2026 Mercury Prize Fringe

The Mercury Prize is back in Newcastle from 15 to 22 October, with the main awards show taking place at the Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October. It's the second year in a row the prize has come to the city in partnership with Newcastle City Council, after it moved outside London for the first time in its history. Last year was the biggest edition yet, drawing almost 8,000 people across the North East and generating more than £1.4 million in economic and cultural impact, with a global audience of 1.6 billion. Sam Fender took the prize for his album People Watching.

The 2026 shortlist features 12 'Albums of the Year', and two of them are from the North East: JADE and Knats. The awards show will be hosted by Lauren Laverne and broadcast on BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music.

Running alongside the main event is the Mercury Prize Fringe, a week of more than 30 events spread across the city. Most of them are free, and they're put on by Generator, the North's leading music development organisation, which uses the week to support local artists, grassroots venues, young people and music businesses. The Fringe takes place across more than 30 venues, including Freight Island, The Plant Room, Baby Grey, The Globe, Tyneside Cinema, Cobalt Studios, The Cumberland Arms, Pilgrim, Head of Steam, Ōdio Bar, Grainger Market, Gingerinos, The Lubber Fiend, The Grove, Polestar Studios, Zerox, The Cluny, Live Theatre, The Boiler House at Newcastle University, Blast Recording, Blank Studios, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, The Lobby Vinyl Lounge, The Biscuit Tin Studios, John Marley Centre, Fenwick Newcastle and The Crowne Plaza.

So you've got the main show at the Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October, and a whole week of Fringe events across the city starting on the 15th. Most of the Fringe is free, so it's an easy way to see a few things without spending much.