Raye wins 2026 Mercury prize for ambitious second album
British singer's big-band jazz record This Music May Contain Hope earns top UK music award.
At a glance
- Raye wins Mercury prize for second album This Music May Contain Hope
- Album spans 73 minutes across multiple genres including big-band jazz and funk
- Award follows previous Brit awards success and period of label disputes
Raye has won the 2026 Mercury prize for her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope. The 73-minute record incorporates big-band jazz, power ballads, funk and other genres.
The award marks a resurgence for the British artist, who previously achieved record-breaking success at the Brit awards. She had faced a period of difficulty with her record label over the release of studio material.
Why it matters
The Mercury prize is the UK's most prestigious music award, recognising artistic achievement across all genres.
Original reporting
- The Guardian — WorldRaye wins 2026 Mercury prize for This Music May Contain Hope
- VarietyRaye Wins Mercury Prize for Album of the Year
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.