In a historic first, the Mercury Prize 2025 award ceremony will take place in Newcastle. The event will be held at the Utilita Arena on Thursday, October 16. This marks a significant shift, as it’s the first time the ceremony has been hosted outside of London.
Performance Line-Up at Mercury Prize 2025
The award show will feature nine notable artists, each performing live. The artists scheduled to take the stage include:
- Sam Fender
- Pulp
- Wolf Alice
- Emma-Jean Thackray
- FKA twigs
- Jacob Alon
- Joe Webb
- Martin Carthy
- Pa Salieu
This year, twelve albums have been shortlisted for the prestigious award.
Shortlisted Albums for 2025
The nominated albums for the Mercury Prize include:
- CMAT – ‘EURO-COUNTRY’
- Emma-Jean Thackray – ‘Weirdo’
- FKA twigs – ‘EUSEXUA’
- Fontaines D.C. – ‘Romance’
- Jacob Alon – ‘In Limerence’
- Joe Webb – ‘Hamstrings & Hurricanes’
- Martin Carthy – ‘Transform Me Then Into A Fish’
- Pa Salieu – ‘Afrikan Alien’
- PinkPantheress – ‘Fancy That’
- Pulp – ‘More’
- Sam Fender – ‘People Watching’
- Wolf Alice – ‘The Clearing’
What is the Mercury Prize?
The Mercury Prize aims to celebrate the best new music from British and Irish artists. It highlights artistic achievement across various genres and provides a platform for emerging talent. Each year, an independent panel of music industry professionals selects the shortlist based on their passion for artistic merit.
The Judging Panel for 2025
The judging panel includes notable figures such as:
- Danielle Perry – Broadcaster & Writer
- Jamie Cullum – Musician & Broadcaster
- Jamz Supernova – DJ
- Jeff Smith – Head of Music, Radio 2
- Lea Stonhill – Music Programming Consultant
- Mistajam – Songwriter & DJ
- Phil Alexander – Creative Director
- Sian Eleri – Radio 1 Broadcaster
- Will Hodgkinson – Chief Rock & Pop Critic
- Sophie Williams – Music Writer
Jeff Smith chairs the panel.
Event Highlights
During the ceremony, each performer will showcase one song from their shortlisted album. Additionally, a live performance film will feature the other nominated artists. The prize winner will be unveiled towards the end of the event, which starts promptly at 8 PM, with doors opening at 6:30 PM.
Mercury Prize Fringe Events
In the lead-up to the awards, the Mercury Prize Fringe has included various events around the North East, such as live performances and workshops. These events aim to celebrate regional talent and engage the community.
Support for the Creative Sector
The UK government has committed significant funds to strengthen the creative industries. With £150 million allocated to the Creative Places Growth Fund, £25 million will be directed to the North East’s creative sectors. This investment aims to support artists and promote music growth.
The Mercury Prize 2025 highlights the ongoing vibrancy of the music scene and provides a vital platform for both established and emerging artists. Tune into El-Balad for further updates on this landmark event.
