Mercury Prize 2026: McCartney and Raye Nominated
The annual award for the best album by a UK or Ireland-based artist will be presented in Newcastle.
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Sir Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean, and Raye are among the artists recognised in the 2026 Mercury Prize nominations. The prize, established in 1992, is awarded annually for the best album released by an artist from the United Kingdom or Ireland. Nominations are based on musical merit, independent of commercial success.
Nominated Albums
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Olivia Dean's album The Art Of Loving, which previously won Album of the Year at the Brit Awards, is on the shortlist. Sir Paul McCartney's latest work, The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, also received a nomination. This 14-track record, released in late May, marked his first album in five years and reached number one on the UK album charts. The Beatles star's nominated album draws on memories from his early life and is named after a location near his childhood home in Liverpool.
Other nominated artists include Raye for her album This Music May Contain Hope. The full list also features Dave's The Boy Who Played The Harp, Florence And The Machine's Everybody Scream, Dove Ellis's Blizzard, and Knats' A Great Day In Newcastle. Kojey Radical's Don’t Look Down, Jade Thirlwall's debut solo album That’s ShowbIz Baby!, Nia Archives for Emotional Junglist, Suede with Antidepressants, and War Child Records with HELP(2) complete the nominations.
Ceremony Details
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The Mercury Prize ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle. This marks the second consecutive year the event has been held outside of London, following its relocation to Newcastle in 2025. Last year, Sam Fender secured the Mercury Prize for his album People Watching. The winner receives a £25,000 prize along with a trophy.
Questions this report answers
+Who are the nominees for the Mercury Prize 2026?
The nominees include Sir Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean, and Raye, alongside other artists such as Dave, Florence And The Machine, and Suede. The prize recognises the best album by a UK or Ireland-based artist, with nominations based on musical merit.
+How much prize money does the Mercury Prize winner receive?
The winner of the Mercury Prize receives £25,000 along with a trophy. This prize has been awarded annually since 1992 to the best album by an artist from the UK or Ireland, regardless of commercial success.
+Where and when will the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony take place?
The ceremony will be held at the Utilita Arena Newcastle on Thursday, October 22, 2026. This follows the event’s relocation from London to Newcastle in 2025, marking the second consecutive year outside the capital.
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