The Scottish Album Of The Year (SAY) Award Announces Shortlist For 2026

Plus, Board Of Canada’s ‘Music Has The Right To Children’ Announced As Modern Scottish Classic Award Winner

And Sound Of Young Scotland Finalists Unveiled

Today we announce the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for this year’s coveted title and £20,000 prize. Plus, Boards of Canada’s debut album ‘Music Has the Right to Children’ is the recipient of 2026’s Modern Scottish Classic Award, whilst five Sound of Young Scotland finalists have also been revealed as: heavyskint, Jasmin Jet, LOLA, Niamh Corkey and Nikhita. 

Now in its 15th year, the winner of The SAY Award will be exclusively revealed at this year’s Ceremony, delivered in partnership with Fettercairn, on Thursday 5th November at Dundee’s Caird Hall.

The SAY Award 2026 Shortlist, in alphabetical order, is: 

You can listen to the albums here.

Michael McGovern ‘Thin White Road’ won the public vote, whilst the 9 remaining albums were chosen by The SAY Award judging panel. Music fans had 72 hours from 10 – 12 October to vote for their favourite Longlisted album to secure a place on the Shortlist. All Shortlisted artists have won a minimum prize of £1,000, with the winner of The SAY Award receiving the coveted title of Scottish Album of the Year along with a prize of £20,000. 

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.”

Presented by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), the Modern Scottish Classic Award is an annual recognition of an iconic album from Scotland’s past that continues to inspire today. The winner was voted for by 2026’s Longlisted artists, with Boards of Canada’s 1998 debut album ‘Music Has The Right to Children’ set to be honoured this year. 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. Tickets for the Ceremony on sale now at www.sayaward.com 

The award is annually selected by the 20 artists on The SAY Award Longlist. All 20 artists submit their top 5 Scottish albums which pre-date the inception of The SAY Award (2011), and continue to inspire to this day. 

‘Music Has the Right to Children’ 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. Their fifth studio album ‘Inferno’ is also Shortlisted for The SAY Award this year, in addition to their Modern Scottish Classic win. 

The Sound of Young Scotland Award, supported by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland and Youth Music, exists to support Scottish music of the future with a financial prize package worth up to £10,000 aimed at helping support the creation of the artist’s debut 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.”

2026’s SAY Award Shortlist, Modern Scottish Classic Award winner and Sound of Young Scotland finalists will be celebrated at this year’s Ceremony. One of the biggest nights in Scottish music, the Ceremony takes place at Dundee’s Caird Hall on 5th November. With performances from 2025’s SAY Award and Sound of Young Scotland winners Kai Reesu and Alice Faye,  it is set to be an outstanding celebration of Scottish music making 15 years of The SAY Award. Final tickets from www.sayaward.com. 

The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production.  The SAY Award 2026 is delivered in partnership with Fettercairn, Creative Scotland, Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council, UNESCO City of Design Dundee, Seabass Vinyl, PPL, HMV, FOPP, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music, Apex Hotels, Malmaison and Music Declares Emergency. 

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). 

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