Florence + The Machine, RAYE, JADE and more have been announced to perform at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony in Newcastle next month.
The awards show will take place at the Utilita Arena on October 22, with 10 live performances confirmed from artists represented on this year’s 12-album shortlist.
Dove Ellis, Florence + The Machine, JADE, Knats, Kojey Radical, Nia Archives, Olivia Dean, RAYE and Suede will each perform a song from their nominated records.
Pulp, meanwhile, will take to the stage on behalf of War Child Records’ star-studded ‘HELP(2)’ compilation. The Sheffield band contributed ‘Begging For Change’ to the record, with an all-star choir featuring Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest and Carl Barât.
Short films will be shown during the ceremony to celebrate the nominated albums from Dave and Paul McCartney.
This year’s shortlist includes some of 2025 and 2026’s most acclaimed British and Irish records. Florence + The Machine are nominated for ‘Everybody Scream’, while JADE’s solo debut ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’ also makes the cut.
Elsewhere, Ellis is recognised for ‘Blizzard’, Nia Archives for ‘Emotional Junglist’, Dean for ‘The Art Of Loving’, RAYE for ‘THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.’, and McCartney for ‘The Boys Of Dungeon Lane’.
The remaining nominated records are Dave’s ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’, Knats’ ‘A Great Day In Newcastle’, Kojey Radical’s ‘Don’t Look Down’, Suede’s ‘Antidepressants’ and War Child’s ‘HELP(2)’.
The full 2026 Mercury Prize ‘Albums Of The Year’ shortlist is:
Dave – ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’
Dove Ellis – ‘Blizzard’
Florence + The Machine – ‘Everybody Scream’
JADE – ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’
Knats – ‘A Great Day In Newcastle’
Kojey Radical – ‘Don’t Look Down’
Nia Archives – ‘Emotional Junglist’
Olivia Dean – ‘The Art Of Loving’
Paul McCartney – ‘The Boys Of Dungeon Lane’
RAYE – ‘THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.’
Suede – ‘Antidepressants’
War Child Records – ‘HELP(2)’
The overall winner will be decided by the judging panel on the night, with BBC Music providing coverage of the ceremony.
This year marks the second consecutive time the Mercury Prize has been staged in Newcastle. The event moved outside London for the first time in its history in 2025, when hometown star Sam Fenderwon for ‘People Watching’.
Fender later donated the £25,000 prize money to the Music Venue Trust, highlighting the ongoing financial pressures facing grassroots venues.
The main ceremony will once again be accompanied by the Mercury Prize Fringe, which runs from October 15 to 22 and features more than 30 events across Newcastle.
Among the programme is the premiere of Sam Fender: Live At London Stadium at Tyneside Cinema, Mini Mercury x First Gigs at The Grove and an evening with hometown nominees Knats at the John Marley Centre.
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