The Ivor Novello Awards (commonly called The Ivors) is the most prestigious songwriting and composition awards ceremony in the UK, presented annually by The Ivors Academy since 1956. Named after Welsh composer Ivor Novello, the awards are judged exclusively by panels of working songwriters and composers, making them the only major UK music award where peers evaluate craft rather than commercial metrics. The 71st ceremony took place on May 21, 2026, at Grosvenor House in London, with 16 songwriters and composers receiving awards across 14 categories. Elton John was named the first President of The Ivors Academy, and Thom Yorke and George Michael were inducted as Fellows. The Ivors are best suited for songwriters and composers who want recognition for craft and creativity from fellow writers, rather than chart performance or fan popularity.
Submission and Eligibility Details
The Ivors operate differently from most music awards. There is no open public submission process. Instead, The Ivors Academy invites entries from music publishers, record labels, and Academy members.
Key details for songwriters and composers:
- Entry call: The Academy issues a call for entries each year, typically opening in late autumn. Publishers and labels submit songs, albums, and scores on behalf of their writers.
- Eligibility: Works must have been released or broadcast within the eligibility period, which generally covers the calendar year preceding the ceremony. Specific eligibility windows vary by category.
- No submission fee: There is no fee for submitting entries. The Academy covers all administrative costs.
- Peer judging: All categories are judged by panels of working songwriters and composers who are members of The Ivors Academy. Panels evaluate craft, originality, and excellence. Commercial performance is not a criterion.
- Category structure: Awards span songwriting (Songwriter of the Year, Best Contemporary Song, Best Album), screen composition (Best Original Film Score, Best Television Soundtrack, Best Video Game Score), and special honors (Icon, Visionary, Rising Star, Special International).
- Gift of the Academy: Certain awards are presented at the discretion of The Ivors Academy rather than through judged categories. In 2026, these included the Icon Award (Calvin Harris), Visionary Award (Kano), and Special International Award (Linda Perry).
- Sponsorship: The 2026 ceremony was presented as "The Ivors with Amazon Music," reflecting a sponsorship arrangement that supports the awards without influencing judging.
Key Benefits for Artists
- Craft-based recognition: The Ivors are the only major UK music award judged entirely by fellow songwriters and composers. Winning an Ivor signals to the industry that your peers recognize your writing ability, not just your commercial success. Past winners include Paul McCartney, John Lennon, David Bowie, Adele, Stormzy, and RAYE.
- Songwriter-specific focus: Unlike the Grammys or Brit Awards, which recognize performers and recordings, The Ivors specifically honor the writers behind the music. This makes them uniquely valuable for behind-the-scenes writers who may not have public profiles as artists.
- Screen composition visibility: The Ivors are one of the few awards ceremonies that give equal weight to screen composition. Categories for film, television, and video game scores provide recognition for composers who are often overlooked at performer-focused ceremonies.
- International expansion: The 2026 ceremony introduced the International Songwriter of the Year category, with ROSALIA as the inaugural winner. This opens the awards to non-UK writers for the first time and broadens the ceremony's global relevance.
- Career-defining honors: The Icon, Visionary, and Fellowship awards recognize career-spanning contributions. Elton John's 2026 appointment as first President of The Ivors Academy, alongside Thom Yorke and George Michael's Fellowships, generated coverage in major outlets including BBC, Billboard, and Variety.
- 37 percent first-time winners: In 2026, 37 percent of award recipients received an Ivor for the first time. This indicates the Academy actively recognizes emerging writers alongside established names. Jacob Alon won both Best Contemporary Song and the Rising Star Award in 2026.
Potential Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- UK-centric: Despite the new International Songwriter category, The Ivors remain primarily focused on UK-based songwriters and composers. Non-UK writers without UK publishing deals or UK releases may not be eligible for most categories.
- No direct artist submission: Songwriters cannot submit their own work directly. Entries must come through publishers, labels, or Academy members. Independent writers without publishing deals may need to join The Ivors Academy or work with a publisher to have their work considered.
- Low public profile: The Ivors have lower public awareness than the Brit Awards or Grammys. The ceremony is not televised and receives coverage primarily in music industry press. This means the streaming and sales surge that follows Grammy or Brit wins is less pronounced for Ivor winners.
- Niche judging criteria: Because panels evaluate craft rather than commercial performance, commercially successful songs may not win if the panel deems the writing craft superior in less commercially successful works. This can create a disconnect between public expectations and award outcomes.
- Limited categories: With only 14 judged categories plus special honors, The Ivors cover fewer genres and disciplines than the Grammys. There are no genre-specific songwriting categories (no separate pop, rock, or hip-hop songwriting awards), which means writers in different genres compete directly.
- Ceremony access: The ceremony at Grosvenor House is an industry-only event, not open to the public. Tickets are available to Academy members and invited industry guests, which limits fan engagement and social media buzz.
