Scotland’s best albums of the past year have been revealed, with 20 records competing for the country’s national album prize.
Biffy Clyro, Barry Can’t Swim, Boards of Canada and The Twilight Sad are among the artists named on the longlist for the 2026 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
The 20 records have been whittled down from 303 eligible albums submitted for consideration, spanning everything from rock and electronic music to jazz, Gaelic folk and hip-hop.
The winning artist will receive £20,000 and be crowned the Scottish Album of the Year at a ceremony in Dundee in November.
Biffy Clyro have made the list with Futique, while Edinburgh producer Barry Can’t Swim is nominated for Loner and electronic pioneers Boards of Canada are in contention with Inferno.
The Twilight Sad make the cut with IT’S THE LONG GOODBYE, while other established names include Admiral Fallow, Emma Pollock and jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie.
McCreadie previously won the SAY Award in 2022 for Forest Floor and returns this year with The Shieling.
Six debut albums are among the 20 records selected.
One of the most poignant nominations is for the late Glasgow-based singer, songwriter and poet Beldina Odenyo Onassis, who performed as Heir of the Cursed.
Her self-titled debut album was released posthumously by her sister in August 2025 and has now been selected for the SAY Award longlist.
Odenyo died in 2021 at the age of 31.
Her sister Leah McAleer said Beldina had texted her in November 2018 saying she was going to make “the best album” and they would then tour the world.
McAleer said: “It is heartbreaking and heartfilling to have this album on The SAY Award 2026 Longlist.
“I know wherever Beldina is she is dancing with delight, but her quote is probably unprintable.”
Glasgow band VLURE have also been recognised for ESCALATE, an album heavily influenced by their home city.
The group said their Scottish identity and pride in growing up in Glasgow had always been central to their music, describing ESCALATE as a retelling of a youth spent partying and dealing with “love and loss” in the city.
Other nominees include Skye piper Brìghde Chaimbeul with Sunwise, Falkirk folk-rock group Brògeal with Tuesday Paper Club and electro-trad duo Valtos with The Last Light.
Edinburgh’s music scene is strongly represented, with Barry Can’t Swim and Boards of Canada joined by swim school, Fergus McCreadie and Sonedo.
Barry Can’t Swim said: “I’m really honoured to see Loner nominated for The SAY Award. Very proud to be recognised by the scene back home.”
Robert Kilpatrick, chief executive and creative director of the Scottish Music Industry Association, said: “As ever, the 20-strong Longlist showcases a bold, intimate, powerful and ever-evolving recorded output from across our country – one that continues to inspire, captivate, challenge and connect.”
He added: “Music is at the heart of our cultural identity, and each year The SAY Award Longlist gives us the opportunity to reflect on both who we are and who we’re becoming as a nation.”
The longlist will now be reduced to ten albums.
Music fans will be able to vote online for their favourite during a 72-hour public vote from Saturday 10 October until Monday 12 October.
The album receiving the most public votes will automatically reach the final ten and secure a minimum £1,000 prize.
The other nine shortlisted records will be selected by the SAY Award judging panel, with the complete shortlist announced on Thursday 15 October. The judges will then choose the overall winner.
The SAY Award was launched in 2012 and previous winners include Young Fathers, Mogwai, Kathryn Joseph, Anna Meredith, Fergus McCreadie and 2025 winner Kai Reesu.
This year’s ceremony takes place at Caird Hall in Dundee on Thursday 5 November, when the winner will receive the £20,000 prize.
The full SAY Award 2026 longlist is:
Admiral Fallow – First Of The Birds
Andrew Wasylyk – Irreparable Parables
Barry Can’t Swim – Loner
Biffy Clyro – Futique
Boards of Canada – Inferno
Brìghde Chaimbeul – Sunwise
Brògeal – Tuesday Paper Club
Emma Pollock – Begging The Night To Take Hold
Fergus McCreadie – The Shieling
Heir of the Cursed – Heir of the Cursed
Hen Hoose Collective – The Twelve
Michael McGovern – Thin White Road
Pippa Blundell – common thread
Sian – araon
Sonedo – From Here On Out
swim school – swim school
The Twilight Sad – IT’S THE LONG GOODBYE
Vagrant Real Estate – Neither Collar Nor Crown
Valtos – The Last Light
VLURE – ESCALATE