BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Lauren Laverne has been confirmed as host of the 2025 Mercury Prize, with the prestigious music award set to take place in Newcastle for the first time. The ceremony, scheduled for 16 October at the Utilita Arena, marks a major shift for the event, which has traditionally been staged in London. Laverne, who is originally from Sunderland and a long-time supporter of the North East’s cultural scene, has previously hosted the Mercury Prize and expressed pride in bringing the celebration to her home region.
The Mercury Prize, established to honour the best British and Irish albums of the year, has a rich history of showcasing groundbreaking music. Past winners include acts such as Ezra Collective, Little Simz, Arctic Monkeys, Portishead, and Pulp. This year’s shortlist of 12 nominees will be announced on 10 September, with the ceremony featuring live performances from the artists before the overall winner is revealed.
To accompany the main event, organisers have also unveiled the Mercury Prize Newcastle Fringe, a week-long programme of performances and industry events designed to spotlight local talent across the North East. Running from 9 to 15 October, the fringe will include live gigs, workshops, and roundtables at venues including The Glasshouse in Gateshead, Pop Recs in Sunderland, Queen’s Hall Arts in Hexham, and Newcastle’s World Headquarters and Tyneside Cinema. The initiative is being delivered by music development agency Generator in collaboration with the North East Combined Authority.
The decision to move the Mercury Prize outside London for the first time has been hailed as a significant boost for the region’s cultural profile. For Laverne, who has built her career championing new music, the opportunity to showcase emerging artists from her home region alongside internationally recognised acts represents both a personal and professional milestone. “The North East has always been a hotbed of creativity, and this year’s Mercury Prize will put that talent firmly in the spotlight,” she said.
Last year, Leeds-based band English Teacher took home the award, becoming the first act from outside London to win since 2014. With this year’s ceremony set against the backdrop of Newcastle’s vibrant music scene, anticipation is building not only for the shortlist announcement but also for how the event’s relocation will reshape the profile of one of the UK’s most important music prizes.
