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6 Music Names Its Artists of the Year for 2026

BBC Radio 6 Music has announced its Artists of the Year 2026, a dozen acts chosen for their creative impact and sonic ambition over the past twelve months. Nick Grimshaw revealed the list on his Breakfast Show, mixing breakthrough newcomers with long-established names.

The twelve are beabadoobee, Charli xcx, corto.alto, Erykah Badu, Fontaines D.C., Madra Salach, Mandy, Indiana, Phoebe Bridgers, Robyn, Show Me the Body, Shygirl and The Cure. Between them they cover post-punk, neo-soul, electronic music and reworked traditional folk, a spread the station sees as proof of its appetite for music that pushes at boundaries.

The celebration runs across radio, BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer. Two one-hour specials gather thoughts from music figures and fans, among them Olivia Rodrigo, John Cale, A. G. Cook and The Alchemist, who talk about what these acts have meant culturally.

November brings guest programming and special broadcasts. Madra Salach, the Irish folk group, present a four-part Artist in Residence series; Mandy, Indiana contribute a Desert Island Disco on Lauren Laverne's show; and Show Me the Body and corto.alto both record live sessions. Listeners can also catch festival highlights, including The Cure's summer set at Primavera Sound 2026.

6 Music's Music Editor Cam Pia explained why the station keeps the focus on the people making the music: artists sit at the centre of everything it does, and highlighting both artistry and the community around it feels more vital than ever. He added that the list spans celebrated returns as well as the excitement of the entirely new, and that the station is proud to honour these innovators.

Special programming, live session archives and curated collections are available to stream on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer.

Photo: Music-News
Source: Muzland
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