The Mercury Prize will return to Newcastle for its 2026 edition, in partnership with Newcastle City Council.
This year’s event will be held on October 22 at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle, with broadcast partner BBC Music to provide coverage of the event.
Last year saw Sam Fender (below) claim the Prize for his chart-topping album People Watching in front of a sold out crowd.
The 2025 edition was the Prize’s “biggest year to date”, as it was held outside of London for the first time. Alongside the main show at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle and the North East hosted a week-long fringe programme of events and talks, bringing an extra 8,000 visitors to the region.
The BPI is collaborating with Newcastle City Council and Generator on the event.
Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO, and YolanDa Brown OBE DL, artist and BPI Chair, jointly said: “Last year’s Mercury Prize and its brilliant performances and Fringe gave the region a £1.4m economic and cultural boost and the whole of Newcastle came together to give the event a warm, big Geordie hug. We are delighted to see the Prize return to the Toon and to the North-East for what we know will be another memorable occasion for artists and fans. We thank Newcastle City Council and all our valued partners for their continued collaboration and commitment, and we can’t wait for what is already shaping up to be another fantastic year of British and Irish music.”
Cllr Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “The return of the Mercury Prize to Newcastle for a second consecutive year is a tremendous vote of confidence in our city and our thriving music scene.
We are delighted to see the Prize return to the Toon and to the North-East for what we know will be another memorable occasion for artists and fans
Jo Twist & YolanDa Brown, BPI
“Newcastle is at the heart of a bold cultural resurgence, and hosting this prestigious national event once again underlines both the strength of our music industry and the growing national recognition of our cultural ambitions. It’s a powerful endorsement of the talent, creativity and momentum that define our city.
“Last year, we showcased exactly what Newcastle can deliver on a major stage, and we’ve continued to build on that momentum. This follows Warner Music’s recent announcement of a three-year partnership with Generator, which will create even more long-term opportunities. It also supports our plans to establish Newcastle and Gateshead as a recognised Music City.
“And with more significant events in the pipeline including a firm commitment to build our own programme, Newcastle will soon be seen as one of the UK’s key cultural hubs.
“While many cities are celebrated for their musical past, Newcastle is shaping its musical future. The return of the Mercury Prize reinforces our reputation as a driving force for emerging talent, industry investment and world-class events — and we are incredibly proud to welcome it back.”
When Mercury left London, it proved the North has the talent, infrastructure and ambition to lead at the highest level
Mick Ross, Generator
Mick Ross, CEO at Generator, added: “The return of the Mercury Prize to Newcastle confirms that last year wasn’t a one-off - it was a shift in the centre of gravity of British music.
“When Mercury left London, it proved the North has the talent, infrastructure and ambition to lead at the highest level. The BRITs in Manchester followed. The momentum is real. For more than 35 years, Generator has championed Northern talent, lobbied for investment and built the partnerships that moments like this depend on. Through Generator's Mercury Fringe programme, we turned a global awards show into a region-wide platform - creating real opportunities and lasting impact. This year, we’re going further - expanding access, opening more pathways and ensuring Northern artists don’t just take part, but set the agenda."
The events for the Mercury Prize generated a combined spend of £874,724 and added an estimated £552,868 GVA to the regional economy. Figures state that 35 local people also gained valuable work experience, while 68 children took part in the Mini Mercurys activity. A press release stated that the event reached a global audience figure of 1.6 billion, including local, national and global media coverage, social media engagement and broadcast audiences.
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