Mercury Music Prize 2026 replay available on BBC iPlayer, TechRadar says overseas viewers need VPN

The ceremony, hosted by Lauren Laverne at a sold-out Utilita Arena, aired on BBC Four and celebrated the year’s best British and Irish albums. Twelve shortlisted album artists competed for a £25,000 prize, including Dave, Dove Ellis, Florence + The Machine, JADE, Knats, Kojey Radical, Nia Archives, Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney, RAYE, Suede and War Child Records.

RAYE, Olivia Dean, JADE, Florence + The Machine, Nia Archives, Suede, Kojey Radical, Knats and Dove Ellis performed, with Pulp also taking the stage, according to TechRadar.

BBC iPlayer began streaming the event in the UK on Thursday, Oct. 22. To watch, users must sign up and provide an email address, date of birth and a UK postcode, and confirm they have a TV licence. The replay is available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer app for iOS and Android.

BBC iPlayer is only showing the Mercury Prize to residents in the UK. Brits traveling or working outside the UK need a VPN to access the stream, TechRadar said. TechRadar named NordVPN as its top choice among VPN providers and said it can unblock BBC iPlayer.

TechRadar outlined three steps: install the VPN, select the UK in the app, then sign in to BBC iPlayer and watch. It said BBC iPlayer is available on Amazon Fire, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV, iOS, LG and Samsung smart TVs, PlayStation, Roku, Sky, Virgin Media, YouView and Xbox, among other platforms.

The report listed NordVPN promotions including up to 75% off and three extra months free. TechRadar also stated that it tests and reviews VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses and does not support or condone illegal or malicious use of VPNs or pirated paid content. Accessing a service from another country is subject to that service’s terms and conditions, TechRadar said.