The Mercury Prize is one of the UK and Ireland’s most respected music awards, celebrating the best album of the year. The 2025 shortlist, announced on September 10, shows off a wide mix of styles and artists, from brand new voices to industry veterans.
Here are the 12 albums in the running:
- 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’
This year, only two debut albums made the list: Jacob Alon and Joe Webb. The rest are by artists who already have a strong following.
Some well-known names are back again: Wolf Alice (nominated for all four of their albums so far) and Pulp, the Britpop icons who recently returned with new music. Folk legend Martin Carthy, now 84, makes history as the oldest Mercury nominee ever. On the newer side, artists like CMAT, Fontaines D.C, and FKA twigs continue to push boundaries with fresh sounds, while PinkPantheress earns her first Mercury nod.
The range of genres represented satisfactorily diverse, however the lack of electronic representation is mildly disappointing. PinkPantheress brings pop, while Martin Carthy provides timeless folk. Emma-Jean Thackray mixes jazz with slightly more experimental sounds, and Pa Salieu offers the shortlist’s only rap entry. For fans of guitars, Sam Fender and Wolf Alice are also in the mix, however are not favoured to win.
Another big change this year is the location of the prize ceremony. For the first time, it won’t be held in London. Instead, the event will take place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 16. The winner will receive £25,000, but just being nominated can bring an artist major attention.
The Mercury Prize is designed to shine a spotlight on albums that stand out, not just in terms of sales but also creativity. Past winners, like English Teacher in 2024, have seen their careers grow quickly after taking home the award.
This year’s shortlist proves that the Mercury Prize is still relevant, still aiming to combine a mixture of sounds, styles, and stories.
