2026 Mercury Prize in Newcastle

Terms & Conditions of Entry (“Terms & Conditions”)

1. General
1.1 All forms of contemporary music from Great Britain and Ireland are eligible for the 2026 Mercury Prize in Newcastle ("Mercury Prize").

1.2 Only albums qualify for entry.

1.3 To qualify for entry, the album must have a digital release date between Saturday 30 August 2025 and Friday 17 July 2026 inclusive.

1.4 All entries must be received by Wednesday 13 May 2026. Entries received after 13 May 2026 will not be considered for the Mercury Prize.

1.5 In relation to the 2026 Mercury Prize only and on a strictly non-precedential basis, MPL will, in its sole discretion accept entries for the 2026 Mercury Prize for albums released between 1 August 2025 and 29 August 2025. Any album which was previously entered for the 2025 Mercury Prize cannot be entered again for the 2026 Mercury Prize. If you would like to enter one such album, please email: [email protected] with the album details.

1.6 To qualify for entry, the album must, as a minimum, be available to (i) buy on at least two approved major UK digital download retailers; and/or (ii) stream from at least two approved streaming services. Please see Clause 5 of these Terms & Conditions for the list of approved digital download retailers and streaming services. The album may also be available to buy or stream in other formats.

1.7 Entries can only be made via a record company that owns or controls the recordings on the submitted album.

1.8 It is a condition of entry that the record company submitting an entry has obtained all of the relevant permission(s) and clearance(s) for Mercury Prize Limited (“MPL”) to use the album cover artwork and artist/band photograph (as provided as part of the entry process) from any shortlisted album for promotional purposes in connection with the Mercury Prize and its future editions.

1.9 It is a condition of entry that the record company submitting an entry has obtained the relevant permission(s) and clearance(s) for MPL to use one artist/band promo video for promotional purposes: (i) on the Mercury Prize website ("Website"); (ii) at the Mercury Prize shortlist announcement event, currently scheduled to take place 30 July 2026 in London ("Launch Event"); (iii) at the Mercury Prize event scheduled to take place on 22 October 2026 at the Utilita Arena Newcastle, Arena Way, Newcastle UponTyne NE4 7NA ("Awards Show") and (iv) on the Mercury Prize’s official social media channels and digital platforms.

1.10 It is a condition of entry that if shortlisted, artists will actively participate in the Mercury Prize promotional campaign and attend if requested the Launch Event and the Awards Show (and perform at the Awards Show if requested by MPL) on such dates as required by MPL. Please also note that MPL will require a small number of vinyl copies of the shortlisted albums (if available) for promotional purposes.

1.11 Any attempt by or on behalf of any entrant to influence the Mercury Prize judges may result in the disqualification of the entry from the Mercury Prize.

1.12 The withdrawal, disqualification or deemed ineligibility of any entry received by MPL is at MPL’s sole discretion.

2. Artists
2.1 Artists must be of British or Irish nationality. Artists are considered to be of British or Irish nationality if (i) they hold a passport for either the United Kingdom or Ireland and/or were born in the United Kingdom or Ireland (“British” or “Irish” respectively) or (ii) they have been permanently resident in the United Kingdom or Ireland for more than 5 years.

2.2 Bands / groups are eligible to enter the Mercury Prize if either: 50% or more of the signed members are British or Irish; or 30% or more of the signed members are British or Irish AND the majority (more than 50%) of all signed band members have their principal place of residence in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

2.3 By entering the Mercury Prize you acknowledge that MPL may require proof of artists’ nationality and that you have (or will procure) artists’ consent to provide copies of the relevant documentation to MPL if requested.

3. Classical
3.1 Composers: premier recordings of works by contemporary British and Irish composers are eligible.

3.2 Performers: for a contemporary classical recital of a programme of works to be eligible, there must be clear evidence of the performer’s creative interpretation of the material. Straightforward recitals of works from the standard repertoire are not eligible.

4. Compilations, EPs, Soundtracks & Deluxe editions
4.1 Compilations of previously released material and EPs are not eligible

4.2 For compilations of new material at least 65% of the album’s running time must be new recordings by British or Irish artists.

4.3 For soundtrack albums at least 65% of the album’s running time must be an original score or new recordings by British or Irish artists.

4.4 Deluxe editions of an album are not eligible. The original album may be eligible provided it meets all the Terms & Conditions of Entry.

5. Digital Download Retailers & Streaming Services
For the purposes of Clause 1.6: (i) the approved digital download retailers are: 7digital, Amazon Music and iTunes; and (ii) the approved streaming services are: Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify and YouTube Music.

6. Eligibility and Interpretation
The final decision regarding all aspects of the Mercury Prize, including any questions concerning eligibility and the interpretation of these Terms & Conditions rests with MPL. This includes (without limitation) MPL’s discretion as to what constitutes an ‘Album’. By way of guidance only, an Album is generally considered by MPL to be a collection of musical sound recordings or a recorded musical body of work that has been (or is to be) released, promoted and customarily referred to as an ‘album’. Certain so-called ‘mixtapes’ or ‘projects’ of original material may also be considered eligible at MPL’s sole discretion.
MPL is not obliged to enter into any correspondence when eligibility is disputed.

7. Right to Change Terms & Conditions
MPL may change these Terms & Conditions from time to time and is under no obligation to provide notice to you of any changes. You should therefore check these Terms & Conditions regularly.

8. Privacy Policy
We take great care to protect your data against unauthorised or unlawful use. The Mercury Prize Entries Website (“Website”) uses secure socket layer technology (SSL) when sending and receiving data. This means that when you upload any information and/or content through the Website, it is transmitted via a secure protocol and that all of the information sent or received is encrypted. Your interactions are therefore private by design. By submitting an entry you agree to the processing by us of your information and the use of that information as part of the administration and running of the Mercury Prize. You can review our privacy policy at https://www.mercuryprize.com/privacy-policy. We may contact you by email with information and updates relating to the Mercury Prize. If you would prefer not to receive such information please email us at the following address: [email protected]

9. Payment Terms
The entry fee is £230.00 + VAT (at 20%, total £276), which covers the administrative element of the entry process. Payment of the entry fee for each submission must be made by debit or credit card during the online entry process on the Website. All payments will be processed securely via Stripe. Please keep the online receipt you will be sent by Stripe once you have paid the entry fee. MPL does not provide VAT invoices for entry payments.

10. Refund Policy
The entry fee is non-refundable once a submission has been made through the Website and successfully received by MPL. MPL accepts no liability or responsibility for any entries that are incorrectly or unsuccessfully submitted through the Website.

11. Intellectual Property
All rights in the Website design, text, graphics and other content, the selection and arrangements thereof and the Mercury Prize Albums of the Year competition belong to MPL.

12. Right to Cancel
MPL reserves the right to suspend, postpone, cancel, or amend the prize competition and/or the Mercury Prize Launch event and/or Awards Show at its sole discretion.

13. Right to Exclude from the Mercury Prize
If MPL has any reason to believe that an entrant has breached these Terms & Conditions, MPL reserves the right to exclude the entrant from any further participation in the Mercury Prize (including any further additions), at its sole discretion,

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any disputes arising therefrom.

Contact details: [email protected]