Sam Fender Wins 2025 Mercury Prize for ‘People Watching’
Sam Fender has been awarded the 2025 Mercury Prize for his critically acclaimed album, People Watching, at a ceremony held today in Newcastle.
BBC Radio DJ and judge Sian Eleri described the winning album as possessing “cohesion, character and ambition,” adding that it “felt like a classic album, one that will take pride of place in record collections for years to come.” Fender, 31, accepted the award to a crowd chanting the name of his hometown football club, Newcastle United, and dedicated the win to Annie Orwin, whom he described as a “surrogate mother” and the inspiration behind the song “People Watching.” The album, released in February, has achieved significant commercial success, including two Top 10 singles and a series of stadium concerts, marking a high point in Fender’s career which began with his 2019 debut, Hypersonic Missiles.
This year’s shortlist featured a diverse range of artists, including Wolf Alice, Pulp, and CMAT, with CMAT initially favored by bookmakers. Notably, the 2025 Mercury Prize saw its oldest ever nominee in 84-year-old English folk singer Martin Carthy, recognized for his album Transform Me Then Into a Fish. The move of the awards ceremony to Newcastle is part of a wider effort to recognize creative talent outside of London, a trend highlighted by recent analysis of Mercury Prize winners.
Fender receives £25,000 prize money. Organizers confirmed the Mercury Prize will continue to champion artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres, and will announce details of the 2026 event in due course.
