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NewsOctober, 23 RAYE Wins 2026 Mercury Prize for Debut Album
RAYE took home the 2026 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year, with the result revealed at a ceremony broadcast live from Newcastle's Utilita Arena and hosted by Lauren Laverne. The singer-songwriter was handed the trophy by DJ Sian Eleri on behalf of the judging panel, then gave a performance of I Hate The Way I Look Today that brought the audience to its feet. Her winning album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE., came out on top against a shortlist of 12 very different records. Built in four separate musical sections, it blends jazz, soul, R&B and classical orchestration with a touch of old-school Hollywood glamour and storytelling drawn from real life. The judges praised her vision, pointing to the record's scale, structure and emotional pull as proof that the album still carries real weight in the streaming age, and described her victory as an inspiration for generations to come. The broadcast also brought performances from several shortlisted acts, among them Florence + The Machine, JADE, Olivia Dean, Kojey Radical, Nia Archives, Suede and Pulp. The 2026 shortlist further included work by Dave, Dove Ellis, Knats, Paul McCartney and the War Child compilation HELP(2). Put together with Newcastle City Council, the ceremony closed a week of celebrations around the region. The Mercury Prize Fringe ran more than 30 events in local venues, from listening parties and workshops to film screenings, making Newcastle a busy hub for British and Irish music. BBC Music, the broadcast partner, carried wide coverage of the night, with live radio on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds and television coverage on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer. RAYE now follows past winners including Sam Fender, English Teacher, Ezra Collective and Little Simz.
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