Across:
8 Polish off (FINISH) one of those produced in Europe (Finnish), by the sound of it (= homophone indicator) (‘Finnish’ = ‘FINISH’),
9 Pot (SAUCEPAN) from South America (SA-) found initially under (initially ‘Under’ = -U-) pecan (pecan) nuts (= anagram indicator) (pecan = -CEPAN) (SAUCEPAN),
10 Spot (ESPY) prize ultimately (‘prizE’ ultimately = E-) for a gent? (agent = -SPY) (ESPY),
11 Labour (WORK) leader’s thinking on (leaders ‘Thinking On’ = TO) Clause IV, for instance, (RULE) (WORK TO RULE) leads to industrial action (WORK TO RULE),
12 One familiar with Charleston (DANCER) peters out of centrespread (‘peters’ out of centrespread = cenrad = DANCER),
14 Don’t get up (SIT TIGHT) to pose (SIT) with drunk (TIGHT) (SIT TIGHT),
15 Pepper’s ghost, for instance (OPTICAL ILLUSION), to the viewers is not all it seems (OPTICAL ILLUSION),
18 Spill the beans on (TALK) Finance (finance/support = BACK) (TALK BACK) – what would cheeky chappie say to that! (TALK BACK),
20 In a curious way (NOSILY), is only (is only) showing off (= anagram indicator) (is only = NOSILY),
22 Type of haircut (TENNIS BALL haircut) for one of those getting knocked about in court (TENNIS BALL),
24 Starting off (c), sunblock (‘cloud’ without ‘c’ = LOUD) is hard on the ears (LOUD),
25 Predicting what’s to come (FUTURIST) in clip (n) of Gaiety (‘fun’ without ‘n’ = FU-) Trust (trust) working (= anagram indicator) (trust = TUR-ST) around island (-I-) (FUTURIST),
26 Song from rose garden (‘song’ from ‘rose garden’ = reared = READER) or from library? (READER).
Down:
1 Included in selfie staggering (included in ‘selFIE STAggering’ = FIESTA) out of Spanish celebration (FIESTA),
2 Literally releases alert (‘literally’ releases ‘alert’ = lily = LILY) of a symbol of Easter (LILY),
3 Doner kebab (SHAWARMA) and fruit (-HAW-) from branch (-ARM-) in South Africa (S-A) (SHAWARMA)
4 Sample of pure substance (sample of ‘puRE SUbstance’ = resu) knocked back (= reversal indicator) (resu = USER) by consumer (USER),
5 Sounds like (= homophone indicator) a couple of academic degrees (2 x ‘2.2’ = 2 x ‘tutu’) fall short (‘u’) (‘tutu’ + ‘tutu’ without ‘u’ = TUT-TUT) – express disapproval (TUT-TUT),
6 Narrow escapes (NEAR MISSES) in the neighbourhood (NEAR) from unmarried women (MISSES) (NEAR MISSES),
7 Oh boy, all (oh boy all) wrestling (= anagram indicator) (oh boy all = BALLYHOO) is the epitome of hype (BALLYHOO),
13 Turn and run (CHICKEN OUT) for notice, when poultry is going free perhaps (CHICKEN OUT),
14 Staff (staff/rod = STICK) officers finally (‘officerS’ finally = S-) get credit from the locals? (‘local’ credit = -TICK) (STICK),
16 Still (PEACEFUL) on good terms (PEACEFUL),
17 Comedown (LAND-) for a lady’s man (-LORD) (LANDLORD) who might be low in spirits? (pub LANDLORD),
19 Storm (ASSAIL) in Rush? (rush/charge = ASSAIL),
21 Raved about (LAUDED) uplifting (= reversal indicator) affair of honour (duel) reported (= homophone indicator) (‘duel’ = ‘dual’ = LAUD-) to journalist (-ED) (LAUDED),
23 Functions (ACTS) in Cairo – not in Costa Rica? (‘Cairo’ not in ‘Costa Rica’ = stca = ACTS),
24 Backing (= reversal indicator) track (rail = LIAR) tells a story but not necessarily the right one (LIAR).