Raye wins 2026 Mercury Prize for album This Music May Contain Hope

A second album takes the top prize

Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, This Music May Contain Hope. The prize goes each year to the best album by an artist from the United Kingdom or Ireland, and it was created in 1992. Nominations are based on musical merit, not on how well a record sold or charted that year. The result was announced at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, where Raye performed on the night. Raye, whose real name is Rachel Agatha Keen, had been the favourite to win.

What the judges said

The Guardian describes a hugely ambitious 73-minute record that moves across big band jazz, power balladry and funk. The judging panel, which is made up of music industry figures, praised the album in these words:

“Raye displays real imagination and scope in showing what an album can be, going beyond any one style or genre to realise her vision.”

The panel added that the album would serve as a huge inspiration for years to come. The album came out in March and debuted at number one in the UK charts. Its singles include Click Clack Symphony, featuring Hans Zimmer, I Know You're Hurting, Nightingale Lane and Where Is My Husband?

A comeback after a low point

The Guardian places the win in an ongoing renaissance for Raye, who was at a low point in 2021 when she publicly lashed out at her record label for not letting her release a studio album. She later left that label and enjoyed two studio albums of success. The earlier one, My 21st Century Blues, won her six Brit awards, still a record for a single Brits ceremony. The Independent noted that the prize has typically favoured rock, indie, hip-hop or electronic music, so this win was a rare one for a pop album.

Rivals and the shortlist

Paul McCartney was shortlisted for the first time with his album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, and in a video message he said he was "chuffed" to be nominated. Other nominees included Olivia Dean, Dave, JADE, Florence + the Machine and Suede, as well as Galway-born singer-songwriter Dove Ellis. Florence + the Machine are now joint highest nominee without a win, tying Radiohead on five nominations. Suede opened the ceremony with Dancing With the Europeans, but could not add a second Mercury win to the one they took in 1993 for their self-titled debut. Dave and McCartney were the only artists who did not perform on the night. Pulp performed for the second year running, this year with the compilation Help, made to raise funds for War Child.

The ceremony and the prize

This was the second successive year the ceremony was held in Newcastle, after the prize moved from London in 2025. The Guardian reports that the prize lost its sponsor in 2024. Reports differ on the prize money: the Guardian and Evening Standard put it at £25,000, while the Irish Times, citing PA, gives almost €30,000. Last year's award went to Sam Fender for his album People Watching, which beat records by Fontaines DC, Wolf Alice, CMAT and Pulp. Earlier winners include Michael Kiwanuka, Little Simz, Wolf Alice, Skepta, PJ Harvey, Elbow and Arctic Monkeys.