RAYE Wins 2026 Mercury Prize

UK songstress RAYE has taken out the prestigious annual Mercury Prize for her album This Music May Contain Hope.

Judged the best British and Irish album of the year, RAYE accepted the award during the ceremony at Newcastle's Utilita Arena.

RAYE beat out some impressive talent, including Sir Paul McCartney with The Boys of Dungeon Lane, Nia Archives for Emotional Junglist, Florence + The Machine - Everybody Scream and previous winner Dave, whose third album The Boy Who Played the Harp was in the running for the award

While accepting the award, RAYE spoke about the importance of albums in a world where singles and algorithms are the key metrics on how artists are based. "I just feel so grateful to be recognised," she said. "Hope is a very cheesy word, especially for us British people, we don't do that deep stuff like that, but hope is something we all need…so I hope that message comes across to anyone who needs it."

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RAYE also belted out a song on the night, singing 'I Hate The Way I Look Today' with a band, while fellow nominees Dove Ellis, Florence + The Machine, JADE, Knats, Kojey Radical, Nia Archives, Olivia Dean and Suede also took to the stage and performed live.

Released in March of this year, This Music May Contain Hope spans jazz, pop, soul, blues and orchestral sounds and includes collaborations with Hans Zimmer, Al Green and RAYE's sisters, Amma and Absolutely.

The record received almost universal acclaim and topped both the UK Albums and Independent Charts.

Aussie fans can catch RAYE performing exclusively at Split Milk Festival in December, performing at Exhibition Park in Canberra/Ngunnawal on Saturday 12 December, Gold Coast/Kombumerri's Gold Coast Sports Precinct on Sunday 13 December, Geelong/Wadawurrung's on Saturday 19 December at Kardinia Park Precinct and Perth/Whadjuk's Claremont Showground on Sunday 20 December.

Tickets are on sale now at spilt-milk.com.au.

Listen to This Music May Contain Hope here. Catch RAYE performing at Spilt Milk in December. Tickets on sale at spilt-milk.com.au.