What we know about the 2025 Mercury Prize as award announces Newcastle ceremony

The award is one of the most prestigious in UK music with 12 albums each year getting recognised and, following on from the MOBO Awards earlier this year, Newcastle is set to host for the first time.

What is the Mercury Prize?

Decribed by the group as music’s “equivalent to the Booker Prize for literature and the Turner Prize for art”, the prize was set up in 1992 as an alternative to the Brit Awards.

All genres of music are eligible for entry, and it is stated that all are treated equally, with only the music on the album being taken into account, although there is a cost to record labels to submit an album for consideration.

What happens at the Mercury Prize ceremony?

Traditionally, each nominated artist would usually perform a song from their album at the ceremony before the winner is announced.

Last year saw a deviation from this, where the live performance aspect of the ceremony was scrapped. It is thought this will return at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena later this year.

When is the Mercury Prize in Newcastle?

For the first time in the award’s history, the 2025 edition of the event will take place outside London. The Utilita Arena in Newcastle will host the Mercury Prize and its nominated artists on Thursday, October 16.

Which albums may win the 2025 Mercury Prize?

Previous years have seen the eligibility release window run from the previous year’s July up until the July of the award’s year. This means any UK album from the latter end of 2024 is up for contention, in addition to any released so far in 2025.

This includes Sam Fender’s third album People Watching, which was released back in February 2025. Other eligable albums include the most recent releases from Ezra Collective, Beabadoobee, Michael Kiwanuka and more.

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When si the Mercury Prize shortlist announced?

Shortlisted albums are usually announced around a month before the ceremony.

Are tickets available for the Mercury Prize in Newcastle?

Tickets were released as part of the Newcastle announcement and remain available to buy now.

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