The soundtrack of 2026

2026 has kicked off with the most masterful and vibrant pieces of music. With Olivia Dean bringing us into the new year on the Jools Holland Show, alongside her new album that was released late last year “The Art of Loving”. Secondly, we have a brilliant aspiring new artist who is gaining popularity, Loyle Carner. With his magnetic presence and deeply relatable lyrics, he stands out as a remarkably promising talent.

Olivia Dean

Olivia Dean is an eccentric and well-liked musician who is just beginning her undoubtedly successful career. She has been constantly rewarded for her unique and refreshing voice and was crowned Artist of the Year quite recently at the 2026 BRIT awards. However, she did not stop there, she achieved a historic four- win sweep at the BRITs, even winning Album of the Year for ‘The Art of Loving’. The album title alone gives you an insight into what can only be described as a soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, making her critically adored and nationally treasured. This album is about the different forms of love and the beauty of every single one. It also explores love as an art overall and how it could take a whole lifetime to master it. Olivia Dean is London-born and uses the bustling and artistic city as her muse throughout the album, while also drawing on her friends, family and strangers to explore themes of love. Even though she is steadily building her career, there is still a great promise for an even more phenomenal mark on the music industry.

Loyle Carner

Loyle Carner is 31 and has two children. He has had three BRIT award nominations and is thriving for success. His music is refreshingly unique and different to the classic rap that you might expect. He is a critically acclaimed hip-hop artist known for his intimate and honest storytelling. His vulnerability is celebrated and resonates with his listeners and beyond his music, he advocates for ADHD awareness and has founded a cooking school for young people with the aim of building confidence and providing a positive outlet. He is gaining popularity quickly, especially among younger audiences, and is even a headliner for the infamous Reading Festival 2026 on Sunday August 30^th. His most recent albums include Hugo released in October 2022 and Hopefully! released in June 2025. Following the success of these albums, he has announced a 2026/27 tour for his album Hopefully!. Although next year may seem far away, his remaining dates for this year have already sold out, with similar demand expected when further dates are released. While he is older than Olivia Dean, he continues to demonstrate a remarkable sense of individuality and immense potential 

Ultimately, these artists fulfil my expectations of a fantastic 2026 fuelled by great music and originality and I hope that if you choose to listen, you’ll love them as much as I—and many listeners across England—do.