Sam Fender, CMAT, Jacob Alon and more win Ivor Novello Awards
Also picking up awards were Rosalía and Thom Yorke, who picked up his award from Harry Styles
The 2026 Ivor Novello Awards were held last night (May 21), with winners including Sam Fender, CMAT and Jacob Alon.
Fender won Songwriter of the Year, while CMAT’s EURO-COUNTRY picked up the Album of the Year award. Alon won two awards, for Rising Star and Best Song Musically and Lyrically for ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’.
Best Contemporary Song went to Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest for ‘I Stand on the Line’, while the PRS for Music Icon Award was presented to Calvin Harris. Rosalía won International Songwriter of the Year, while Thom Yorke became a Fellowship of the Ivors Academy and performed to close the show.
Elsewhere, Lily Allen was honoured with Outstanding Song Collection and the Visionary Award went to Kano. Elton John also became the Ivors Academy’s first ever President.
Roberto Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, said: “Congratulations to all our Ivor Novello Award winners. On a special night, it was a privilege to celebrate such an extraordinary range of music with the most prestigious recognition in music. The Ivors Academy exists to protect, empower and celebrate songwriters and composers, and whatever we face, tonight stands as a reminder that the future of music is in remarkable hands.”
See the full list of winners from the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards below.
BEST ALBUM
CMAT – EURO-COUNTRY
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG
Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest – ‘I Stand on the Line’
BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY
Jacob Alon – ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’
PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK
Lola Young – ‘Messy’
RISING STAR AWARD
Jacob Alon
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Tom Hodge – Testimony
BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
David Holmes and Brian Irvine – Trespasses
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
George Michael
Thom Yorke
OUTSTANDING SONG COLLECTION
Lily Allen
PRS FOR MUSIC ICON AWARD
Calvin Harris
INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rosalía
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR with AMAZON MUSIC
Sam Fender
SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL AWARD with AMAZON MUSIC
Linda Perry
VISIONARY AWARD with AMAZON MUSIC
Kano