Mercury Prize 2025 Shortlist: Familiar Faces Set vs. Two Bold Debuts
The 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist, unveiled today by The Guardian, features a compelling mix of established stars and exciting newcomers from across the UK and Ireland, along with the momentous decision to host the award ceremony outside London for the first time.
Standout Highlights from the Shortlist
- Of the twelve nominated albums, only two are debut releases:
- Jacob Alon – In Limerence (Scottish folk songwriter)
- Joe Webb – Hamstrings and Hurricanes (Welsh jazz musician)
- The Guardian
Returning award contenders include icons across genres:
- Pulp (More)
- Sam Fender (People Watching)
- Wolf Alice (The Clearing)
- FKA twigs (Eusexua)
- CMAT (Euro-Country)
Other nominees span rap, folk, and experimental pop:
- Martin Carthy – Transform Me Then Into a Fish
- Pa Salieu – Afrikan Alien
- Fontaines DC – Romance
- PinkPantheress – Fancy That
- Emma-Jean Thackray – Weirdo
Diversity & Noteworthy Patterns
The shortlist achieves gender balance, showcasing an equal split between male and female or mixed acts. Notable solo female artists include CMAT, Emma-Jean Thackray, FKA twigs, and PinkPantheress.
Genres are richly represented, with a single rap album (Afrikan Alien), jazz (Hamstrings and Hurricanes, Weirdo), folk, rock, and pop all included, though metal remains absent, continuing a longstanding trend.
Veteran milestone: Martin Carthy, at 84, is the oldest ever Mercury nominee, and this marks his first Mercury shortlist in a celebrated 60-year career.
Multiple nominees: Wolf Alice and Pulp are now four-time nominees. Wolf Alice has engaged with the prize for every one of their albums and won in 2018. Pulp, an earlier-era Britpop legend, won in 1996 and was last shortlisted in the late ’90s.
Ceremony Moves North & Supporting Events
For the first time in the award’s history, the 2025 Mercury Prize ceremony will be held outside London—taking place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 16, 2025.
Ahead of the main event, a Mercury Fringe week will activate Newcastle and surrounding areas with gigs, workshops, and an industry conference.
A Note from the BPI
Dr Jo Twist, CEO of the BPI (British Phonographic Industry), praised the shortlist for its eclecticism and genre-spanning artistry, despite the limited number of debut albums.