Entertainment · Music · 1 hr ago
Mercury Prize shortlist features Olivia Dean, Raye and Dove Ellis
The 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony is taking place in Newcastle on October 22, with artists performing at the event.
Olivia Dean, Raye and Dove Ellis are among the 12 shortlisted albums.
The prize recognises the best British or Irish album for musical merit and creativity, rather than sales, streams or genre.
Dove Ellis, a musician from County Galway, released his debut album *Blizzard* this year and is a possible first Irish winner.
The award highlights albums and artists, and last year’s ceremony was followed by an average rise in chart sales across the 12 shortlisted acts.
The winner has not been named in the details available here.
Raye won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, This Music May Contain Hope.
The ceremony took place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on October 22.
The £25,000 prize recognises an album from the UK or Ireland, selected by a judging panel.
Raye’s album beat 11 other shortlisted records, including releases by Olivia Dean, Dove Ellis and Paul McCartney.
Raye said the album was made without focusing on commercial success and described music as medicine.
- Who
- Raye won the 2026 Mercury Prize.
- What
- She received the award for This Music May Contain Hope and a £25,000 prize.
- When
- October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Utilita Arena in Newcastle, UK.
- Why
- The judges selected her album as the year’s winning UK or Irish album; their stated reasons included its scale, structure and ambition.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Mercury Prize ceremony took place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.
Raye was announced as the winner for This Music May Contain Hope.
Raye was scheduled to perform the album in full with an orchestra at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
- Winner
- Raye
- Winning album
- This Music May Contain Hope
- Prize
- £25,000
- Ceremony venue
- Utilita Arena, Newcastle
- Other shortlisted artists
- Olivia Dean, Dove Ellis, Paul McCartney, Dave, Suede, Nia Archives, Florence + The Machine, Jade, Knats and Kojey Radical
- Album length
- 17 tracks and 73 minutes
5 sources
Raye wins the Mercury Prize with This Music May Contain Hope
Raye wins the Mercury Prize 2026: “Hope is just something that we all need. Music is medicine”
Raye Wins 2026 Mercury Prize
'Artistic excellence and commercial success can go together': Dr Jo Twist on tonight's Mercury Prize
What people are saying
Raye displays real imagination and scope in showing what an album can be, going beyond any one style or genre to realise her vision.
Hope is just something that we all need. Music is that, music is medicine.
I made this album not focusing on commercial [success], not focusing on making things cookie-cutter.
Albums that are advancing human artistry, receiving critical acclaim as well as achieving chart success should be celebrated