Wolf Alice won the 2018 Mercury Prize for their album Visions of a Life. The London-formed band—Ellie Rowsell, Joff Oddie, Theo Ellis and Joel Amey—claimed the prize at the 2018 ceremony, beating a shortlist that included Arctic Monkeys, Florence + the Machine and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Visions of a Life was Wolf Alice’s second studio album, released in September 2017. Its sound moves between shoegaze, indie rock, punk and electronic textures, with songs such as “Yuk Foo,” “Beautifully Unconventional” and “Don’t Delete the Kisses.” The Mercury Prize recognizes the best album by an act from the United Kingdom or Ireland, rather than simply rewarding the biggest commercial success.
A common mix-up is confusing the award with the 2018 shortlist’s other prominent albums, including Arctic Monkeys’ Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. Wolf Alice had been nominated previously for My Love Is Cool in 2015, but Visions of a Life gave them their first Mercury win. Their 2026 Lollapalooza appearance connects that earlier award to a later festival bill.