Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards

United Kingdom • LondonFounded 1989

Annual awards presented by the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS), founded in 1813. The UK's principal awards for classical music, recognizing performers, composers, ensembles, and community initiatives. No cash prize. The 2026 ceremony took place on March 12 at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

Details

Organizing Body

Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS)

Type

Genre-specific Awards

Frequency

Annual

Processes

Nomination Process

Nominations are open to the public and the music profession. Anyone can nominate an artist, ensemble, or initiative. Shortlists are compiled by expert panels for each category. The Inspiration Award is uniquely decided by public vote.

Voting Process

Expert panels for each category select winners from the shortlists. The Inspiration Award is the only category decided by public vote. RPS Chair Angela Dixon presents trophies at the ceremony.

The Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards are the UK's principal awards for classical music, presented annually by the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS), founded in 1813. The awards recognize performers, composers, ensembles, and community initiatives across 13 categories. They are best suited for UK-based classical musicians, composers, and ensembles seeking recognition from the UK's oldest music society. The 2026 ceremony took place on March 12 at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Georgia Mann and Petroc Trelawny.

Submission and Eligibility Details

The RPS was founded in 1813 to promote classical music in Britain. The awards have been presented since 1989. Key eligibility details:

Nominations are open to the public and the music profession
Anyone can nominate an artist, ensemble, or initiative
Shortlists are compiled by expert panels for each category
The Inspiration Award is uniquely decided by public vote
There is no cash prize, but the trophy carries significant prestige in UK classical music
The ceremony is held annually in London, recently at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Sunday Times has called the RPS Awards "the biggest night in UK classical music"

The 2026 RPS Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Over 850 music-makers and music-lovers attended. RPS Chair Angela Dixon presented trophies. The 2026 winners were:

Chamber-Scale Composition: Claudia Molitor for "Fever" (for eight trumpets, first performed at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival)
Conductor: John Wilson (for sell-out concerts and chart-topping albums with Sinfonia of London)
Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Gamechanger: Jacob Collier (for breaking new ground and inspiring audiences to discover their own creativity)
Impact: Orchestras for All
Inspiration: Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society (celebrating its 150th anniversary, decided by public vote)
Instrumentalist: Peter Moore, trombone (first trombonist to win this award)
Large-Scale Composition: Mark-Anthony Turnage for "Festen" (opera premiered at Royal Opera House in November 2024)
Opera and Music Theatre: Glyndebourne's community opera "Uprising" composed by Jonathan Dove
Series and Events: Southbank Centre's "Multitudes"
Singer: Louise Alder, soprano
Storytelling: Elizabeth Alker for her book "Everything We Do Is Music"
Young Artist: Matilda Lloyd, trumpet

Jacob Collier closed the 2026 show with a live performance, rousing the entire audience to sing.

Key Benefits for Artists

Open nominations: Anyone can nominate, making the awards accessible to independent artists and small ensembles. You do not need a label or publisher to submit.
13 diverse categories: The range of categories means artists at different career stages can qualify. The Young Artist Award (Matilda Lloyd in 2026) and the Gamechanger Award (Jacob Collier in 2026) recognize different types of contribution.
Public vote category: The Inspiration Award, decided by public vote, gives community ensembles a chance at national recognition. Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society won in 2026.
UK classical prestige: The RPS is the UK's oldest music society, founded in 1813. An RPS Award carries weight in UK classical music that commercial awards cannot match.
BBC Radio 3 exposure: The ceremony is hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters and covered by the BBC, providing national radio exposure.
Community recognition: The Impact and Inspiration categories recognize community music initiatives, not just professional performers. This creates opportunities for volunteer-run organizations.

Potential Drawbacks and Things to Consider

UK focus: The awards are focused on UK classical music. International artists are not the target, though some categories may accept international work.
No cash prize: The awards carry no cash prize, unlike the Pulitzer Prize ($15,000) or the Polar Music Prize ($93,900). The recognition is purely reputational.
Classical music only: The awards focus on classical music, including opera, chamber music, and orchestral work. Pop, rock, and hip-hop artists do not qualify for most categories.
London ceremony: The ceremony takes place in London, requiring nominees to travel. This can be a barrier for community ensembles based outside London.
Expert panel opacity: The expert panels for each category are not publicly detailed, making selection criteria somewhat opaque. The Inspiration Award is the exception with its public vote.
Limited media reach: While BBC Radio 3 covers the ceremony, classical music awards receive less mainstream media attention than pop music awards.