Sam Fender wins Mercury Prize 2025 for ‘People Watching’

Sam Fender has won the Mercury Prize 2025 for his album ‘People Watching‘.

• READ MORE: Sam Fender – ‘People Watching’ review: reflective and perceptive indie rock from North Shields’ shining star

This year’s edition of the prestigious awards ceremony took place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle – Fender’s hometown – tonight (October 16). Many of the 12 shortlisted acts performed live at the event, including Pulp, FKA Twigs and Wolf Alice.

Fender received the trophy from Broadcaster & DJ Sian Eleri who presented on behalf of the judging team – before performing the title track ‘People Watching’ from his winning album again to a standing ovation.

Accepting the award, Fender led the audience in a chant of “Toon Toon”. He said “we didn’t expect this at all…I can’t think!” He then went on to thank some of his “very good friends among the nominees tonight” including CMAT and Fontaines DC adding that he was in “great company.” He also dedicated the award to the late Annie Orwin, who inspired ‘People Watching’.

On releasing ‘People Watching’ earlier this year, Fender said the track was about somebody who was “like a surrogate mother to me and passed away last November. I was by her side at the end, slept on a chair next to her. It’s about what was going through my head, to and from that place and home.”

Fender concluded his speech by shouting out his hometown saying, “this region is the best region in the country.”

The winner of the 2025 Mercury Prize is…

Sam Fender – ‘People Watching’ #MercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/SfAwMwMN7F

— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) October 16, 2025

The judging panel said of Fender: “This year proved that the album remains the format of choice for artists to best present a body of work. That, however, made our job as judges of the 2025 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year is more challenging than ever.

“All 12 records on the shortlist worked so well on their own terms, ranging from ancient ballads to futuristic electronics. After much discussion, however, we all decided on one album that stood out for its cohesion, character and ambition. It felt like a classic album, which will take pride of place in record collections for years to come. ‘People Watching’ by Sam Fender is both melody-rich and expansive, marrying heartland rock with the realities of everyday life and the importance of community.

“These are thoughtful songs with broad appeal, as cinematic as they are intimate, making ‘People Watching’ a worthy winner of the 2025 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year.”

In the winner’s room afterwards, Fender added: “We didn’t think we were going to win anything so I’m still in shock. 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.”

When asked what he was doing after the win, he replied: “I think we’re going to go for a beer and then I’ve got four weeks off – so it’s nice to be home.”

The full shortlist for the Mercury Prize 2025 was:

CMAT – ‘Euro-Country’
Emma-Jean Thackray – ‘Weirdo’
FKA Twigs – ‘Eusexua’
Fontaines D.C. – ‘Romance’
Jacob Alon – ‘In Limerence’
Joe Webb – ‘Hamstrings & Hurricanes’
Martin Carthy – ‘Transform Me Then Into A Fish’
Pa Salieu – ‘Afrikan Alien’
PinkPantheress – ‘Fancy That’
Pulp – ‘More’
Sam Fender – ‘People Watching’ – WINNER
Wolf Alice – ‘The Clearing’

Last month, it was confirmed that this year’s period of eligibility for albums was over a month longer. This meant that the records needed to have been released between Saturday July 13, 2024, and Friday August 29, 2025.

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”.

Last year’s Mercurys were held at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios, and saw English Teacher take home the award for their universally-acclaimed debut album, ‘This Could Be Texas’. The former NME Cover stars were the first non-London act to bag the prize since Edinburgh’s Young Fathers won in 2014.

Meanwhile, Fender has reflected on the “intimacy” of his recent run of shows in the US, saying he “loved” the experience, ahead of his Australia tour next month.

Speaking on this week’s episode of Elton John’s Rocket Hour on Apple Music 1, the musician opened up about his recent run of US dates to John, who appears on piano on Fender’s forthcoming single, ‘Talk To You’. The track appears on the deluxe edition of Fender’s latest album, which arrives on December 5.

Opening up about touring smaller venues in the US, Fender said: “I’m loving it, man. It’s like the intimacy is something that I’ve missed from the early days…Last night’s show was in the Aragon Theatre, and it was 5,000 people, so it was playing Brixton again. And it was like that time. I remember when we were doing Brixton, I had the fire in my belly. I feel like we’re out here on a mission again, which is great, so I’m loving it.”

Fender has had a run of huge shows in the UK in recent years, including a run of stadium and arena shows, headlining Finsbury Park and festivals including Reading and Leeds.

Elsewhere in the interview, which can be heard full from Saturday (October 18) at 5pm BST, Fender opened up about why he asked John to play on the track, ‘Talk To You.’

The pair have previously performed together and spoken highly of each other, and Fender’s announcement comes after he teased a collaboration with his “good friend playing piano” on Instagram earlier this week (October 12).

NME gave ‘People Watching’ a four-star review upon its release in February, writing, “Feeling existential, uprooted and disconnected from his old working-class life thanks to his rapid rise to fame, the British guitar hero channels it all into his gorgeous third album.”

The review finished: “Reflective, analytical and vulnerable, ‘People Watching’ does exactly what the title may suggest: takes stock of the characters, friends and loved ones who have made Fender the person he is today. He approaches each track with sensitivity as he looks back on his life so far – perhaps even with an inkling of guilt – and contemplates who he may be next.”

‘People Watching’ earned the biggest opening week in the UK for a British act since Harry Styles with ‘Harry House’ in 2021.

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