Credit: Youth Music Awards
Tomorrow the Youth Music Awards arrives in Liverpool for the first time. Taking place at St George’s Hall in Liverpool on Wednesday 28th October, the awards left London for the first time since launching in 2019. The move to Liverpool, a UNESCO City of Music, created 23 paid, hands-on opportunities for young Northern people in the industry and is a sure sign that there’s a greater push for the arts to be represented outside of the London bubble.
The 2026 nominees feature an incredible range of young British artists who have crafted breakthrough projects and continue to shape the industry and leaders who are striving and creating a more inclusive and diverse industry. The awards highlight emergent talent and grassroots music projects from across the U.K..
The list of nominees is as follows, which will be updated to reflect the winners after the award show finishes.
Rising Star Award (Industry) Sponsored By Kickers
Honey Keenan (NextGen Fund – Scotland)
Jed Wright – (NextGen Fund – South East)
Rianne Lewis (NextGen Fund – London)
Rising Star Award (Artist) Sponsored By Empire
HULTON (NextGen Fund – South East)
Livvy K (NextGen Fund – North West)
Marz Fay (NextGen Fund – London)
Righteous Reck (NextGen Fund – London)
Roukaya B (NextGen Fund – North West)
Lyricist Award
Astles (LIMF Academy – North West)
KOJ (LIMF Academy Launchpad – North West)
M. Yesekaon (NextGen Fund – Wales)
Simon A (NextGen Fund – London)
Sunkissed Child (NextGen Fund – London)
Music Video Award Supported By Notion
Dayzy (Noise – Merseyside Youth Association – North West)
Hillarynx (NextGen Fund – London)
IMVN (NextGen Fund – London)
Simon a. (NextGen Fund – London)
Music Producer Award Supported by Elephant Music
Cherry Seraph (NextGen Fund – Yorkshire & The Humber)
IMVN (NextGen Fund – London)
Jelia (London)
Melba (NextGen Fund – North East)
Original Track Award (Group)
C4Truth & RHIA (London)
Ronn & Zuko Rosemeid (NextGen Fund – London)
TRACKS COLLECTIVE (Yorkshire & The Humber)
Original Track Award (Solo)
BEASTIE (NextGen Fund – London)
Bethane (Merseyside Youth Association – North West)
Hana (NextGen Fund – London)
Shiloh (Youth Music incubator, Phlexx & Mimm Collective – East Midlands)
ONYINYÉ (NextGen Fund – West Midlands/Ireland)
YV Shells (NextGen Fund – London)
Outstanding Project Supported by Arts Council England
Blue Cabin, This is the Place (North East)
Carousel, The Rock House (South East)
Conscious Youth CIC, Elevation Music (Yorkshire and The Humber)
Jack Drum Arts, Growing Green Music (North East)
Jubacana, Music Futures (North West)
Social Action Award Sponsored by Muse Group
Compass Collective (London)
Ros Hawley, Songbirds Music UK CIC (North West)
Thrive Project (North East)
TiPP (North East)
Young Leader Award Sponsored By AQA
Finn Simpson Murphy (Young Producers – North East)
Josh Dickinson (NextGen Fund – North West)
Ria Leah (The Spit Game UK – London
Inspirational Music Leader Sponsored By the MU
Abi Johnson (The Music Works – South West)
Holly Prest (Jubacana Music Futures – South East)
Souria Boudina (New Sounds Of Crawley – South East)