RAYE WINS 2026 MERCURY PRIZE FOR THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE

Raye won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her album This Music May Contain Hope at a ceremony in Newcastle on 22 October. A music industry panel selected the album for the £25,000 award, which recognises a British album of the year. BBC Radio 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne hosted the ceremony at Utilita Arena. Raye told the audience she was grateful to receive the prize and said she had wanted to make longer songs with big band sections and strings.

The shortlist included albums by Dave, Dove Ellis, Florence + the Machine, JADE, Knats and Kojey Radical. Nia Archives, Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney and Suede also appeared on it, alongside War Child’s HELP(2) compilation. Dean’s The Art of Loving had won album of the year at both the Brit and Mobo Awards. Sam Fender won the Mercury Prize in 2025 for People Watching. Newcastle’s Utilita Arena hosted the ceremony for the second consecutive year.

Raye performed I Hate The Way I Look Today during the ceremony and again after receiving the award. In her acceptance speech, she said she valued albums and was grateful to receive recognition after earlier disputes with her record label. Referring to her album’s title, she told the audience: “Music is that, music is medicine.” This Music May Contain Hope reached number one. Raye is due to perform the album in full with an orchestra at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 23 October.