Sam Fender Wins 2025 Mercury Prize for ‘People Watching’
A compelling and ambitious work of art, Sam Fender’s People Watching has been awarded the prestigious Mercury Prize, solidifying his position as a leading voice in British music.
British singer-songwriter Sam Fender has claimed the 2025 Mercury Prize for his third studio album, People Watching. The announcement came Thursday evening at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, marking a historic first as the awards ceremony was held outside of London for the first time. Fender triumphed over a diverse shortlist including Irish artists CMAT and Fontaines D.C., among others.
Fender, originally from North Shields, was previously nominated for his acclaimed 2022 album Seventeen Going Under. This win represents a significant milestone in his career, recognizing the artistic merit and cultural impact of People Watching.
The ceremony, hosted by Lauren Laverne, featured performances from several nominees, including FKA Twigs and veteran folk artist Martin Carthy. After a rigorous deliberation process, judge Sian Eleri revealed Fender as the winner. “After much hard discussion we decided on one album that stood out for its cohesion, character and ambition,” Eleri stated. “It felt like a classic album, one that will take pride of place in record collections for years to come.”
The Mercury Prize shared the announcement on X/Twitter with a celebratory post.
The 2025 shortlist showcased a vibrant spectrum of British and Irish musical talent. CMAT, whose full name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, received a nomination for her album Euro-Country, following a previous nomination in 2024 for Crazymad, For Me. Post-punk band Fontaines D.C. were also recognized for their fourth album, Romance, having first been nominated in 2019 for their debut, Dogrel.
Rounding out the 12-artist shortlist were Pulp, Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, Pa Salieu, Emma-Jean Thackray, Jacob Alon, Joe Webb, and Martin Carthy. This diverse selection underscores the Mercury Prize’s commitment to celebrating a wide range of genres and artistic styles.
The judging panel for this year’s prize included jazz musician Jamie Cullum, DJ Jamz Supernova, and Will Hodgkinson, pop and rock critic for The Times. Jeff Smith, head of music at Radio 2, chaired the panel. Established in 1992, with Primal Scream’s Screamadelica taking the inaugural prize, the Mercury Prize continues to champion both the album format and emerging talent across the UK and Ireland. Last year’s winner was English Teacher, recognized for their debut album This Could Be Texas.
The Mercury Prize’s enduring legacy lies in its ability to identify and celebrate albums that not only capture the zeitgeist but also possess lasting artistic value. People Watching now joins a distinguished lineage of award-winning albums, cementing Sam Fender’s place in contemporary music history.
