Raye has won the Mercury Prize 2026 for her second album, This Music May Contain Hope. The award was presented on Thursday 22 October at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, where the singer beat 11 other shortlisted albums, including records by Olivia Dean, Dave, Florence + The Machine and Paul McCartney. The prize recognises the best new British and Irish albums across genres.
Raye, who styles her name in capitals, had been shortlisted once before, in 2023, for her debut album. This time she took the trophy with a record that had already given her a first number one album.
How the Mercury Prize 2026 night unfolded
Broadcaster Lauren Laverne hosted the ceremony, and DJ Sian Eleri, one of the judges, handed over the trophy on behalf of the panel. Raye then performed “I Hate The Way I Look Today”, which Music Week reported drew a standing ovation. The show went out live on BBC Radio 6 Music, with television coverage on BBC Four and iPlayer.
Other shortlisted acts who performed on the night included Dove Ellis, Florence + The Machine, Jade, Knats, Kojey Radical, Nia Archives and Olivia Dean.
Accepting the prize, Raye told the audience she was shaking and spoke about how much she believes in the album as a form. According to the Official Charts Company, she added: “Hope is a very cheesy word, but hope is something we all need.”
What the judges said
The judging panel said the album lived up to its title. They pointed to its range of styles, from jazz to classical, and predicted it would inspire other musicians for years to come. In remarks reported by Music Week, the judges also argued that the album remains an important format for artists in the age of streaming.
This year’s panel was chaired by Jeff Smith and also included Jamie Cullum, MistaJam, Sian Eleri, AFRODEUTSCHE, Danielle Perry, Lea Stonhill, Phil Alexander, Sophie Williams and Will Hodgkinson.
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A chart-topping album
This Music May Contain Hope came out in March 2026 and entered the Official Albums Chart at number one. It includes the chart-topping single “Where Is My Husband!”. Music Week, citing Official Charts Company data, reported UK consumption of 144,757 units for the album so far. It was released through Human Re Sources and The Orchard, which is part of Sony Music.
The full 2026 shortlist
The 12 “Albums of the Year” were revealed on 30 July 2026 on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds:
- Dave, The Boy Who Played the Harp
- Dove Ellis, Blizzard
- Florence + The Machine, Everybody Scream
- Jade, That’s Showbiz Baby!
- Knats, A Great Day In Newcastle
- Kojey Radical, Don’t Look Down
- Nia Archives, Emotional Junglist
- Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
- Paul McCartney, The Boys of Dungeon Lane
- Raye, This Music May Contain Hope (winner)
- Suede, Antidepressants
- War Child Records, HELP(2)
Why Newcastle hosted again
This was the second year in a row that the Mercury Prize has been held in Newcastle. The 2025 ceremony was the first to take place outside London, and Sam Fender won that year with People Watching. The event is run in partnership with Newcastle City Council, with the aim of drawing visitors to the city and giving local artists and organisations a bigger platform.
Why it matters
Raye’s victory pairs recognition from a specialist judging panel with a record that was already a commercial success. The judges also used the night to argue that full-length albums still matter while streaming dominates listening. British artists have used their profile to push for wider support for music in other ways too, as when Ed Sheeran led calls for more music education funding.
Sources: Official Charts Company, RAYE announced as winner of 2026 Mercury Prize (22 October 2026); Music Week, Raye wins 2026 Mercury Prize with This Music May Contain Hope (23 October 2026); ITV News Tyne Tees, Mercury Prize 2026: All you need to know as Newcastle hosts (22 October 2026); BPI, The Mercury Prize 2026 announces their 12 Albums of the Year (July 2026).
