Current Trinity Laban students Knats have been shortlisted for the 2026 Mercury Prize, with their album A Great Day In Newcastle named one of this year’s prestigious “Albums of the Year”.
The Mercury Prize today [30 July] revealed its 2026 shortlist, celebrating twelve of the most outstanding albums released by British and Irish artists over the past year. Selected by an independent panel of industry experts, the Prize is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most influential music awards, championing artistic achievement across a broad range of genres.
Among this year’s nominees are Knats, whose album A Great Day In Newcastle has secured a place alongside releases from artists including Dave, Florence + The Machine, Olivia Dean, Nia Archives, RAYE and Paul McCartney.
Childhood friends and Knats co-leaders Stan Woodward [bass] and King David-Ike Elechi [drums] will graduate this year from Trinity Laban’s BMus (Hons) in Jazz, with trumpeter Ferg Kilsby due to follow in 2027. Sandro Shar [keys] will also graduate this year. The programme has also fostered the talents of previous Mercury Prize winners Femi Koleoso and Joe Armon-Jones of Ezra Collective, as well as nominations for KOKOROKO, Nubya Garcia, Emma-Jean Thackray, Moses Boyd and Dinosaur. Other previous Trinity Laban nominees include Fred Again and The Last Dinner Party.
The nomination marks a significant milestone for the group and reflects the continued strength and innovation of contemporary UK jazz. It also highlights the impact that emerging artists are making on the national music scene, with the Mercury Prize continuing to provide a platform for both established and rising talent.
At Trinity Laban, we are delighted to see current students recognised on one of the UK’s most prestigious music stages. The shortlisting of Knats demonstrates the calibre of creativity, artistry and ambition being developed by musicians working across today’s evolving musical landscape.
The overall winner of the 2026 Mercury Prize will be announced at the Awards Show in Newcastle on 22 October, where many of the shortlisted artists will perform live.
Congratulations to Knats on this outstanding achievement.