NEWCASTLE, UK – The prestigious Mercury Prize music ceremony is set to make history by holding its 2025 event in Newcastle, marking the first time the awards bash has been staged outside of London. The relocation is part of a broader effort to celebrate music across the UK.
The main ceremony will take place at the Utilita Arena on October 16. A range of nominated artists, including FKA twigs, Sam Fender, Pulp, and Wolf Alice, are slated to perform, alongside other acts such as Emma-Jean Thackray, Jacob Alon, Joe Webb, Martin Carthy, and Pa Salieu.
The Shortlist and Returning Nominees
The shortlist of the 12 nominated albums for the 2025 prize features several high-profile contenders:
- CMAT’s EURO-COUNTRY
- Sam Fender’s People Watching
- Fontaines D.C.’s Romance
- FKA twigs’ EUSEXUA
- PinkPantheress’ Fancy That
- Pulp’s More
- Pa Salieu’s Afrikan Alien
Notably, Wolf Alice received their third career nomination for their album The Clearing. The band previously won the prize in 2018 for Visions Of A Life and was nominated in 2021 for Blue Weekend.
Celebrating the North East Music Scene
The ceremony will be preceded by the Mercury Prize Newcastle Fringe, a week-long celebration running from Thursday, October 9 to Wednesday, October 15. This fringe event aims to acknowledge the “North East’s phenomenal music scene” and promises to see “iconic venues alive like never before.”
Last year’s winner, English Teacher, whose album This Could Be Texas took the prize at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, will still be represented, with lead vocalist Lily Fontaine joining the Art of the Album Day panel on October 15.
