Five years after publicly challenging her former record label over its refusal to release her debut album, RAYE has won one of Britain's biggest honors for the very format she fought to embrace.

The singer took home the 2026 Mercury Prize for This Music May Contain Hope. on Thursday, October 22, at Newcastle's Utilita Arena.

The victory came against an eclectic shortlist that included Olivia Dean's The Art of Loving, Dave's The Boy Who Played the Harp, Paul McCartney's The Boys of Dungeon Lane, JADE's That's Showbiz Baby!, Nia Archives' Emotional Junglist, and Florence + the Machine's Everybody Scream.

Released in March, RAYE's sophomore album includes her hit “Where Is My Husband!” and the Hans Zimmer collaboration “Click Clack Symphony.”

“I've always banged on about how much I believe in albums, albums are so important,” RAYE said after accepting the award. “I just feel so grateful to be recognised.”

"Being able to even create an album is a privilege I will never take for granted," she said in an Instagram post later in the night. "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) 🫀🫀🫀. "

She continued:

"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.”

First awarded in 1992, the Mercury Prize celebrates the year's outstanding British or Irish albums, with an independent judging panel considering artistic achievement rather than sales when selecting a recipient. The winner receives £25,000.

Recent recipients include Sam Fender, who won in 2025 for People Watching; English Teacher for This Could Be Texas in 2024; Ezra Collective for Where I'm Meant to Be in 2023; Little Simz for Sometimes I Might Be Introvert in 2022; and Arlo Parks for Collapsed in Sunbeams in 2021. PJ Harvey is the only artist who has won the award twice – in 2001 for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea and 2011 for Let England Shake.

RAYE previously competed for the prize in 2023 with her debut, My 21st Century Blues. That record also earned her a historic six wins at the 2024 BRIT Awards.

She closed Thursday's ceremony by performing “I Hate The Way I Look Today” to a standing ovation.