The 2026 Mercury Prize is set to take place later this week – check out the bookies’ odds for who will win the prestigious trophy.
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The awards will take place at the Utilita Arena on Thursday (October 22), and celebrate some of 2025 and 2026’s most acclaimed British and Irish records.
Performances on the night will come from 10 artists on this year’s 12-album shortlist, including Florence + The Machine, Raye, JADE, Olivia Dean and more, and ahead of things kicking off in two days time, the bookies have shared their odds for who might take the trophy.
It is Olivia Dean who is at the top of their list with the best odds, with William Hill naming her as the 3/1 favourite to win with her critically acclaimed album ‘The Art Of Loving’. She is followed by Nia Archives who has 4/1 odds with her album ‘Emotional Junglist’.
Raye has 9/2 odds with her sophomore record ‘This Music May Contain Hope.’ and she is followed by Dave and Kojey Radical, who have 7/1 and 9/1 odds respectively.
“While Olivia Dean is our 3/1 favourite to land the Mercury Prize on Thursday night, the rest of the market suggests it is far from a done deal,” said William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps. “Nia Archives (4/1) and RAYE (9/2) are firmly in the mix to win best album of 2026, and we wouldn’t be shocked by a late twist in Newcastle as they continue to breathe down Dean’s neck.”
The bookies odds for the 2026 Mercury Prize are:
Olivia Dean – 3/1
Nia Archives – 4/1
Raye – 9/2
Dave – 7/1
Kojey Radical – 9/1
Knats – 9/1
Dove Ellis – 10/1
Florence + The Machine – 10/1
Suede – 12/1
JADE – 12/1
Various Artists For War Child – 14/1
Paul McCartney – 16/1
As well as live performances on the night, there will also be short films shown during the ceremony to celebrate the nominated albums from Dave and Paul McCartney.
This year marks the second consecutive time the Mercury Prize has been staged in Newcastle. The event moved outside London for the first time in its history in 2025, when hometown star Sam Fender won for ‘People Watching’. Fender later donated the £25,000 prize money to the Music Venue Trust, highlighting the ongoing financial pressures facing grassroots venues.
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