The 28-year-old singer claimed the prize on Thursday night for her second album This Music May Contain Hope, beating Sir Paul McCartney, Jade and Olivia Dean.
The record, which includes the songs Where Is My Husband!, Nightingale Lane and Joy, was released in March and debuted at number one.
She said in a post on Instagram: “To believe I was once burdened with the narrative ‘no-one would care if I released an album’ to THIS … THE MERCURY PRIZE.
“I couldn’t sleep last night just heart filled with gratitude.
“Art is subjective, every artist last night was so deserving of this award.
“Being able to even create an album is a privilege I will never take for granted. Though this music may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I can confirm that album of was created with so much HEART (and so many hearts).
“Thank you to all 317 humans, musicians, engineers, my band, Hans Zimmer, Al Green, my sisters, my grandparents and my late Swiss grandad Hans who leaves me his last beautiful voice note on the start of life boat.”
The singer collected her award on stage at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, where she hailed the importance of hope, referencing her album’s title, in an emotional acceptance speech.
Raye at the Mercury Music Prize awards show at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne (Owen Humphreys/PA)
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She said: “Hope is a very cheesy word, you know, especially for us British people.
“We don’t do that kind of deep stuff like that, but hope is just something that we all need, and music is medicine.”
Created in 1992, the prize is awarded each year to the best album by an artist from the UK or Ireland.
Albums are nominated based on musical merit, irrespective of how successful the record or act have been in the year, with winners claiming a trophy as well as £25,000.
Sam Fender claimed the 2025 prize for his album People Watching.
The win came ahead of Raye’s one-off performance on Friday at the Royal Albert Hall for her concert This Symphony May Contain Hope.