RAYE wins the 2026 Mercury Prize with “This Music May Contain Hope”

RAYE won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, “This Music May Contain Hope”, at a ceremony at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on Thursday 22 October. The evening was hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, and the winner was announced by BBC Radio 1 DJ Sian Eleri. According to Billboard, it is her first win, after her 2023 album “My 21st Century Blues” was also nominated, and she is the first female solo artist to take the prize since Little Simz in 2022.

The shortlist also included Paul McCartney, nominated for the first time, Olivia Dean, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Suede, JADE, Nia Archives, Kojey Radical, Knats, Dove Ellis and the War Child compilation “HELP(2)”. On stage, RAYE said “music is medicine” and referred to her past battles with her former label.

Speaking to NME afterwards, she called the win the “best birthday present” ahead of turning 29 on 24 October, and said she feels “seriously seen”, stressing how hard the industry is for an independent artist. Among the moments she is proudest of is “I Know You’re Hurting”, written with her band about men’s mental health. On 23 October she plays the album in full with an orchestra at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Born in 1997 in Tooting, RAYE is a British R&B singer-songwriter. “This Music May Contain Hope” came out on 27 March 2026, according to MusicBrainz, reached Number One in the UK and led to her headlining Reading & Leeds 2026.