The Ivors 2026: Wolf Alice, Lily Allen, and Olivia Dean Lead Nominations
The nominations for the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards have been announced, recognizing excellence in British and Irish songwriting and screen composition. Wolf Alice, Lily Allen, Olivia Dean, and CMAT are among the artists receiving multiple nominations. The awards ceremony, in partnership with Amazon Music, will be held at London’s Grosvenor House on May 21st.
Nominees Across Categories
A total of 61 songwriters and composers are nominated across seven categories, with 34 receiving their first Ivor Novello nomination this year. Olivia Dean, Jacob Alon, and Johan Hugo are among the first-time nominees.
Leading Nominees
Olivia Dean, Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice, Jacob Alon, Self Esteem (with co-writer Johan Hugo), and Kae Tempest (with co-writer Fraser T Smith) each received two nominations.
Category Highlights
- Best Contemporary Song: Little Simz (“Free”), Damon Albarn (as Gorillaz – “Damascus”), Self Esteem (“I Do And I Don’t Care”), and Kae Tempest (“I Stand On The Line” and “Know Yourself”).
- Best Album: Lily Allen (“West End Girl”), CMAT (“EURO-COUNTRY”), Jim Legxacy (“Black British Music”), Olivia Dean (“The Art Of Loving”), and Wolf Alice (“The Clearing”).
- Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Jacob Alon (“Don’t Fall Asleep”), Self Esteem (“Focus Is Power”), Wolf Alice (“The Sofa”), Florence Welch (as Florence + The Machine – “Everybody Scream”), and Sugababes (“Weeds”).
- PRS for Music Most Performed Work: Olivia Dean (“Man I Need”), Myles Smith (“Stargazing”), Chrystal (“The Days”), Lily Allen (“Messy”), and Coldplay (“Viva La Vida”).
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award with Amazon Music nominees include Jacob Alon, Mrs, Divorce, and Chloe Qisha.
The Ivors Academy and the Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards are peer-judged by songwriters and composers, celebrating the craft and cultural impact of songs and screen compositions. Previous winners include The Beatles, David Bowie, Adele, and Elton John. The awards highlight the importance of human creativity in music, particularly in the context of evolving technologies like AI. The Ivors Academy emphasizes the cultural value of songwriters.
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