Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice, Lola Young and Coldplay are among the nominees for the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards.
The annual ceremony recognizes and honors songwriters from across the U.K. music industry. 2026’s ceremony will take place in London on May 21 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel. Presented by The Ivors Academy, one of the largest professional associations for music writers in Europe, the prizes are judged by songwriters and composers.
Dean is a first-time nominee at the Ivors, with The Art of Loving nominated in the best album category and hit single “Man I Need” nominated in the PRS’ most performed work category.
Wolf Alice and Jacob Alon also both score two nominations across the categories, as does Self Esteem with her co-writer Johan Hugo, and Kae Tempest with his collaborator Fraser T Smith.
The best album category will be competed by Dean’s LP, Jim Legxacy’s Black British Music, CMAT’s Euro-Country, Wolf Alice’s The Clearing and Lily Allen’s West End Girl. In 2025, Trinidadian rapper BERWYN collected the prize for his debut LP Who Am I.
Songs by Gorillaz, Little Simz, Self Esteem and two by Kae Tempest will juke it out for the best contemporary song title. In the best song musically and lyrically category – which celebrates a song that demonstrates exceptional songwriting craft and original creativity – tracks by Jacob Alon, Florence + The Machine, Self Esteem, Wolf Alice and Sugababes will compete for the title.
PRS’ most performed work prize is awarded to the songs that “resonated with the public in 2025” and which received the “most broadcast, online and general performances, according to the relevant data supplied” to the collecting society.
Songs competing in that field are “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean; “Messy” by Lola Young; “Stargazing” by Myles Smith; “The Days” by Chrystal; and “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay. The latter received a boost following the conclusion of the band’s Music of the Spheres world tour and its 10-night residency at Wembley Stadium.
Jacob Alon, Skye Newman, Kwan, Chloe Qisha and Divorce are all nominated for the rising star trophy. At the 2026 BRITs in February, both Alon and Newman were nominated for the equivalent Critics’ Choice, with the former collecting the prize.
Elsewhere scores for film and television will also compete in their own categories. 61 individual British and Irish songwriters are recognized in total, with 34 doing so for the first time.
First awarded in 1956, previous winners include Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, David Bowie, Adele, RAYE, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Lana Del Rey, Lou Reed and Elton John. In 2025, U2 was recognized with the highest honor and inducted into the Academy Fellowship.
The Ivors have also confirmed that a number of songwriters will be recognised with the Gift of the Academy prize in honor of their lasting contributions to music. These prizes will be revealed on the night.
See the full list of nominees below.
Best album
Black British Music, written by Jim Legxacy and Joe Stanley, performed by Jim Legxacy. Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing
Euro-Country, written and performed by CMAT. Published in the UK by BMG Rights Management UK.
The Art of Loving, written by Olivia Dean, Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang, performed by Olivia Dean. Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing obo Goldfish Records and Kobalt Music Publishing obo Alveron Music.
The Clearing, written by Joff Oddie and Ellie Rowsell, performed by Wolf Alice. Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing.
West End Girl, written by Lily Allen, Chloe Angelides, Kito and Blue May, performed by Lily Allen. Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing obo Chloe Angelides Publishing-Where Da Kasz At and BMG Rights Management UK.
Best contemporary song
“Damascus,” written by Damon Albarn, Yasiin Bey and Omar Souleyman performed by Gorillaz feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Pop-Up Music Publishing and Domino Publishing Company
“Free,” written by Alex Bonfanti, Miles Clinton James and Little Simz performed by Little Simz. Music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing and Sony Music Publishing
“I Do and I Don’t Care,” written by Johan Hugo and Self Esteem performed by Self Esteem. Music published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music and Reservoir Media Management obo Blue Raincoat Music Publishing
“I Stand on The Line,” written by Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest performed by Kae Tempest. Music published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music and Domino Publishing Company
“Know Yourself,” written by Tom Rowlands, Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest performed by Kae Tempest. Music published in the UK by BMG Rights Management UK, Warner Chappell Music and Domino Publishing Company
Best song musically and lyrically
“Don’t Fall Asleep,” written and performed by Jacob Alon. Music published in the UK by Concord Music Publishing.
“Everybody Scream,” written by Mark Bowen, Mitski and Florence Welch, performed by Florence + The Machine. Music published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music obo Songs by Mitski Publishing and Universal Music Publishing obo Florence + The Machine Ltd.
“Focus is Power,” written by Johan Hugo, Self Esteem and Jacob Vetter, performed by Self Esteem. Music published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music, Reservoir Media Management obo Blue Raincoat Music Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing obo TruSauce Pub Co.
“The Sofa,” written by Ellie Rowsell, performed by Wolf Alice. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing.
“Weeds,” written by Tove Burman, Anya Jones and Jon Shave, performed by Sugababes. Music published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music obo MXM Music and Kobalt Music Publishing obo Spirit Music Group.
PRS For Music most performed work
“Man I Need,” written by Olivia Dean, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Zach Nahome, performed by Olivia Dean. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing and Concord Music Publishing
“Messy,” written and performed by Lola Young. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
“Stargazing,” written by Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink and Myles Smith, performed by Myles Smith. Music published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing obo Songs by 308 Publishing-Where Da Kasz At, Lyric Global Copyright Services Crescendo obo Arcade Artists Publishing-Jesse Fink Publishing-Spirit One Music Crescendo and Sony Music Publishing
“The Days,” written and performed by Chrystal. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
“Viva La Vida,” written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, performed by Coldplay. Music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing
Rising star with Amazon Music
Chloe Qisha
Divorce (Tiger Cohen-Towell, Felix Mackenzie-Barrow, Adam Peter-Smith and Kasper Sandstrøm)
Jacob Alon
Kwn
Skye Newman
Best original film score
Bugonia, composed by Jerskin Fendrix. Music published in the UK by Universal/MCA Music Ltd obo Focus-Gramercy Music.
Dragonfly, composed by Raffertie. Music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing.
Nosferatu, composed by Robin Carolan. Music published in the UK by Universal/MCA Music Ltd obo Focus-Gramercy Music.
Testimony, composed by Tom Hodge. Music published in the UK by Bucks Music Group obo Rocliffe Ltd.
The Brutalist, composed by Daniel Blumberg. Music published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music.
Best television soundtrack
Adolescence, composed by Aaron May and David Ridley. Music published in the UK by BMG Rights Management UK obo Maisie Anthems
Lazarus, composed by Sarah Warne. Music published in the UK by Universal/MCA Music Ltd obo Amazon Content Services.
Summerwater, composed by Gazelle Twin. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing and District 6 Music Publishing Ltd.
This City is Ours, composed by Rael Jones. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Twenty Fifteen Avenue Music Inc.
Trespasses, composed by David Holmes and Brian Irvine. Music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo All3media International.