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It’s the news you’ve all been waiting for (and asking about): entries are now officially open here<\/a> for the Music Week Awards 2026!<\/p>\n This is your opportunity to highlight your achievements in the past 12 months in front of the entire UK music industry. The hugely popular ceremony will return on\u00a0May 7, 2026<\/strong>\u00a0at the\u00a0JW Marriott Grosvenor House London<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Table bookings are also now open\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 please remember the Music Week Awards has a track record of selling out well in advance of the event itself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The Music Week Awards<\/a> are the UK’s only<\/em> music awards that recognise the whole range of our incredible industry, from labels, publishing and live to A&R, radio, marketing and PR. From groundbreaking campaigns to superlative talent, the Music Week Awards celebrate the very best in the business.\u00a0Firmly established as the unrivalled badge of excellence for the UK music business, these awards were launched to raise standards across the industry by showcasing top class performance and innovation.<\/p>\n Each year these hugely respected \u2013 and highly coveted \u2013 awards are peer-voted and judged by an independent panel of specialist judges. To maintain the highest standards of integrity and impartiality, our judges are both reviewed and refreshed annually, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives and sustained relevance.<\/p>\n The deadline for entries will be 6pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n You can look back at the finalists for the 2025 awards here<\/a> to see who made the grade.\u00a0<\/p>\n KEY DATES<\/strong><\/p>\n Entries open:<\/strong> Monday, December 8, 2025<\/p>\n Tables & tickets on sale:<\/strong> Monday, December 8, 2025<\/p>\n Entries deadline:<\/strong> 6pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Shortlist announced:<\/strong> February 2026<\/p>\n Ceremony: <\/strong>The winners will be announced onstage at the Music Week Awards, Thursday, May 7, 2026<\/p>\n Submit your entry now to be in with a chance \u2013 it\u2019s your opportunity to let the industry see what you and your team have achieved in 2025. Just visit our awards website<\/a>, review the categories, and submit your best work.\u00a0<\/p>\n NEW FOR 2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n There are two big changes this year.<\/p>\n After successive years of demand, for the latest edition of the Music Week Awards we’re incredibly excited to announce the re-introduction of the Venue Of The Year category in recognition of the UK\u2019s thriving live music scene. This category \u2013 making its return for the first time since 2014 \u2013 complements our existing category Grassroots Venue: Spirit Of The Scene in partnership with the Music Venue Trust<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new Venue Of The Year category is open to any non-grassroots venue up to capacity of 24,000, located in the UK. The award will look to celebrate the venues’ achievements across a broad set of criteria, including programming, innovation, and wider its impact on the British music industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition, for 2026 we have updated the Promotions Team category to Promotions Campaign. As before, this award is open to any music campaign conducted by a UK-based promotions team but will now be limited \u2013 in line with artist maketing and catalogue marketing \u2013 on one specific campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n To read the full category criteria and entry guide click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The list of categories for 2026:<\/strong><\/p>\n A&R Award <\/p>\n Not that any reminder is needed, but this year\u2019s sold-out Music Week Awards culminated with a rousing reception for The Strat winner, Wildlife Entertainment CEO Ian McAndrew<\/a>, who was presented with the trophy by Arctic Monkeys frontman and longtime management client Alex Turner<\/a>. The Strat is our special award in recognition of a truly outstanding contribution to the music business.<\/p>\n There was also a big double win for Island EMI<\/a> (Record Company, A&R), along with victories for Sony Music Publishing<\/a> (Publisher Of The Year), Atlantic<\/a> (Artist Marketing Campaign \u2013\u00a0Charli XCX) and Sony Music<\/a> (International Marketing Team Of The Year).<\/p>\n Charli XCX\u2019s Brat was again in the spotlight at the ceremony with a win in the Manager Of The Year category for Twiggy Rowley & Sam Pringle, Project Gold<\/a>, who flew in to the awards from the US.<\/span><\/p>\n Big Brother Recordings<\/a> took the Catalogue Marketing Campaign title for Oasis, XL Recordings<\/a> was named Independent Record Company Of The Year, and Universal Music Group UK\u2019s Globe<\/a> emerged victorious in the Sync Team Of The Year category.<\/p>\n To revisit the 2025 ceremony in full click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Artist Marketing Campaign
Catalogue Marketing Campaign
Festival Of The Year
Grassroots Venue: Spirit Of The Scene
Independent Publisher Of The Year
Independent Record Company
International Marketing Team
Label\/Artist Services Company
Live Music Agency (Company)
Live Music Promoter (Company)
Manager Of The Year
Music & Brand Partnership
Music Consumer Innovation
PR Campaign
Promotions Campaign (Updated for 2026)<\/strong>
Publisher Of The Year
Radio Show
Radio Station
Record Company
Sales Team
Sync Team Of The Year
Ticketing Company
The Strat
Venue Of The Year (New for 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n