Bookmakers have named Olivia Dean as the early favourite to win the 2026 Mercury Prize, which will be held in Newcastle. Her album The Art of Loving is priced at 6/1 with William Hill, following the announcement of this year's shortlist last week.
Olivia Dean leads the odds
Olivia Dean, known for her hit "Man I Need," is ahead of other nominees including RAYE, Florence & The Machine, and Dave, who are all at 13/2. The full odds list places Olivia at the top, with Nia Archives at 5/2, Kojey Radical and Dove Ellis at 7/1, Suede at 15/2, JADE at 10/1, and Paul McCartney, Knats, and Artists for War Child at 14/1.
Newcastle hosts again
The Mercury Prize returns to Newcastle for the second consecutive year after its historic move from London in 2025. Last year's event was a huge success, with North Shields star Sam Fender winning for his album People Watching. This year, the shortlist includes two North East acts: Geordie jazz collective Knats and South Shields singer JADE for her debut solo album That's Showbiz.
A special launch event was held at Fenwick in Newcastle to mark the occasion, while some shortlisted acts attended a red carpet event in London.
