Sam Fender wins the 2025 Mercury Prize with ‘People Watching’
The singer won his first ever Mercury for his third album at the ceremony in his hometown of Newcastle
By Nick Reilly
Sam Fender has won the 2025 Mercury Prize for his third album, People Watching.
The singer won the coveted prize in front of a huge hometown crowd at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, after the ceremony left London and headed to the North East for the first time since it began in 1992.
Accepting the award to visible disbelief, Fender said to huge cheers: “I just I really didn’t – we did not expect this at all. I want to say thank you to – I cannot think.”
Praising the North East, he described his home as “the best region in the country”.
Fender also paid tribute to Annie Orwin, his mentor and the inspiration behind his title track, as being like “a surrogate mother.”
In awarding the album its win, the prize’s judging panel said: “This year proved that the album remains the format of choice for artists to best present a body of work. That, however, made our job as judges of the 2025 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year is more challenging than ever.
“All 12 records on the shortlist worked so well on their own terms, ranging from ancient ballads to futuristic electronics. After much discussion, however, we all decided on one album that stood out for its cohesion, character and ambition. It felt like a classic album, which will take pride of place in record collections for years to come.”
They added: “People Watching by Sam Fender is both melody-rich and expansive, marrying heartland rock with the realities of everyday life and the importance of community. These are thoughtful songs with broad appeal, as cinematic as they are intimate, making People Watching a worthy winner of the 2025 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year.”
Tonight’s Mercury Prize saw Fender facing competition from FKA twigs, PinkPantheress, Pa Salieu, Jacob Alon, Pulp and more. The list also includes 84-year-old Martin Carthy, the oldest ever Mercury nominee.
Nine of the nominees also delivered show stopping performances to the Newcastle crowd. Fender along with Emma-Jean Thackray, FKA twigs, Jacob Alon, Joe Webb, Martin Carthy, Pa Salieu, Pulp, and Wolf Alice all took to the stage to perform one track from their nominated album.
The ceremony’s move to Newcastle was also backed by Generator – the North’s leading music development agency and Lead Industry Partner for the Mercury Prize – which coordinated a dynamic, week-long regional fringe programme in the lead up to the awards, to celebrate the city’s dynamic music scene.
Next year will also see the BRIT Awards leaving London and heading to Manchester, following in the wake of the Mercurys.