Fender won yesterday evening for his third album ‘People Watching’.
This year’s edition of the prestigious awards ceremony took place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle tonight after the Mercury Prize moved up north from its traditional home in London this year as part of a new partnership with Newcastle City Council and the North East Combined Authority.
The ceremony followed a week-long regional fringe programme to “celebrate the depth and diversity of talent in the north and create opportunities for local talent”.
During his acceptance speech, Sam Fender shouted out his hometown, saying “this region is the best region in the country,” and he did so again later in the winner’s room, adding: “It’s an absolute honour and it’s amazing it’s happened up here, for the first time outside of London. I think it’s a really important thing that’s happened right now in the music industry – I think it’s great.”
Fans on social media have been reacting to the fact Fender won the award in Newcastle, with one saying: “the hometown boy has won it.” Newcastle City Council meanwhile posted: “We couldn’t have said it better ourselves,”
Fans have been reacting online to Sam Fender’s Mercury Prize 2025 win in his Newcastle home town – see some of the responses below:
