Raye wins the 2026 Mercury Prize

Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, This Music May Contain Hope.

The 28-year-old singer, born Rachel Keen in west London, picked up the £25,000 award at a ceremony at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on Thursday night. The prize goes each year to the best British or Irish album, chosen by a panel of music industry figures.

"Real imagination and scope"

The album is an ambitious 73-minute record that takes in big-band jazz, power ballads, funk and more. It topped the UK charts and includes the global hit Where Is My Husband!, which reached number one in the UK and number six in the US.

The judges said: "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 judges agreed that Raye's superb album will serve as a huge inspiration for years to come." They praised its "scale, structure, ambition and sheer charm".

"I'm shaking, I'm jet-lagged"

Accepting the award, Raye said: "I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be holding this. I'm shaking, I'm jet-lagged, I'm tired, I'm grateful!"

She referred to her difficult years with her former record label, which she publicly criticised in 2021 for not letting her release an album. "Albums are so important, and not to be bitter, because I feel like I'm mostly at peace with my past, but to come from a place where it's all about singles and chasing the next thing, I just feel so grateful to be recognised," she said.

"Hope is a very cheesy word, especially for us British people, we don't do that deep stuff like that, but hope is something we all need, so I hope that message comes across to anyone who needs it."

After leaving that label, she found huge success with her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, which won her six Brit awards, still the record for a single ceremony.

McCartney misses out

Paul McCartney, nominated for the first time for The Boys of Dungeon Lane, said in a video message that he was "chuffed" and "surprised" to be on the shortlist. Suede, who won in 1993, opened the ceremony, and Pulp performed on behalf of the War Child charity album Help(2). Florence + The Machine have now been nominated five times without winning, equalling Radiohead's record.

Raye also beat Olivia Dean, whose album The Art of Loving has spent all 55 weeks since its release in the UK top ten, as well as Dave, Nia Archives, Kojey Radical, Jade, Dove Ellis and the Newcastle jazz band Knats.

A changing prize

The Mercury moved from London to Newcastle last year after losing its sponsor, and now fills the city's arena. Last year's prize went to the Tyneside singer Sam Fender.

Some critics have argued that the prize is becoming more commercial. Six of this year's albums reached number one, and all but two were released by or with the three major labels, while past winners from the independent scene include Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Sampha and Ezra Collective.

The judging panel, chaired by Jeff Smith, included the musician Jamie Cullum, the DJ MistaJam and the broadcaster Danielle Perry.