Florence + The Machine, RAYE, JADE and more to perform at 2026 Mercury Prize

Florence + The Machine, RAYE, JADE and more have been announced to perform at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony in Newcastle next month. The awards show will take place at the Utilita Arena on October 22, with 10 live performances confirmed from artists represented on this year’s 12-album shortlist. Dove Ellis, Florence + The Machine, JADE, Knats, Kojey Radical, Nia Archives, Olivia Dean, RAYE and Suede will each perform a song from their nominated records. Pulp, meanwhile, will take to the stage on behalf of War Child Records’ star-studded ‘HELP(2)’ compilation. The Sheffield band contributed ‘Begging For Change’ to the record, with an all-star choir featuring Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest and Carl Barât. Short films will be shown during the ceremony to celebrate the nominated albums from Dave and Paul McCartney. This year’s shortlist includes some of 2025 and 2026’s most acclaimed British and Irish records. Florence + The Machine are nominated for ‘Everybody Scream’, while JADE’s solo debut ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’ also makes the cut. Elsewhere, Ellis is recognised for ‘Blizzard’, Nia Archives for ‘Emotional Junglist’, Dean for ‘The Art Of Loving’, RAYE for ‘THIS MUSIC MAY...