Mercury Prize Returns to Newcastle
The Mercury Prize announces its return to Newcastle for the 2026 awards ceremony, building on the massive success of last year’s event in the city. Local artist Sam Fender’s victory in 2025 highlighted the region’s vibrant music scene.
The ceremony features live performances by shortlisted artists, culminating in the reveal of the overall winner. This annual award recognizes the best album from UK or Irish acts, offering a £25,000 prize since its inception in 1992 as an alternative to mainstream honors like the BRIT Awards.
Event Details
The 2026 event takes place at Utilita Arena in partnership with Newcastle City Council on October 22. Organizers curate a shortlist of 12 Albums of the Year through an independent panel of music industry experts, spanning diverse contemporary genres.
2025 Highlights and Impact
Sam Fender, Newcastle’s own talent, claimed the 2025 prize for his album People Watching. In a moment of surprise, he stated: “I just… I really didn’t – we did not expect this at all. I want to say thank you – I cannot think.”
Previous winners include English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Little Simz, Dave, Wolf Alice, and Young Fathers. The 2025 edition marked the prize’s first venture outside London, accompanied by a week-long fringe program that drew 8,000 additional visitors and delivered a £1.4 million economic and cultural boost to the North East.
Leaders Praise the Return
Dr Jo Twist and YolanDa Brown, BPI Chair and artist, jointly commented: “Last year’s Mercury Prize and its brilliant performances and Fringe gave the region a £1.4m economic and cultural boost and the whole of Newcastle came together to give the event a warm, big Geordie hug. We are delighted to see the Prize return to the Toon and to the North-East for what we know will be another memorable occasion for artists and fans. We thank Newcastle City Council and all our valued partners for their continued collaboration and commitment, and we can’t wait for what is already shaping up to be another fantastic year of British and Irish music.”
Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council, added: “The return of the Mercury Prize to Newcastle for a second consecutive year is a tremendous vote of confidence in our city and our thriving music scene. Newcastle is at the heart of a bold cultural resurgence, and hosting this prestigious national event once again underlines both the strength of our music industry and the growing national recognition of our cultural ambitions. It’s a powerful endorsement of the talent, creativity and momentum that define our city. Last year, we showcased exactly what Newcastle can deliver on a major stage, and we’ve continued to build on that momentum. This follows Warner Music’s recent announcement of a three-year partnership with Generator, which will create even more long-term opportunities. It also supports our plans to establish Newcastle and Gateshead as a recognised Music City. And with more significant events in the pipeline including a firm commitment to build our own programme, Newcastle will soon be seen as one of the UK’s key cultural hubs. While many cities are celebrated for their musical past, Newcastle is shaping its musical future. The return of the Mercury Prize reinforces our reputation as a driving force for emerging talent, industry investment and world-class events — and we are incredibly proud to welcome it back.”
