The full list of nominees for the 2025 Mercury Prize has been announced, with the shortlist including Sam Fender, Fontaines D.C., PinkPantheress and more.
Celebrating the work of both esteemed and emerging artists from U.K and Ireland, the Mercury Prize is awarded annually and recognizes artistic achievement in LPs across a range of genres. Recent winners include English Teacher (2024), Ezra Collective (2023), Little Simz (2022), Arlo Parks (2021) and Michael Kiwanuka (2020). The Prize was first awarded in 1992 to Primal Scream for Screamadelica, and winners include collections by Pulp (1996), PJ Harvey (2001, 2011) and Arctic Monkeys (2006).
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Among those featured on the 12-strong shortlist are Fontaines D.C., who have enjoyed a banner year following the release of fourth LP Romance, in August 2024. The Irish band also received a Mercury Prize nomination for their debut album, 2019’s Dogrel, and have since gone on to headline London’s Finsbury Park as well as arenas across the U.K. and Ireland. Fontaines D.C. snagged best international group at the 2025 BRIT Awards, their second win in that category.
Sam Fender, who boasts 2025’s biggest opening week sales in the U.K. so far, is nominated for People Watching. The North Shields-born musician was previously nominated for his second LP Seventeen Going Under and performed a number of large headline shows this summer, including the 80,000-capacity London Stadium and Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park.
FKA twigs is also recognised for third LP EUSEXUA, her highest-charting record yet on the Billboard 200 (No. 24). CMAT’s Euro-Country, which recently peaked at No. 2 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart, gives the Irish country-pop star her second nomination for a Mercury Prize following Crazymad, For Me (2023).
Wolf Alice’s The Clearing picks up a nod, and follows their 2018 victory for Visions of a Life. Pulp’s comeback LP More, their first since 2001, and PinkPantheress’ mixtape Fancy That also feature on the nominations list.
The list is rounded out by Jacob Alon’s In Limerance; Emma-Jean Thackray’s Weirdo; Joe Webb’s Hamstrings & Hurricanes; Martin Carthy’s Transform Me Then Into A Fish; and Pa Salieu’s Afrikan Alien. View the nominations in full below.
The 2025 awards show will be presented Oct. 16, at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle – the first time the ceremony has been hosted outside of London in its 33 year history. The event will feature live performances from nominees and will culminate in the announcement of the overall winner.
The shortlist was revealed at a launch event for the British press, held in central London. It was also announced live on BBC Radio 6 Music by host Lauren Laverne. As the Mercury Prize’s broadcast partner, BBC Music will provide coverage of the event across TV, radio, and online.
Albums released between Jul. 13, 2024 and Aug. 29, 2025 were eligible for consideration this year. The 12 shortlisted albums were chosen by an independent judging panel chaired by Jeff Smith, head of music, BBC 6 Music & Radio 2.
This year’s committee consisted of: Danielle Perry – broadcaster & writer; Jamie Cullum – musician & broadcaster; Jamz Supernova – broadcaster & DJ; Lea Stonhill – music programming consultant; Mistajam – songwriter, DJ & broadcaster; Phil Alexander – creative director, Kerrang!/contributing editor, Mojo; Sian Eleri – broadcaster & DJ; Will Hodgkinson – chief rock & pop critic, The Times; and Sophie Williams – writer & broadcaster.
Mercury Prize 2025 shortlist:
Emma-Jean Thackray, Weirdo
Joe Webb, Hamstrings & Hurricanes
Martin Carthy, Transform Me Then Into A Fish
PinkPantheress, Fancy That
Sam Fender, People Watching
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