Long-awaited returns, new albums and tours, festival headliners, fresh faces… here are just 26 reasons to be cheerful in 2026.

What an incredible 2025 it’s been in the world of prog. This year, we’ve taken a different approach to our Critics’ Choice and instead of printing our writers’ Top 20 lists, we’ve pooled them to create a definitive Top 50 with profile pieces on some of the key players. Did your favourite make the cut? We look forward to reading your thoughts on the results.

PRESS Gluecifer Same Drug New High STEAMHAMMER Bringing ...

Buckle up because 2026 is shaping up to be one helluva ride. We take a look into the prog crystal ball and find out what live releases, reissues and shows are expected in the next 12 months.

THE ESSENTIAL NEW ROCK TRACKS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS MONTH AND THE BRANDS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR

You don’t see many 83-year-olds pull off a successful backflip. But the Golden Globes seems to have dramatically course-corrected back into relevance. The winners of the 83rd edition of the glitzy cer