Part 1: Beabadoobee, Charli xcx, The Cure, Corto.alto, Erykah Badu & Fontaines D.C.

6 Music’s Artists of the Year is a list of artists that have dominated 2026.

We are celebrating their successes and key moments from the year, as well as hearing from their fans and peers about why they are deserving of being on this list.

In alphabetical order, the artists are: Beabadoobee, Charli xcx, The Cure, Corto.alto, Erykah Badu, Fontaines D.C., Madra Salach, Mandy, Indiana, Phoebe Bridgers, Robyn, Show Me The Body and Shygirl.

In this programme, we take a look at six artists and hear some of their defining music, with words from Wisp, Prima Queen, Yard Act, Magi Merlin, John Cale, A.g. Cook, Olivia Rodrigo, Knats, the Alchemist, JGrrey, Yazmin Lacey, Chalk and Lambrini Girls about what makes these artists so special.