The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize, was created in 1992 as an alternative to the Brit Awards and is known for its eclectic mix of musical genres.
The first prize was won by Scottish band Primal Scream for their seminal album ‘Screamadelica’, with other Franz Ferdinand and Young Fathers the only other two acts from north of the border to have won since.
Other acts to have won include Arctic Monkeys, Skepta, Dave, Wolf Alice, Ms. Dynamite, Dizzee Rascal, Klaxons, James Blake, Pulp, Elbow, The xx, Suede, and alt-J.
And last year’s winner was Sam Fender for his album People Watching.
PJ Harvey is the only artist to have won the prize twice – for Let England Shake and Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea.
To be eligible for the prize over 50 per cent of a band’s members must be British or Irish, and submissions are made by record labels.
The shortlist is chosen “based solely on their musical merit and irrespective of how popular or successful an album or act that has been submitted may have been in the previous calendar year”.
The winner will be selected by a team of judges, namely AFRODEUTSCHE (Composer, DJ & Radio 3 Unwind & 6 Music Broadcaster), Danielle Perry (Broadcaster (Absolute Radio & Jazz FM) & Musicia), Jamie Cullum (Musician & Radio 2 Broadcaster), Jeff Smith (Head of Music, Radio 2 & 6 Music), Lea Stonhill (Music Programming Consultant), MistaJam (Songwriter, DJ & Broadcaster), Phil Alexander (Creative Director, Kerrang!/Contributing Editor, MOJO), Sian Eleri (Radio 1 Broadcaster & DJ), Sophie Williams (Music Writer & Broadcaster) and Will Hodgkinson (Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times).
Here’s all 12 nominees’ chances of trimphing at the ceremony to be held at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Thursday, October 22 - according to the bookies.
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9. Paul McCartney - 18/1
It's a first time Mercury nomination for Paul McCartney, who apparently used to be in a fairly popular band. The bookies reckon the megastar is unlikely to win though, giving him odds of 18/1 for 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane'. | Getty Images for The Rock and Ro
10. Knats - 20/1
Newcastle jazz outfit Knats have home advantage, with the awards being presented at the city's Utilita Arena. They're a 20/1 longshot though, according to the bookies, for their album 'A Great Day In Newcastle'. | Contributed
11. Suede - 25/1
Britpop survivors Suede won the Mercury in 1993 for their self-titled debut album, before picking up another nomination in 1997 for 'Coming Up'. They are 25/1 outsiders to win again for 'Antidepressants'. | Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima
![The other 25/1 outsider is charity record sequel Help[2], released by War Child Records to support its work to help young children through war. It features a string of tracks donated by big name stars including Arctic Monkeys, Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp and Oasis.](https://www.connachttribune.ie/jpim-static/image/2026/10/20/14/25/Untitled-design-2026-10-20T152709-356.jpeg?trim=0,208,0,208&crop=&width=800)
12. War Child Records - 25/1
The other 25/1 outsider is charity record sequel Help[2], released by War Child Records to support its work to help young children through war. It features a string of tracks donated by big name stars including Arctic Monkeys, Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp and Oasis. | Contributed