Every year, BBC Radio 1 drops a list that turns heads, shifts playlists, and subtly defines what the next 12 months in music might sound like. That list? The Sound of 2026. And this year’s longlist, revealed today, is packed with artists who are already bubbling under, and about to blow all the way up.
The 10 names are diverse, genre-fluid, and almost offensively cool. In no particular order (but let’s be real, you’re already searching their names): Alessi Rose, Chloe Qisha, Florence Road, Geese, Jim Legxacy, kwn, Royel Otis, Sasha Keable, Skye Newman, and sombr. Whether you’re deep into alt-R&B or the kind of experimental indie that sounds like it was made in a basement on Mars, this list has you.
More than 170 tastemakers helped pull this together, including heavyweights like Elton John, Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, Olivia Dean, JADE, and YUNGBLUD, so it’s not just hype. The Sound of… list has a very solid track record. Just ask Adele, Stormzy, RAYE, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, or Lewis Capaldi, all previous picks. Or look at Chappell Roan, who topped the Sound of 2025 list and is now everywhere, from viral hits to festival stages. The taste? Impeccable.
This year’s crop already has buzz. Florence Road have been causing chaos on the live circuit, sharing stages with Olivia Rodrigo and Wolf Alice. Jim Legxacy is blurring genre lines so fast it’s hard to label him. kwn is bringing a whole new energy to UK R&B. sombr and Skye Newman are making serious chart moves. And honestly, it’s refreshing to see a list that isn’t afraid to be unpredictable.
Radio 1’s Jack Saunders summed it up best: “In a time when artists feel like they are disposable to the algorithm, a list like Sound Of continues to champion the stars of the future and put its weight behind them.”
Meanwhile, Sian Eleri added: “It’s a compass for what’s next… the future has arrived.” And she’s right, this longlist doesn’t feel like a wishlist. It feels like a reality check: these are the artists who’ll be everywhere in 2026, whether your algorithm’s ready or not.
The countdown to the Top 5 kicks off on Monday 5 January 2026, with the overall winner revealed Friday 9 January live on BBC Radio 1. Bookmark it.
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