Dafydd Owain’s second album wins the 2026 Welsh music prize

By Michael Cragg•The Guardian Music

Ymarfer Byw, which was praised for its ‘musical excellence’, beat 14 other albums to the prize of £10,000Singer-songwriter Dafydd Owain has won the 2026 Welsh music prize with his second album Ymarfer Byw.The emotionally charged record, which also won Welsh language album of the year in August, beat albums by the likes of Gruff Rhys, the Royston Club and Art School Girlfriend to the prize of £10,000.ADJUA – Everything Is BeautifulAleighcia Scott – TaithAni Glass – PhantasmagoriaArt School Girlfriend – Lean InCerys Hafana – AngelChroma – 25 ForeverDafydd Owain – Ymarfer BywDewin – Dan y DderwenGruff Rhys – Dim ProbsGwenifer Raymond – Last Night I Heard the Dog Star BarkLocal – Too Broke to Be This BusyMari Mathias – CyfarwyddSkindred – You Got ThisThe Bug Club – Every Single MuscleThe Royston Club – Songs for the Spine Continue reading...

Ymarfer Byw, which was praised for its ‘musical excellence’, beat 14 other albums to the prize of £10,000

Singer-songwriter Dafydd Owain has won the 2026 Welsh music prize with his second album Ymarfer Byw.

The emotionally charged record, which also won Welsh language album of the year in August, beat albums by the likes of Gruff Rhys, the Royston Club and Art School Girlfriend to the prize of £10,000.

ADJUA – Everything Is Beautiful

Aleighcia Scott – Taith

Ani Glass – Phantasmagoria

Art School Girlfriend – Lean In

Cerys Hafana – Angel

Chroma – 25 Forever

Dafydd Owain – Ymarfer Byw

Dewin – Dan y Dderwen

Gruff Rhys – Dim Probs

Gwenifer Raymond – Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark

Local – Too Broke to Be This Busy

Mari Mathias – Cyfarwydd