The nominations for the 2025 Mercury Prize Awards were revealed today. A total of twelve acts have been selected for the esteemed Albums of the Year category, with the announcement preceding the upcoming awards ceremony set to take place in Newcastle next month.
The Mercury Prize is an annual accolade presented to the best album released by a musician from the UK or Ireland. The current title holder is English Teacher’s “This Could Be Texas,” but a new winner will be crowned shortly.
The list of nominees for this year was disclosed on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds by Lauren Laverne earlier today. While the twelve nominees are vying for the prestigious title of “Album of the Year,” the ultimate victor will be unveiled at the Utilita Arena on October 16.
Among the noteworthy nominations is Pulp’s “More,” marking their first album release in over two decades. The renowned rock band, prominent during the 1990s, had not launched a studio album since 2001 until the arrival of “More” in June this year.
The Albums of the Year for the 2025 Mercury Prize are as follows:
– “EUSEXUA” by FKA twigs
– “Romance” by Fontaines D.C.
– “In Limerence” by Jacob Alon
– “Hamstrings & Hurricanes” by Joe Webb
– “Transform Me Then Into A Fish” by Martin Carthy
– “Afrikan Alien” by Pa Salieu
– “Fancy That” by PinkPantheress
– “More” by Pulp
– “People Watching” by Sam Fender
– “The Clearing” by Wolf Alice
The awards ceremony will showcase live performances by many of the shortlisted artists, culminating in the announcement of this year’s Mercury Prize winner. BBC Music will offer comprehensive coverage of the event.
This year’s ceremony marks the first time the Mercury Prize will be held outside of London. Organizers have emphasized that the move to Newcastle, in collaboration with Newcastle City Council and The North East Combined Authority, signifies a new chapter for the event.
The shortlist for the award is curated annually by an independent judging panel comprising music industry experts who are dedicated to recognizing artistic excellence across various genres.
The judging panel for this year includes Jamie Cullum, Sian Eleri, Mistajam, Danielle Perry, Jamz Supernova, Jeff Smith, Lea Stonhill, Phil Alexander, Will Hodgkinson, and Sophie Williams, with Jeff Smith serving as the panel’s chair.
In addition to the awards ceremony, music development agency Generator will introduce the Mercury Prize Newcastle Fringe, described as an expansive celebration to showcase the North East’s vibrant music scene and iconic venues.
Running from October 9 to 15, the Mercury Fringe will spotlight local talent and foster creative energy across the seven local authority areas of the North East Combined Authority, featuring venues such as the Glasshouse in Gateshead and Pop Recs in Sunderland.