There’s magic in an artist’s debut album that can’t be recreated. On these introductory bodies of work, excitement, experimentation and the best parts of inexperience meet to make something beautifully pure. Who can say where the 20 artists below will go next, but with their first records, they’ve all – in their own way – created something that pushes personal or genre boundaries and brought thrilling new ideas to the table. Here are NME’s best debut albums of 2025 – this list might just help you find your new favourite artist.
Rhian Daly, Music Editor
