The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award long list has been whittled down to just 10 albums now in the running for the title and the £20,000 prize which goes alongside it.
There are four debut albums covering genres from jazz to Scottish folk, and artists come from all over Scotland.
The ten albums are:
- Barry Can’t Swim Loner
- Boards of Canada Inferno
- Brìghde Chaimbeul Sunwise
- Heir of the Cursed Heir of the Cursed
- Hen Hoose Collective The Twelve
- Michael McGovern Thin White Road
- Sonedo From Here On Out
- Swim School Swim School
- Vagrant Real Estate Neither Collar Nor Crown
- Vlure ESCALATE
Michael McGovern won the public vote for Thin White Road. The other nine albums were chosen by the judging panel.
All shortlisted artists win a minimum of £1,000.
In addition to being on the 2026 shortlist this year’s Modern Scottish Classic winner has been announced as Edinburgh’s Boards of Canada for their 1998 debut album, Music Has the Right to Children. This is the debut studio album by Scottish electronic music duo and brothers Boards of Canada, and widely considered a landmark record in the worldwide electronic music scene. Produced in their recording studio in the Pentland Hills, their debut album received critical acclaim and kickstarted a career which continues today.The album will be celebrated with a special live performance by the SAY Award house band performing a rendition of tracks from the album, alongside specially commissioned visuals on the night.
The five Sound of Young Scotland finalists are heavyskint, Jasmin Jet, LOLA, Niamh Corkey and Nikhita who are all in with a chance of winning a financial package worth £10,000 as their prize to help support the artist’s first album.
The package includes a run of up to 250 vinyl pressings of the artist’s debut album provided by Seabass Vinyl, cash grants totalling £8,000 cover studio hire costs, equipment rentals and more, plus a performance slot at 2027’s SAY Award Ceremony. Finalists are chosen by a panel of former SAY Award nominees and all finalists will receive one-to-one sessions from Youth Music Initiative this year.
Morag Macdonald, YMI Manager at Creative Scotland said, “We’re excited that, for the first time, every finalist will receive support as they build on the achievements that have brought them to this stage. Made possible through the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, this award highlights what can happen when young people have access to high quality music-making opportunities. These talented finalists have already achieved so much, and their creativity and dedication will inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.”
Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said, “Congratulations to all ten Shortlisted artists, as well as our five Sound of Young Scotland finalists and this year’s Modern Scottish Classic Award winner – Boards of Canada’s ‘Music Has The Right To Children’. The strength and diversity of this collective output reflects a music community that continues to evolve, take risks and find new ways to connect. Each artist and record brings a distinctive voice to Scotland’s cultural identity, and together they remind us why music continues to be such an invaluable national asset.”
“That value is at the heart of the Scottish Music Industry Roadmap 2026–30, which the SMIA published last week. Its eight national priorities share an ambition that has long driven The SAY Award: to ensure that the talent and creativity we celebrate are matched by the support and opportunities needed to sustain them. Behind these albums are people, businesses and music communities whose work enriches our lives and connects Scotland with the world. The SAY Award exists to support and champion that work, investing directly in artists and helping their music reach new audiences. We’re grateful to all our partners for continuing to make this possible.
“With just three weeks until we return to Dundee’s Caird Hall on Thursday 5 November, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate our 15th year with a night of outstanding live music and the announcement of this year’s SAY Award winner. Final tickets are on sale now – we hope you can join us.”
The final ceremony will be held on 5 November in Dundee.
Previous winners of The SAY Award include; Kai Reesu ‘KOMPROMAT Vol.i’ (2025), redolent ‘dinny greet’ (2024), Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’ (2023), Fergus McCreadie ‘Forest Floor’ (2022), Mogwai ‘As The Love Continues‘ (2021), Nova ‘Re-Up’ (2020), Auntie Flo ‘Radio Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).
Now in its sixth year, previous winners of the Modern Scottish Classic Award are: KT Tunstall ‘Eye to the Telescope’ (2025), Martyn Bennett ‘Grit’ (2024), Paolo Nutini ‘These Streets’ (2023), Cocteau Twins ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ (2022) and Frightened Rabbit ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ (2021).
Previous winners of the Sound of Young Scotland Award are: Alice Faye (2025), Dillon Barrie (2024), No Windows (2023), Berta Kennedy (2022), LVRA (2021).
