Mercury Prize 2025 Shortlist: Full Line-Up of Albums & Artists
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The Mercury Prize is one of the most respected awards in music, shining a spotlight on the best albums released in the UK and Ireland each year. Known for celebrating artistry, originality, and impact over pure commercial success, it has previously crowned everyone from Arctic Monkeys and PJ Harvey to Skepta and Arlo Parks.
Now, the 2025 shortlist has been revealed – and it’s a bold, varied, and exciting snapshot of the year in music.
The 2025 Mercury Prize Shortlist
CMAT – Euro-Country
Dublin’s sharp-witted songwriter brings her unique mix of humour, heartbreak, and irresistible choruses to a record that stretches the boundaries of country pop.
Buy Euro-Country by CMAT on CD or Vinyl
Emma-Jean Thackray – Weirdo
Jazz visionary Emma-Jean Thackray continues to defy genre conventions, blending funk, psychedelia, and spiritual jazz into a fearless and infectious listen.
Buy Weirdo by Emma-Jean Thackray
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Always pushing boundaries, Twigs’ latest work is both intimate and futuristic, exploring themes of identity, desire, and transformation with trademark precision.
Fontaines D.C. – Romance
The Dublin post-punks return with a blistering, poetic record full of urgent guitars, restless energy, and an ever-growing sense of scale.
Jacob Alon – In Limerence
A rising star delivering a deeply personal and atmospheric debut, weaving electronic textures and raw songwriting into something hauntingly fresh.
Buy In Limerence by Jacon Alon on Vinyl or CD
Joe Webb – Hamstrings & Hurricanes
Playful, virtuosic, and wildly inventive – pianist Joe Webb’s latest album is a joyous trip through jazz, ragtime, and modern improvisation.
Martin Carthy – Transform Me Then Into A Fish
At 83, folk legend Martin Carthy proves he’s still a force of nature. This album reimagines traditional ballads with wisdom, grit, and timeless storytelling.
Pa Salieu – Afrikan Alien
One of the UK’s most compelling voices returns with an ambitious blend of rap, afro-fusion, and experimental sounds – powerful and unflinching.
PinkPantheress – Fancy That
The queen of lo-fi pop steps into a bigger, bolder sound without losing her signature intimacy. Expect earworm hooks wrapped in subtle nostalgia.
Buy PinkPantheress – Fancy That
Pulp – More
The return nobody expected but everyone’s talking about. Jarvis Cocker and company deliver a sharp, witty, and reflective record that feels both classic and new.
Buy Pulp – More
Sam Fender – People Watching
Anthemic yet heartfelt, Fender’s latest work cements his status as one of Britain’s great modern storytellers. Stadium-ready but rooted in real lives.
Buy Sam Fender – People Watching
Wolf Alice – The Clearing
Always evolving, Wolf Alice’s fourth album is a soaring, cinematic journey that moves seamlessly between quiet vulnerability and thunderous rock.
Why This Year’s Shortlist Matters
The 2025 shortlist feels like a perfect Mercury mix – established icons (Pulp, Wolf Alice, Sam Fender), daring innovators (FKA Twigs, Emma-Jean Thackray, Pa Salieu), and fresh new voices (Jacob Alon, Joe Webb). Together, they reflect the strength and diversity of the UK and Irish music scene right now.
Whether the prize goes to a legend reinventing their sound or a newcomer breaking through with something startlingly original, the Mercury remains a reminder that albums still matter in a playlist-driven world.
When Will the Winner Be Announced?
The overall winner of the 2025 Mercury Prize will be revealed at the awards ceremony on 16th October, 2025, in Newcastle. Whoever takes home the prize, this shortlist guarantees a thrilling celebration of music at its most creative and impactful.