BBC Radio 1’s picks for 2026: Which new artists are set to break through?
Image credits: BBC
Inside BBC Radio 1’s have ‘Sound Of 2026’ shortlist, predicting which artists are poised for a huge year.
As music streaming platforms are rolling out their end-of-year celebrations, BBC Radio 1 is already looking ahead to 2026. Britain’s most acclaimed radio broadcaster just dropped its annual Sound of 2026 shortlist. From the shortlist, a winner is chosen in January. It’s a tradition that started in 2003 when 50 Cent was the first winner. Since then, they’ve predicted the success of stars like Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Raye, Frank Ocean, Fred again.., and most recently Chappel Roan.
Every year, experts and artists come together to cast their votes on who they think will be ‘Sound Of’ the next year. This time around, more than 170 industry professionals were involved in the vote, and included names like Sir Elton John, Dua Lipa, Jade, Olivia Dean, Yungblud, and Sam Smith.
To keep things fair, the list only considers artists who haven’t scored a No. 1 album or more than three UK Top 10 singles by 31 October 2025. Plus, anyone who already has a “significant public profile” can’t make the shortlist.
Here are the 10 shortlisted artists tipped to define 2026.
Alessi Rose
Alessi Rose taught herself music production while saving for uni. Now, she’s being described as “Derbyshire’s Olivia Rodrigo”.
Chloe Qisha
Discovered after being spotted for what she jokingly calls “really horrendous covers” on YouTube, Chloe Qisha blends catchy pop hooks with quirky production.
Florence Road
Dubbed Flo Ro by their fans, this Irish band of childhood friends is bringing grungy, festival-ready pop rock to a new wave of fans.
Geese
One of the most prolific acts on the list, Geese are a five-piece New York rock band that have released three albums since 2021.
Jim Legxacy
Jim Legxacy has become known for his genre-fusing music. Plus, he’s already scored a UK number one as a producer on Dave and Central Cee’s Sprinter.
KWN
KWN first caught attention after a viral clip with US star Kehlani in the video for Worst Behaviour. The track has since racked up more than 50 million streams.
Royel Otis
This Sydney’s duo became an internet favorite after their cover of Sophie Ellis Bextor’s Murder On The Dancefloor blew up. They made their Glastonbury debut this summer and recently sold out three nights at London’s Brixton Academy.
Sasha Keable
A decade into her solo career, Sasha Keable finally looks ready for a breakthrough. She’s toured with Disclosure and Katy B, but her track Hold Up recently went viral on TikTok- could now finally be her moment?
Skye Newman
Skye Newman already has three UK chart hits, plus an invitation from Ed Sheeran himself to join his tour. It’s all thanks to her “striking honesty and hooky melodies”.
Sombr
Known for his lush harmonies that blend indie and pop music, the New Yorker’s been crushing it in 2025. His track Back to Friends has already racked up over 1.2 billion Spotify streams since its release in the final few days of 2024. Not to mention, his debut album arrived in September and peaked at number 10 in the UK charts.
The standout star, and winner of BBC Radio 1’s ‘Sound of 2026’ will be announced in January on BBC Radio 1 and BBC News. And even though there’s only one winner, keep all of these names on your radar for 2026.