Sam Fender announced as winner of 2025 Mercury Prize

Sam Fender has been announced as the winner of the Mercury Prize 2025...and on home ground too.

Following the ceremony at Newcastle's Utilita Arena, local Tyneside talent Sam Fender and his Number 1 album People Watching is honoured with the esteemed award. 

Broadcaster Lauren Laverne hosted the 2025 Mercury Prize ‘Albums of The Year’ ceremony live from Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, marking the first time the prestigious award show has been held outside of London. A delighted Sam Fender, who hails from North Shields, received the trophy from broadcaster & DJ Sian Eleri, presenting on behalf of the judging team - before performing the title track ‘People Watching’ from his winning album to a standing ovation.

"We did not expect this at all, I wanna say thank you to...I can't even think!" said a flustered Sam, as he took to the winner's podium with his bandmates.

"All of the other nominees tonight, there's some good friends amongst them - CMAT, Fontaines - we're in great company. I want to say thank you, because I never did, to the person that the song 'People Watching' is about. I want to dedicate it to Annie Owen who is up there."

"This region is the best region in the country!" he finished emotionally as the crowd erupted.

MORE: Every Mercury Prize winner ever

Released in February of this year, People Watching sees Sam explore "colourful stories and observations of everyday characters living their everyday, but often extraordinary, lives." Sam co-wrote every track on the record, including the album's title track which was inspired by his late friend and mentor, Annie Owen. Collaborators on the LP include Dean Thompson, Joe Atkinson, Markus Dravs and Adam Granduciel.  

People Watching became Sam Fender's record-breaking third Number 1 album, earning Sam the biggest opening week of his career with over 107,000 units sold in its first week, according to Official Charts data, making it the fastest-selling album by a British artist since Harry Styles' Harry's House three years prior. It's also one of the UK's biggest album of 2025 so far and follows the chart-topping success of Fender's 2019 debut album Hypersonic Missiles and 2021's Seventeen Going Under. 

The run-up to the ceremony this week saw the Mercury Prize Newcastle Fringe take place in the city - a week-long festival igniting the North East with the very best of Northern creativity. The event series brought together the North East's music scene and venues to host a series of workshops, masterclasses, showcases, community events and more. 

You can check out all the 2025 nominees and their albums here.