The 12 albums on the 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist revealed

The 12 albums on the shortlist for the coveted 2025 Mercury Prize have been revealed.

The nominated records have once again been selected by an independent panel of judges consisting of musicians, broadcasters, writers and eminent industry figures, including Absolute Radio and Jazz FM presenter Danielle Perry.

For the first time ever, the winner will be revealed at a ceremony outside of London at Newcastle Utilita Arena on Thursday 16th October 2025.

See the full 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist:

Since its inception as the Mercury Music Prize in 1992 when Primal Scream’s seminal masterpiece ‘Screamadelica’ won, albums by Suede (‘Suede’), Portishead (‘Dummy’), Pulp (‘Different Class’), Gomez ('Bring It On'), Badly Drawn Boy (‘The Hour of Bewilderbeast’) PJ Harvey (‘Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea’ and ‘Let England Shake’), Dizzee Rascal (‘Boy in da Corner’), Franz Ferdinand (‘Franz Ferdinand’), Arctic Monkeys (‘Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not’), The xx (‘The xx’), Elbow (‘Seldom Seen Kid’), Dave (‘Psychodrama’) and Michael Kiwanuka ('Kiwanuka'), Ezra Collective (‘Where I’m Meant To Be’) have all triumphed over the past 33 years.

In 2024, English Teacher triumphed with ‘This Could Be Texas’ ahead of the likes of The Last Dinner Party, Beth Gibbons and Charli XCX.

Radiohead have appeared on the shortlist a record five times, yet, despite being one of the most critically acclaimed acts of the past 30 years, they have failed to scoop a single Mercury Prize win.

The Mercury Prize recognises the best new British & Irish music, celebrating artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres.

As an independent arts prize, it champions the album format, acts as a snapshot of the year in music and often provides a major platform for up-and-coming artists and their musical work.

Alongside Danielle Perry, the judging panel also includes Jamie Cullum, Jamz Supernova, Jeff Smith, Lea Stonhill, Mistajam, Phil Alexander, Sian Eleri, Will Hodgkinson and Sophie Williams.

The last remaining 2025 Mercury Prize tickets are on sale HERE.

Listen to Absolute Radio across the UK on your digital radio, the free Rayo app, by hitting that play button on the bottom of your screen or by asking your smart speaker to "play Absolute Radio".

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