to become huge? 
, and it's all about who'll be the next big thing... Can't they just let these talented artists shine on their own? The whole system is kinda biased towards established acts trying to make a comeback or whatever 
. And with Elton John on the judging panel? Come on! 
. What really grinds my gears is how the whole list has to be crunched down into this top 5... it's like, can't we just appreciate these artists for who they are and what they bring? 
i went there with friends last weekend and their matcha latte is literally life changing 
i swear it's like a party in your mouth 
what do u think about the sound of 2026 longlist tho? sombr's music is sooo good btw, have u listened to geese's new album yet? 
! Skye Newman's "Family Matters" is already a bop, can you imagine what the future holds for her? 
.
It might just give you the push you needed to make your mark.
. It's dope to see the changes in criteria too, capping artists at three top 10 singles and two U.K. top 10 albums or singles... it's all about balance now 
. But what I'm most hyped about is that Sombr made the cut with their album "I Barely Know Her" which reached number 10 in 2025 
. It just goes to show that emerging talent can make a real impact, and I'm curious to see who'll be crowned the winner next year 
!
. can't wait to see who makes the shortlist and what's next for these talented artists 
I'm loving the diversity on this longlist! It's amazing to see new faces like Alessi Rose, Chloe Qisha, and Florence Road making waves. The changes to the criteria make total sense after last year's criticism - it's all about finding that perfect balance between showcasing established talent and giving a platform to fresh emerging artists.
!! capping artists at three top 10 singles and two u.k. top 10 albums or singles is like a breath of fresh air, you feel? it's about time they acknowledged last year's winner wasn't exactly what fans wanted 
, can't wait to see who takes home that top spot in 2026!"
and i think they got it right with 3 top singles and 2 u.k. albums max 
. this year's sound of list is all about diversity 
but yea, at least we get to see more diverse talent on the list this year 
i mean, sombr's got 3 top 10 singles under their belt, what more proof do we need? 
and now we got a more balanced selection of artists which is defo a plus for diversity & stuff
. The fact that the revised criteria are focusing on more balanced representation of emerging talent is a great step forward for the industry. Can't wait to see who makes it onto the shortlist!