Raye wins 2026 Mercury Prize for ‘This Music May Contain Hope’
The British singer beat Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean, Florence + The Machine and Suede at the ceremony in Newcastle. The prize is worth 25,000 pounds.
Archive image · Photo: Raph_PH / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
British singer Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, “This Music May Contain Hope,” organisers announced on Thursday evening in Newcastle upon Tyne. According to Rolling Stone UK, the ceremony took place at the Utilita Arena, the second year in a row it was held in north-east England after leaving London in 2025. The prize carries 25,000 pounds; twelve albums were on the shortlist.
Raye beat a high-profile field that included Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Suede, Jade and Nia Archives. The judging panel, which included Jeff Smith and Jamie Cullum, praised “the scale, structure, ambition, and sheer charm” of the album, according to Stereogum, saying Raye “displays real imagination and scope in showing what an album can be.” She performed “I Hate The Way I Look Today” during the show.
Released in March 2026, the album debuted at No. 1, according to ITV News. Its singles include “Where Is My Husband!” and “Click Clack Symphony,” which features film composer Hans Zimmer. Last year’s prize went to Sam Fender for “People Watching.”