Everything You Need to Know About: The 2025 Mercury Prize
Planning on attending the Mercury Prize award show in Newcastle? Read our guide first!
Did you hear the news? The Mercury Prize award show is happening outside the Big Smoke for the first time ever, in none other than Newcastle!
With tickets now available, that means you could be witnessing some of the biggest and brightest new talents in Britain and Ireland’s music scene and find out the 2025 winner of the prize – all in the flesh!
Ahead of the award show in October, we’ve got all the info you need to make the most of the Mercury Prize’s Newcastle debut.
What is the Mercury Prize?
It’s an annual music prize that recognizes the best new British and Irish music of the year.
Held since 1992, the Prize celebrates the cream of the crop across a diverse range of contemporary music genres – specifically the album format – and is awarded to a musical act whose album is deemed the best by panel of independent judges.
Where is the award show taking place this year?
It’s being held at Newcastle’s very own Utilita Arena – and it’s a pretty big deal as this marks the first time that the Mercury Prize awards show has been held outside of London in its 32-year history!
The awards show is being brought to the city thanks to a collaboration between Mercury Prize organisers the BPI, Newcastle City Council, The North East Combined Authority and local music development agency Generator and is a landmark moment for Newcastle’s music sector, joining other recent high-profile events like the 2025 MOBO Awards.
Which artists and albums were shortlisted for the Mercury Prize this year?
Every year, a total of twelve albums are shortlisted and this year there are some top-class acts in the running including CMAT, FKA twigs, Pulp and our very own Sam Fender! Check out the full shortlist below.
- CMAT ‘EURO-COUNTRY’
- Emma-Jean Thackray ‘Weirdo’
- FKA twigs ‘EUSEXUA’
- Fontaines D.C. ‘Romance’
- Jacob Alon ‘In Limerence’
- Joe Webb ‘Hamstrings & Hurricanes’
- Martin Carthy ‘Transform Me Then Into A Fish’
- Pa Salieu ‘Afrikan Alien’
- PinkPantheress ‘Fancy That’
- Pulp ‘More’
- Sam Fender ‘People Watching’
- Wolf Alice ‘The Clearing’
When is the awards show happening?
It’s happening on Thursday 16th October 2025 and it's being hosted by North East native and Radio 6 music producer Lauren Laverne.
How much are tickets and how do I book?
Tickets cost from £39.50 plus booking fee and are selling fast – get yours booked sharpish via the AXS website so you don’t miss out!
However, when booking, please note that the show is for over 13s only and standing ticket holders must be aged 14+.
What’s happening during the awards show?
The show will feature live performances from many of the twelve artists shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and end with the announcement of the overall winner for 2025.
Is anything else happening around the Mercury Prize awards?
There certainly is! In the lead up to the awards, there’ll be a week-long fringe programme of events happening across the North East set to celebrate the region's talents and create new opportunities for local artists, venues and communities.
Expect live music showcases from rising North East musicians, workshops and masterclasses on subjects like music management and album production and even a conference hosted by Generator Live featuring panels and conversations with experts and special guests offering insight into the industry. Check out the full Mercury Fringe programme for more info.
The Mercury 2025 prize is sure to be one of the most musically monumental moments Newcastle will ever see, and proof that our city’s music scene is on the rise. Make sure you don’t miss out on this landmark moment in Newcastle by finding out more at the Mercury Prize website and getting your tickets booked at AXS.
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