Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize. Her second album, This Music May Contain Hope, beat out records by Dave, Dove Ellis, Florence + The Machine, Jade, Knats, Kojey Radical, Nia Archives, Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney, Suede, and various artists for the War Child compilation HELP(2).
“Albums are so important, and not to be bitter – because I feel like I’m mostly at peace with my past – but to come from a place where it’s all about singles and chasing the next thing, I just feel so grateful to be recognised,” Raye said in her acceptance speech in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. “Hope is a very cheesy word, especially for us British people, we don’t do that deep stuff like that, but hope is something we all need. So I hope that message comes across to anyone who needs it.”
Raye was also among the performers during the ceremony, delivering a rendition of ‘I Hate the Way I Look Today’. Check out her performance below.
