Mercury Prize to return to Newcastle for 2026
The ceremony left London for the first time in 2025, with hometown hero Sam Fender winning
The Mercury Prize will return to Newcastle for the second year in a row in 2026.
The 2025 ceremony was the first time the lauded ceremony took place outside of London, with hometown hero Sam Fender winning the prize for his third album, People Watching.
On October 22 this year, the show will return to the Utilita Arena in the city to crown the 2026 winner of the prestigious award.
In a joint statement, Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO, and YolanDa Brown OBE DL, artist and BPI Chair, said: “Last year’s Mercury Prize and its brilliant performances and Fringe gave the region a £1.4m economic and cultural boost and the whole of Newcastle came together to give the event a warm, big Geordie hug.
“We are delighted to see the Prize return to the Toon and to the North-East for what we know will be another memorable occasion for artists and fans. We thank Newcastle City Council and all our valued partners for their continued collaboration and commitment, and we can’t wait for what is already shaping up to be another fantastic year of British and Irish music.”
Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council, added: “The return of the Mercury Prize to Newcastle for a second consecutive year is a tremendous vote of confidence in our city and our thriving music scene.”
After his win in 2025, Sam Fender announced that he was donating his entire Mercury Prize winnings of £25,000 to the Music Venue Trust.
Fender said: “I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out. These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
It comes after Fender previously raised £100,000 for the charity when he donated £1 from every ticket sold for his 2024 arena tour, with the funds helping 38 grassroots music venues in the UK and Ireland.
Also leaving London in 2026 is the BRIT Awards, which take place next weekend (February 28) at the Co-op Live in Manchester for the first of two years.