Raye Wins 2026 Mercury Prize for 'This Music May Contain Hope'

Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, "This Music May Contain Hope." The £25,000 prize, awarded for the best British or Irish album of the past 12 months, was presented at Newcastle's Utilita Arena.

"I couldn't tell you how grateful I am to be holding this," Raye said after receiving the award. "I'm shaking, I'm jet-lagged, I'm tired. It's all blurry."

The winning album, described as a pop record with elements of golden age Hollywood glamour, is the first pop album to win the Mercury Prize since M People's "Elegant Slumming" in 1994. Raye, 28, stated she created the record without focusing on commercial success or conventional structures, noting that some songs exceed seven minutes in length. Across 17 tracks and 73 minutes, the album tells a narrative of a relationship's end and the subsequent emergence of resilience, incorporating contributions from her grandparents, soul singer Al Green, and numerous musicians and orchestras.

This Music May Contain Hope faced a significant delay during its creation. Two years prior to the ceremony, the singer's car was stolen along with all her songwriting notebooks and demos. Although the materials were recovered, the incident delayed work on the album by nearly a year. Raye reflected on the event philosophically, stating that while she was distraught at the time, the experience ultimately contributed to her path.

Established in 1992, the Mercury Prize was conceived as an alternative to more commercially driven awards, aiming to recognize albums that push musical boundaries. Historically, debut albums have frequently won the prize, but this year's shortlist featured only two debut records: Dove Ellis's "Blizzard" and Jade's "That's Showbiz, Baby."

Prior to the ceremony, Olivia Dean's second album, "The Art of Loving," was a favorite among bookmakers. The album had already received accolades at the Brit Awards and Mobos. Other nominees on the 2026 shortlist included rapper Kojey Radical, jazz act Knats, and former Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall. The compilation album "Help (2)" for the charity War Child, featuring various artists, was also nominated, as were previous Mercury Prize winners such as Arctic Monkeys and Sampha.

Last year's Mercury Prize was awarded to Sam Fender, who donated his winnings to support grassroots music venues across the UK.