Mercury Prize 2025 Nominees: A Year for Bold Stories and Stellar Sounds
It’s not every year that the Mercury Prize shakes up its tradition. 2025 marks a historic change with the ceremony headed out of London for the very first time.
Suddenly, Newcastle’s foggy autumn feels like the center of British music’s universe, and honestly? It’s got everyone a bit giddy.
The shortlist, revealed live on BBC Radio 6 Music by Lauren Laverne (who has a knack for making big music news sound like a late-night chat), is pure dynamite this year.
A quick table for the casual scroller, because who isn’t a bit lazy now and then?
| Artist | Album |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Look at that lineup, genre-benders everywhere, a living legend (hello Martin Carthy), and even Pulp back in the ring. It’s indie, pop, electronic, alt-folk, and everything else in between.
And for newcomers, just know: The Mercury isn’t about sales, hype, or pop chart takeovers. It’s about albums artists pour their hearts into, whatever shape those hearts take.
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When Will the Winner of the Mercury Prize 2025 Be Announced?
Mark it down: Thursday, October 16, 2025, is the date. That's when the “Album of the Year” crown gets its new owner, a moment that often feels like half sporting event, half art school reunion.
If you’ve ever watched: there's usually some nail-biting, a few awkward hugs, and at least one band surprised into silence. I remember last year’s reaction, English teachers’ win felt genuinely joyful, the kind of thing music gets right when the rest of life is messy.
The Mercury always finds ways to surprise, too, so bet on the oddsmakers being left in the dust.
Where Is the 2025 Mercury Prize Taking Place?
For the first time in its history, the Mercury Prize is heading to Newcastle's Utilita Arena. London gets swapped out for North East energy, and anyone who's ever been to a gig in Newcastle knows that's not a downgrade, just a different kind of buzz.
It feels a bit radical, actually. Music needs fresh perspectives, and if you stroll past the Tyne when the ceremony’s on, expect to hear a lot of noise, half of it probably from Wolf Alice or Sam Fender fans, half from curious locals who’ve only ever seen the ceremony on late-night TV.
And then there’s the Newcastle Fringe, running October 9-15: Generator, the North’s music development powerhouse, is throwing open the doors of iconic venues for a week-long music tornado. You can almost taste the excitement in the air already.
Who Are the 2025 Mercury Prize Judges?
The Mercury Prize is never just about names, it’s about the stories, the risk-takers, the albums you’ll still be spinning next spring. Curating that shortlist takes a weird kind of wizardry, but this year’s judging panel is stacked with pros, critics, writers, broadcasters, and actual musicians. No smoke and mirrors, just ears with serious credibility.
The 2025 Mercury Prize judges are:
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Danielle Perry – Broadcaster & Writer
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Jamie Cullum – Musician & Radio 2 Broadcaster
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Jamz Supernova – Radio 6 Music Presenter
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Jeff Smith – Head of Music, Radio 2 & Radio 6 Music (Chair)
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Lea Stonhill – Music Programming Consultant
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Mistajam – Songwriter, DJ & Broadcaster
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Phil Alexander – Creative Director, Kerrang!/Mojo
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Sian Eleri – Radio 1 Broadcaster & DJ
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Will Hodgkinson – Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times
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Sophie Williams – Music Writer & Broadcaster
If you’re picturing tense late-night debates, you’re not wrong. Mercury judges are famous for spirited arguments, musical references flying like confetti, and usually one critic defending an experimental jazz record nobody else “gets.”
How to Get a Ticket?
Tickets are selling fast for the ceremony, which means fans, friends, and industry folks are already refreshing pages and calling everyone they know for spares.
The last remaining tickets for the event are available online; try before the bots grab them all.
Thinking of heading up for the Newcastle Fringe instead? Good call. The Fringe runs for a whole week before the main event, with Generator promising “the boldest celebration of the North East’s music scene ever.”
Honestly, that’s not just marketing talk, ask anyone up that way, gigs from new bands and old legends break out all across Newcastle.
Grab tickets where you can, plan for sold-out shows, and don’t be afraid to squeeze into a sweaty indie venue; half the magic happens here.
