Mercury Prize 2025 Odds: Irish Acts To Battle It Out For Annual Album Accolade

The Mercury Prize ceremony will be held in England's north east tonight, meaning it is not in London for the first time in the ceremony's history. 

But it looks set to be Ireland's year, if betting sites are anything to go by. 

Two Irish acts, CMAT and Fontaines D.C. lead the way at the top of the market, with British rockers Pulp their nearest competitors.

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There could also be some records set at the 2025 Mercury Prize. 

PinkPantheress' 20-minute mix tape Fancy That could be the shortest album in Mercury Prize history to win the award, and Martin Carthy is the oldest person to ever be nominated for the coveted accolade.

Carthy got the nod for the award, aptly on his 84th birthday, for his album Transform Me Then Into A Fish.

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CMAT's Mercury Rocket 

While there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house if Martin secured victory, it looks highly unlikely. 

He is propping up the outright market at a massive 40/1 with William Hill and there is plenty of distance between him and frontrunner CMAT. 

The Irish singer is 2/1 favourite on many betting apps.

She is no stranger to the Mercury Prize ceremony, after her second studio album, Crazymad, For Me, was nominated last year. 

While she lost out to English Teacher's This Could Be Texas, the defeat inspired CMAT to create this year's Mercury Prize favourite - EURO-COUNTRY. 

Following the news that she had been shortlisted, CMAT posted on Instagram: "My album EURO-COUNTRY has been shortlisted for the 2025 @mercuryprize!!

Mercury Prize 2025 Odds: Outright 

(Odds correct at time of publish: 5pm - 14/10/2025)

"I had a weird thing happen at the Mercury Prize 2024 when Annie Mac was announcing who the winner was.

"As she was reading it I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling that I could make something better. 

"Two days later I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. 

"The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that make sense.

"I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result but I am very happy to have been x x (sic)."

CMAT's compatriots Fontaines D.C. are best priced 5/1 with Ladbrokes to secure their first-ever Mercury Prize for album Romance. 

The Irish outfit were previously nominated for their 2019 debut studio album Dogrel, but were beaten to the award by Dave for his album Psychodrama. 

Weirdo To Win? 

Emma-Jean Thackray is nominated for album Weirdo, which is a record she said has "saved [her] life", and she is particularly pleased that "different scenes" are being recognised ahead of the ceremony. 

She told Sky News: "I love that different scenes are being highlighted. 

"There's so much going on, it's not just about London - I live in London and I love London, but I'm from Leeds and there's so much going on there and other different parts of the country."

Emma-Jean could spring a surprise on the night. 

She is 10/1 with StarSports for Mercury Prize victory, just behind Pulp (11/2), who are nominated for their eighth studio album More. 

The Britpop icons have been nominated for the Mercury Prize four times, and they are aiming for their second win.

FKA Twigs is 8/1 for EUSEXUA and Jacob Alon is 10/1 to win for In Limerence. 

They recently told BBC Radio 6 Music: "I know a lot of people say this, but I truly can't believe it. It's not caught up with me. 

"It matters so much for me to be up with so many of my heroes."

Fender's Homecoming Defeat? 

If a storyteller was picking the winner of this year's Mercury Prize they may well choose Sam Fender as the 2025 victor. 

It will be a particularly special night for Fender on Thursday, because he was born in South Shields, a stone's throw from Newcastle's Utilita Arena, where the Mercury Prize ceremony will take place. 

However, the bookmakers don't fancy his chances.

He is best priced 16/1 to win his first-ever Mercury Prize for People Watching.

It is his second nomination, after Fender received a nod in 2022 for his second studio album Seventeen Going Under.

Like Fender, prolific Mercury Prize nominees Wolf Alice will also be hoping to cause an upset.

The rockers' fourth studio album The Clearing is up for the coveted prize, meaning they have, quite incredibly, become the first group in the Prize's history to receive nods for their first four albums.

Their second studio album, Visions of a Life, won the prize in 2018, but they are 14/1 to be victorious on Thursday night. 

Which act do you think will take home the coveted award? Vote now!