RAYE has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, This Music May Contain Hope. The annual award recognises the best album by a British or Irish artist. Thursday evening's ceremony took place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle. RAYE beat favourite Olivia Dean and other shortlisted artists, including Paul McCartney. At 84, McCartney was nominated for the first time.
The judges praised the album for bringing together different musical styles and telling the story of a young woman facing everyday challenges in life and love. Accepting the award, RAYE expressed her thanks and stressed how much albums mattered to her. She described music as medicine and said hope was something everyone needed.
Her comments about albums followed an earlier disagreement with her record label. RAYE left the company after accusing it of preventing her from releasing her debut album. She then released My 21st Century Blues independently in 2023. That record earned her first Mercury Prize nomination, making this year's nomination her second. It also led to six BRIT Awards in 2024, a record for the most wins by an artist in a single year.
