MERCURY PRIZE NEWCASTLE - 2026" Jungle music has always been deeply personal to me, and this record is about bringing total vulnerability to the dancefloor."
MERCURY PRIZE NEWCASTLE - 2026RAYE RAYE has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second studio album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. Announced on October 22 in Newcastle, the victory celebrates a bold, deeply personal record blending jazz, soul, pop, and orchestral sounds. Beating a shortlist that included Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney, and Florence + The Machine, RAYE took home one of British and Irish music’s most prestigious awards, marking another milestone in her remarkable career.