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.
