Key facts
- Raye's album This Music May Contain Hope won the 2026 Mercury Prize.
- The prize recognizes the best British or Irish album of the past 12 months.
- The album features soul singer Al Green and over 100 musicians.
- This Music May Contain Hope was released in March and topped the UK charts.
- The singer experienced a car theft that delayed the album's production.
Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album, This Music May Contain Hope. The 28-year-old singer's pop record, which features golden age Hollywood glamour, beat out nominees including Sir Paul McCartney, Olivia Dean, and Jade to win the £25,000 prize.
Raye expressed her gratitude, stating she had "poured everything I had" into the album. The 73-minute record, comprising 17 tracks, tells a cinematic story and includes contributions from her grandparents, soul legend Al Green, four orchestras, and over 100 musicians. Released in March, the album reached the top of the UK charts and garnered critical praise for its "old-school show-tune razzle-dazzle" and "big-band swing frills."
The album's creation was nearly derailed two years ago when Raye's songwriting notebooks and demos were stolen, delaying production by almost a year. The Mercury Prize, established in 1992, aims to recognize albums that push musical boundaries, distinct from the commercially focused Brit Awards. This year's shortlist included only two debut albums, with Olivia Dean's The Art of Loving being a strong contender.