What the Mercury Prize coming to Newcastle means for the Music of the North East

The Mercury Prize is set to take place in The Utilita Arena, Newcastle, on October 16, 2025, in collaboration with Newcastle City Council and The North East Combined Authority.

2J3583M 5th April 2022 – Newcastle, UK: Sam Fender performs at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on the first of hometown nights. Credit: Thomas Jackson / Alamy Live News

This move is a first for the Mercury Prize, which has never taken place outside of London since the event’s creation in 1992.

With 12 of some of the biggest names in British and Irish music shortlisted for the prize, and many set to perform, it’s safe to say a lot of eyes will be on Newcastle.

Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: “We’ve brought the Mercury Prize to Newcastle to inspire a new generation of talent in our region. I’m over the moon that so many incredible artists will be coming here for the Prize.  They are all such an inspiration to young musicians here.

“We’ve seen Sam Fender rise from our own music community and I want to make sure he’s just one of many incredible local talents that succeed.

“To make that happen we’ve invited thousands of young people to join a fantastic line up of fringe events right across the North East. Maybe one of them will go on to be a future Mercury Prize-shortlisted artist themselves.

“That’s all part of our programme to invest in helping people build careers and dream big in creative industries whether that’s music or much else besides.”

The Mercury Prize coming to Sunderland isn’t the only major development for music in the Tyne and Wear area, with Sunderland being named a music city in January of this year.

A spokesperson for the North East Combined Authority said that the Mercury Prize aligns with the authority’s “strategic plan for the Culture, Creative, Tourism and Sport portfolio to develop and promote our creative talent, including music and develop and deliver a regional events programme to support a programme of major and impactful events and festivals, for both regional audiences and to attract more visitors.

“The hosting of the awards here in the region will provide the opportunity to gain further national and international recognition as a vibrant creative and cultural hub, showcasing our commitments to the arts and creative industries, and also enabling new and emerging talent to engage in an outreach programme as part of the overall programme.”

Tickets to see the Mercury Prize can be bought here.