Past Winners by Category
The Ivors recognize songwriting and composition craft across music and screen categories. Unlike commercial awards, winners are chosen by panels of working songwriters and composers who evaluate originality, craft, and excellence. Below is a selection of winners from the last four ceremonies. Some special awards vary by year and are noted where applicable.
| Category | 2023 Winner | 2024 Winner | 2025 Winner | 2026 Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Songwriter of the Year | Wet Leg (Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers) | RAYE | Charli XCX | Sam Fender |
| Best Contemporary Song | Raye, 070 Shake, Mike Sabath ("Escapism") | Speakers Corner Quartet feat. Kae Tempest ("Geronimo Blues") | Sans Soucis ("Circumnavigating Georgia") | Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest ("I Stand on the Line") |
| Best Song Musically and Lyrically | Florence Welch and Jack Antonoff ("King") | Victoria Canal ("Black Swan") | Orla Gartland ("Mine") | Jacob Alon ("Don't Fall Asleep") |
| Best Album | SAULT ("11") | Yussef Dayes ("Black Classical Music") | BERWYN ("Who Am I") | CMAT ("Euro-Country") |
| PRS for Music Most Performed Work | Harry Styles, Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson ("As It Was") | Dave and Central Cee ("Sprinter") | Myles Smith, Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink ("Stargazing") | Lola Young ("Messy") |
| Rising Star Award | Victoria Canal | Master Peace | Lola Young | Jacob Alon |
| Best Original Film Score | John Powell ("Don't Worry Darling") | Jerskin Fendrix ("Poor Things") | Raffertie ("The Substance") | Tom Hodge ("Testimony") |
| Best Television Soundtrack | Hannah Peel ("The Midwich Cuckoos") | Arthur Sharpe ("The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies") | Vince Pope ("True Detective: Night Country") | David Holmes and Brian Irvine ("Trespasses") |
| Best Original Video Game Score | Gareth Coker, Grant Kirkhope, Yoko Shimomura ("Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope") | Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab ("Star Wars Jedi: Survivor") | John Konsolakis ("Farewell North") | Not awarded in 2026 |
| Academy Fellowship | Sting | Bruce Springsteen | U2 | Thom Yorke and George Michael (posthumous) |
| PRS for Music Icon Award | James | Not awarded | Robbie Williams | Calvin Harris |
| Visionary Award | Charli XCX | Skepta | Self Esteem | Kano |
| Special International Award | Debbie Harry and Chris Stein (Blondie) | Lana Del Rey | Brandon Flowers (The Killers) | Linda Perry |
| Outstanding Song Collection | KAMILLE | KT Tunstall | Bloc Party | Lily Allen |
| International Songwriter of the Year | Not awarded | Not awarded | Not awarded | Rosalia (inaugural winner) |
2026 Ceremony Details
The 71st Ivor Novello Awards took place on May 21, 2026, at Grosvenor House in London. The ceremony was presented as "The Ivors with Amazon Music," reflecting the ongoing sponsorship arrangement. 16 songwriters and composers received awards across 14 categories, with 37 percent of award recipients receiving an Ivor Novello for the first time.
Elton John was named the first President of The Ivors Academy, recognized for his work championing songwriters and composers. Thom Yorke and George Michael (posthumous) were inducted as Fellows of The Ivors Academy. Yorke closed the show with a performance that included the Radiohead classic "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" and a new song called "Space Walk." Jacob Alon performed "Don't Fall Asleep" after winning both Best Song Musically and Lyrically and the Rising Star Award. Skye Newman performed "Careless Whisper" in tribute to George Michael.
Sam Fender won Songwriter of the Year following the success of his 2025 album "People Watching," which topped the UK charts. CMAT won Best Album for "Euro-Country," her first Ivor Novello Award. Rosalia became the inaugural winner of the International Songwriter of the Year category, which opened the awards to non-UK writers for the first time. Calvin Harris received the PRS for Music Icon Award, Kano received the Visionary Award, and Linda Perry received the Special International Award.
The ceremony was streamed live on Prime Video, continuing a partnership that began in 2023. The event is industry-only and not open to the public, with tickets available to Academy members and invited guests.
Performance Highlights and Videos
The 2026 Ivors featured performances from Thom Yorke, Jacob Alon, and Skye Newman. Below are video highlights from the ceremony and related coverage.
Highlights from the 2026 ceremony, including award presentations and performance moments:
Harry Styles presented Thom Yorke with the Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, sharing a personal story about how Radiohead's music shaped his own artistic journey:
Thom Yorke's full acceptance speech upon receiving the Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, the highest honor the Academy bestows:
Coverage of the major winners from the 2026 ceremony, including Rosalia, Thom Yorke, Lola Young, and Calvin Harris:
Related Resources
- Music Publishing Explained: Complete Guide to Royalties - Understand how songwriting awards connect to publishing revenue
- How Does a Music Publishing Deal Work - Learn about publishing deals that can lead to Ivor consideration
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue for award-winning songs
- Grammy Awards - US peer-voted awards for comparison
- How to Network in the Music Industry - Build relationships with publishers and Academy members
- Official Ivors Academy Website - Entry requirements, eligibility rules, and membership info
