The announced 2026 headliner that won the Mercury Prize for its album *xx* is The xx.
The xx are an English indie-pop trio formed in London in 2005 by Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith, who performs as Jamie xx. Their self-titled debut album, *xx*, was released in 2009 and became known for its sparse production, hushed vocals and intimate guitar interplay.
The album won the 2010 Mercury Prize, an annual award recognizing the best album released by a British or Irish act. That prize helped turn the group’s understated sound into an international breakthrough. Songs such as “Crystalised,” “VCR” and “Intro” became especially associated with the record.
A common mix-up is confusing the band’s name with the album title: both are styled with lowercase letters, but *xx* is the album and The xx is the performing group. The act’s later albums include *Coexist* and *I See You*.