NEWS · ·NME
2026 Mercury Prize Announces Live Performances
Florence + The Machine, RAYE, JADE and other artists will perform at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony on October 22 at Utilita Arena.
Florence + The Machine, RAYE, JADE and other artists have been announced as performers at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony. The ceremony will take place on October 22 at Utilita Arena, with 10 live performances confirmed from artists on the shortlist. Nine artists will perform one song from the recordings for which they have been nominated. Florence + The Machine are nominated with Everybody Scream, while JADE is nominated with her solo release THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! The 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist contains 12 albums.
Pulp will perform on behalf of War Child Records’ HELP(2) compilation and contributed the song Begging For Change to the album. Short films celebrating the nominated albums by Dave and Paul McCartney will also be shown during the ceremony. The overall winner will be decided by the jury on the night of the ceremony, and BBC Music will broadcast the event.
The 2026 ceremony will mark the second consecutive time the Mercury Prize has been held in Newcastle. Mercury Prize Fringe will take place across Newcastle from October 15 to October 22, with more than 30 events scheduled across the city.
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