The winner of the 2026 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award will soon be revealed.
Just ten albums have been selected from the 20-strong longlist announced in September, with final nominees including Boards of Canada, Barry Can’t Swim, and Brìghde Chaimbeul.
This year’s ceremony will take place at Caird Hall in Dundee on Thursday, November 5, with the winner to take home not just the coveted title but also a £20,000 cash prize.
Also to be announced on the night is the winner of the Sound of Young Scotland award, the finalists of which been revealed as heavyskint, Jasmin Jet, LOLA, Niamh Corkey and Nikhita. In addition, Boards of Canada’s will receive the 2026 Modern Scottish Classic Award for their debut album Music Has the Right to Children.
Organised by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), there were 303 albums eligible for the 2026 award. This was then narrowed down by a panel of 100 impartial ‘nominators’ from the music industry and sectors including journalism, music retail, venues and more.
Past SAY Award winners include Young Fathers, Kathryn Joseph, and Mogwai, as well as Kai Reesu, who took home the prize in 2025 and will perform at this year’s ceremony.
Here are all 10 of the 2026 SAY Award nominees.
1. Barry Can't Swim — Loner
Better known as Barry Can't Swim, Edinburgh songwriter and producer Joshua Mainnie has made the Scottish Album of the Year shortlist for his second record, Loner. | Ninja Tune
2. Boards of Canada — Inferno
Electronic duo Boards of Canada released Inferno earlier this year. Their fifth album in total — and brothers Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin’s first in 13 years — it was recorded out of their Hexagon Sun Studios in the Pentlands. | Warp Records
3. Brìghde Chaimbeul — Sunwise
From the Isle of Skye, Brìghde Chaimbeul was raised among Gaelic speakers and her 2025 album Sunwise has made the SAY Awards shortlist. The smallpipes composer and folk musician says her third record follows the costumes of the winter season. | tak:til
4. Heir of the Cursed — Heir of the Cursed
Heir of the Cursed was the musical project of the late Beldina Odenyo. The Kenyan-born, Dumfries-raised artist died in 2021 with the self-titled posthumous album bringing together jazz, folk, and soul sounds, with lyrics which explore her dual heritage. | Abiroduogo