Mercury Prize 2023: Ezra Collective announced as winner of 2023 Mercury Prize

The winner of this year's Mercury Prize with FREE NOW, the most prestigious award in British music, has been revealed

Ezra Collective were announced as the winner at tonight's ceremony in London. 

The jazz quintet, who hail from London, won for their fourth record, Where I'm Meant To Be. Originally released in November last year, it became their first album to chart inside the Official Albums Chart Top 40, peaking at Number 24. 

Ezra Collective celebrate winning this year's Mercury Prize with FREE NOW live at the Hammersmith Apollo

Accepting the honour, the band's lead drummer Femi thanked their manager, as well as the circumstances that lead the members of the group to first meet in a youth club in London.

They beat out fellow nominees including chart-topping indie pop act RAYE, Jessie Ware and Loyle Carner, as well as Arctic Monkeys, who now become the most-nominated act every at the Mercury Prize, sharing the honour with Radiohead.

Last year, Little Simz took home the Mercury Prize 2022 for her searing fourth album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

In order to be eligible for the Mercury Prize, the albums must be recorded by a British or Irish artist, with a UK release date between 16 July 2022 and 14 July 2023.

Who are the nominees for the 2023 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW?

Here are the 12 nominees for the Mercury Prize 2023:

Arctic Monkeys - The Car

Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant To Be

Fred again.. - Actual Life 3

J Hus - Beautiful and Brutal Yard

Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good!

Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B

Lankum - False Lankum

Loyle Carner - Hugo

Olivia Dean - Messy

Raye - My 21st Century Blues

Shygirl - Nymph

Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

Who are the previous winners of the Mercury Prize?

The most recent recipient was Little Simz, who won in 2022 for her critically acclaimed fourth record, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

You can re-visit every act who has won the Mercury Prize in our guide here.