Raye wins 2026 Mercury Prize for This Music May Contain Hope

Raye won the 2026 Mercury Prize on October 22 for her album This Music May Contain Hope, taking the annual award at a ceremony in Newcastle. The record was selected from a shortlist of 12 albums by artists from the United Kingdom and Ireland. The ceremony took place at Utilita Arena. Accepting the prize, Raye spoke about her belief in albums and the freedom to make long, expansive songs. She said hope was something people need and described music as medicine, adding that she hoped the message would reach anyone who needed it. The judging panel praised the album’s scale, structure, ambition and charm, saying it showed imagination and scope beyond any one style or genre. The award carries a £25,000 prize. Raye’s win followed Sam Fender’s 2025 victory for People Watching. This Music May Contain Hope is Raye’s second studio album. Released in March, it reached No. 1 on the UK album chart, according to reports about its release. The 17-track record runs for 73 minutes and combines jazz, orchestral pop, funk and other styles. Raye described wanting to make seven-minute songs and incorporate big-band sections and strings. The shortlisted albums included records by Paul McCartney,...