The nominations for the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards β commonly known as The Ivors β have been unveiled, celebrating the very best in British and Irish songwriting and screen composition. This yearβs shortlist highlights a mix of established stars and emerging voices, with artists like Wolf Alice, Lily Allen, Olivia Dean and CMAT among the most prominent nominees.
A total of 61 songwriters and composers have been recognised across seven categories, with more than half earning their first-ever nominations. The awards continue to place a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and originality, particularly at a time when debates around artificial intelligence and authorship are reshaping the music industry.
Leading names and multiple nominations
Several artists stand out with multiple nominations this year. Ellie Rowsell (of Wolf Alice), Olivia Dean, Self Esteem, Kae Tempest and Jacob Alon have each received two nominations, underlining their strong impact on the current songwriting landscape.
Notably, Dean, Alon and others are first-time nominees, reflecting The Ivorsβ ongoing commitment to recognising new talent alongside established acts.
Best Album nominees
One of the most closely watched categories is Best Album, where female-led projects dominate the shortlist. The nominees are:
- Lily Allen β West End Girl
- Olivia Dean β The Art of Loving
- CMAT β EURO-COUNTRY
- Wolf Alice β The Clearing
- Jim Legxacy β black british music
Four of the five albums are fronted by women, highlighting a strong year for female-led songwriting projects.
Best Song Musically and Lyrically
This category celebrates outstanding songwriting craft. Among the nominees are:
- βThe Sofaβ β Wolf Alice (written by Ellie Rowsell)
- βEverybody Screamβ β Florence and the Machine (co-written with Mitski and Mark Bowen)
The category reflects a blend of indie, alternative and art-pop influences, showcasing the diversity of modern songwriting.
PRS for Most Performed Work
This award recognises songs with the highest performance and broadcast success. Among the nominees is:
- βMessyβ β Lola Young
This marks another strong showing for Young, whose viral success continues to translate into industry recognition.
Other notable nominees
Across additional categories, the nominations include a wide range of artists and composers such as:
- Coldplay
- Little Simz
- Sugababes
- Divorce
The diversity of nominees spans genres from pop and indie to rap and experimental music, reflecting the broad scope of The Ivorsβ recognition.
Industry themes and representation
This yearβs nominations also highlight ongoing conversations about representation in songwriting. While women feature prominently in key categories like Best Album, overall figures still show a gender imbalance, with significantly more male nominees than female and non-binary artists.
At the same time, the awards continue to emphasise the importance of human creativity in an era increasingly shaped by AI-generated content. Organisers have reiterated their mission to celebrate authentic songwriting and composition as central to music culture.
When are The Ivors 2026?
The winners of the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on May 21, where the industry will gather to honour excellence in songwriting and composition.
A snapshot of modern songwriting
Overall, The Ivors 2026 nominations paint a vivid picture of todayβs music scene. With artists like Wolf Alice, Lily Allen, Olivia Dean and CMAT leading the charge, the shortlist blends mainstream success with artistic credibility.
The strong presence of first-time nominees signals a new generation of songwriters making their mark, while returning names reinforce the enduring importance of craft in an evolving industry. As the conversation around creativity, ownership and technology continues to grow, The Ivors remain a key platform for recognising the songwriters behind the music that defines our times.
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