RAYE won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, “This Music May Contain Hope.” The British singer, whose birth name is Rachel Keen, accepted the award at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on Thursday evening. The annual prize recognizes the best album by a British or Irish artist. Other nominees included favorite Olivia Dean and Paul McCartney, who received his first nomination at 84.
The judges praised the album for bringing together classic Hollywood style and realistic stories about everyday life. Featuring the hit “Where Is My Husband!,” it follows a young woman’s experiences with life and love. They also admired RAYE’s imagination and her ability to move beyond a single musical style. Accepting the prize, she expressed her gratitude, emphasized the importance of albums, and described music as “medicine.” She said hope is something everyone needs.
Her comments about albums reflected an earlier disagreement with her record label. RAYE left the company after accusing it of preventing her from releasing her debut. She then released “My 21st Century Blues” independently in 2023. That album earned her an earlier Mercury nomination and led to six BRIT Awards in 2024, setting a record for the most wins in one year.
