Raye wins the Mercury Prize with This Music May Contain Hope
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, *This Music May Contain Hope*, beating nominees including Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean and Jade. The award recognises the best British or Irish album of the past year, and this is the first time a pop album has won since M People’s *Elegant Slumming* in 1994.
Released in March, the 17-track album runs for 73 minutes and features the hit “Where Is My Husband?”, four orchestras and more than 100 musicians. It reached the top of the UK chart and follows a cinematic story of heartbreak and resilience; work on it was delayed for almost a year after Raye’s car, notebooks and demos were stolen and later recovered.
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In short
- Raye won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album.
- It is the first pop winner since 1994.
- The 17-track record features more than 100 musicians.
How this story developed
- 27 minutes ago Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, *This Music May Contain Hope*, beating nominees including Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean and Jade.
Explained simply
The Mercury Prize is an annual award for the best album released by a British or Irish artist in the past year. A panel of judges chooses a shortlist from a wide range of music, then selects the winner.
Raye is a British singer and songwriter whose music draws on pop and other styles. This is her second album; she has also written songs for other performers.
The prize can bring wider attention to an album and its maker. Its winners have come from different musical styles, so the award is not limited to one genre.
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