Newcastle to host Mercury Prize for second year
PA MediaNewcastle is to host the Mercury Prize for the second year in a row, following the success of the 2025 ceremony.
Established in 1992, it is one of the most prestigious awards in the music industry but until last year had only been hosted in London.
North Shields singer-songwriter Sam Fender took home the album of the year award for People Watching, after beating Irish singer CMAT, Pulp and pop artist PinkPantheress.
Newcastle City Council leader Karen Kilgour said the return of the ceremony in October was a "powerful endorsement" of the city's talent and it was "at the heart of a bold cultural resurgence".
"Nobody throws a party like Geordies and I think that's one of the main reasons it's back," she said.
"Last year was a massive success, we want this to really help build on our already thriving music scene.
"And wouldn't it be great if another North East artist won?"
Fender donated the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venue Trust (MVT), which works to preserve the UK's grassroots music venues.
The awards ceremony will be held on 22 October and will be a collaboration between music industry body BPI, the council and Newcastle-based music developer Generator.
Last year's ceremony was also celebrated through the Mercury Fringe, a series of concerts which showcased musicians from across the region.
Generator CEO Mick Ross said the fringe programme created "real opportunities" for musicians and this year it would be even bigger.
"This year, we're going further - expanding access, opening more pathways and ensuring northern artists don't just take part, but set the agenda," he said.
"When Mercury left London, it proved the North has the talent, infrastructure and ambition to lead at the highest level."
The organisation's CEO Jo Twist and chair YolanDa Brown said bringing the awards to Newcastle had given the city a £1.4m economic and cultural boost.
"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," they said.
