The Edison Award is the oldest and most prestigious music prize in the Netherlands, first presented in 1960 at the inaugural Grand Gala du Disque. The Edison Stichting awards bronze statuettes designed by sculptor Pieter d'Hont across 11 pop categories, plus separate Edison Jazz and Edison Classical ceremonies. A professional jury of music industry experts selects winners based on artistic quality and impact. The Edison is frequently compared to the American Grammy and the British BRIT Award. The 2026 ceremony took place on March 9 at the AFAS Theater in Leusden.
At the 2026 ceremony, rapper CHO accepted the Hiphop Edison with an unscripted speech. He admitted he had not prepared remarks, saying the recognition "does a lot to me" after initially downplaying the nomination in a newspaper interview. The moment was captured and published on the official Edison YouTube channel.
How the Edison Award Works
The Edison Stichting, an independent foundation, organizes the awards. The prize is split into three strands: Edison Pop, Edison Jazz/World, and Edison Classical. Each has its own ceremony and jury.
For Edison Pop, a professional jury evaluates music productions by Dutch artists. The eligibility period runs from November of the previous year through December of the current year. The 2026 jury, chaired by Daniël Dekker (Head of Radio Omroep Max), included Eric van Holland (Senior Editor Spotify Benelux), Vera Siemons (3FM DJ), Zoë Goudswaard (Music Editor Qmusic), Randall Spann (Music Director FunX), Dave Minneboo (Creative Director Talpa Radio), and Thijs van der Krogt (Programmer TivoliVredenburg).
The jury selects winners across 11 categories: Album, Song, Best Newcomer, Pop, Rock, Dance, Hiphop, Soul/R&B/Funk, Alternative, Nederlandstalig (Dutch-language), and Hollands. A separate Lifetime Achievement award (Oeuvreprijs) honors an artist with a distinguished career. Since 2010, only music productions from Dutch origin are eligible, making the Edison a distinctly national award.
The award itself is a bronze replica of a statuette of Thomas Edison, designed by Pieter d'Hont. Over 750 Edison awards have been handed out since 1960. The ceremony has experienced gaps: no awards were given in 1975, 1976, 2006, or 2007.
Real-World Example
At the Edison Pop 2026 ceremony on March 9, rapper Sef won Album of the Year for "Lieve Monsters." The jury praised the album's innovation and self-reflection, calling it "a masterpiece within Dutch-language alternative pop." Frenna ft Shallipopi won Song of the Year for "ZAAZAA," receiving the award from Youp van 't Hek.
Samuel Welten won two Edisons: Best Newcomer and the Hollands category, making him the evening's standout double winner. Roxy Dekker won the Pop category for her album "Mama I Made It," with her partner Koen van Heest (Bankzitters) surprising her with the award. Di-Rect received the Lifetime Achievement award, recognized for 25 years of live performance excellence including sold-out club tours, festival headline slots, and three stadium shows at De Kuip.
The 2026 ceremony was broadcast live on NPO Start, marking the first live Edison broadcast since the early 2000s. AFAS Software served as naming partner for the fifth and final year, with the partnership concluding after this edition.
Past Winners by Category and Year
The Edison Pop has been presented annually since 1960 (with gaps in 1975, 1976, 2006, and 2007). Below is a reference table of winners across major categories from the last four ceremonies. The eligibility period runs from November of the previous year through December of the current year, and only Dutch productions have been eligible since 2010.
| Year | Album | Song | Pop | Rock | Hiphop | Best Newcomer | Lifetime Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sef (Lieve Monsters) | Frenna ft Shallipopi (ZAAZAA) | Roxy Dekker (Mama I Made It) | Kensington (First Rodeo) | CHO | Samuel Welten | Di-Rect |
| 2025 | Froukje (Noodzakelijk Verdriet) | Frenna (Pretty Girls) | Roxy Dekker | Personal Trainer (Still Willing) | Fresku (Leren Leven) | Elmer | De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig |
| 2024 | Sef (Ik Zou Voor Veel Kunnen Sterven...) | Son Mieux (Tonight) | FLEMMING | Within Temptation (Bleed Out) | Mula B (Narcopop) | Roxy Dekker | Jan Smit |
| 2023 | sor (Bae Doven No. 1/2/3) | Maan and Goldband (Stiekem) | Antoon (Antoon) | Di-Rect | sor (Bae Doven No. 1/2/3) | Goldband | Kensington |
Several patterns stand out in the recent results. Sef won Album of the Year twice in three years (2024 and 2026), making him one of the most decorated Edison winners of the decade. Roxy Dekker won in three consecutive years across different categories: Best Newcomer (2024), Pop (2025), and Pop again (2026). Kensington won the Lifetime Achievement award in 2023 and then returned to win Rock in 2026 with their comeback album "First Rodeo." Samuel Welten became the first artist to win both Best Newcomer and Hollands in the same year (2026).
At the 2025 ceremony, rapper Fresku accepted the Hiphop Edison for his album "Leren Leven." The jury praised the album for its openness and vulnerability. Fresku's acceptance speech was published on the official Edison YouTube channel.
Kensington, who won the 2026 Rock Edison for "First Rodeo," opened the 2026 ceremony with a performance of their hit "A Moment." The single was released in January 2025 and has accumulated over 460,000 views on the band's official YouTube channel. The music video was co-directed by Boris Booij and Niles Vandenberg.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Edison is exclusively for Dutch artists, which means you compete only against domestic talent rather than international superstars. The jury-based selection process rewards artistic quality over commercial success, giving independent artists with critically acclaimed releases a genuine chance at recognition.
If you are a Dutch artist, ensure your releases are registered with Dutch chart compilers and available on Dutch streaming platforms. The jury evaluates productions released between November and December of the eligibility year, so timing your release within this window is essential. Submit your work through the Edison Stichting's process, which opens for nominations each year.
Winning or being nominated for an Edison can significantly boost your profile in the Dutch music industry. The Dutch music market grew 10 percent to 367 million euros in 2025, with five of the top 10 best-selling singles coming from Dutch artists. An Edison nomination aligns with this domestic growth and can increase streaming numbers, booking fees, and media coverage.
Visit the Edison website for current rules, eligibility periods, and submission details.
Related Terms
- Grammy Awards - The American equivalent often compared to the Edison
- ECHO Music Prize - The former German counterpart, also a long-running national prize
- Danish Music Awards - Another European national music award with jury-based selection
- BRIT Awards - The British equivalent, also a national prize with industry jury selection
- Spellemannprisen - The Norwegian equivalent, another Scandinavian national music prize
- Juno Awards - The Canadian equivalent, a national music award with jury and public voting
- Polaris Music Prize - Canadian jury prize for artistic quality, similar in spirit to the Edison
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue from Dutch market releases
- Publishing Royalty Split Calculator - Calculate splits for Edison-nominated songwriters and producers
- Official website: edisons.nl
