CMAT nominated for Ivor Novello award

The nominations for the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards have been announced, featuring artists like CMAT, Lily Allen, and Olivia Dean. The winners will be unveiled on May 21st at the Grosvenor House in London.

A total of 61 songwriters and composers were nominated across seven categories for new music released in the UK and Ireland in 2025. 34 of these nominees received their very first Ivor Novello Award nomination.

Among the key nominees are CMAT, Lola Young, Lily Allen, and Florence + The Machine. Wolf Alice’s, Ellie Rowsell, Olivia Dean, Jacob Alon, and Self Esteem all secured two nominations.

CMAT received her second nomination for her acclaimed album, EURO-COUNTRY, in the Best Album category, competing against Jim Legxacy's black british music (2025), Olivia Dean’s The Art Of Loving, Wolf Alice’s The Clearing, and Lily Allen’s West End Girl.

Lola Young received her fourth nomination, with ‘Messy’ competing in the PRS for Music Most Performed Work category for the second time. Lily Allen secured her third nomination, with West End Girl, her first album in seven years, vying for Best Album. Florence Welch received her fourth Ivor Novello Award nomination for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for ‘Everybody Scream,’ alongside co-writers Mitski and Mark Bowen.

The nominees for the Rising Star Award with Amazon Music are Chloe Qisha, Divorce, Jacob Alon, and Skye Newman. Past recipients of this award include Lola Young, PinkPantheress, Holly Humberstone, and Rachel Chinouriri.

“I want to congratulate these incredible nominees, whose work reflects the strength, diversity, and global influence of British and Irish songwriting, which we are honoured to celebrate,” said Roberto Neri, Chief Executive of The Ivors Academy. “An Ivor Novello Award has, for over 70 years been the most prestigious recognition of excellence in music, and I'd like to thank our judges for working hard to recognise this year’s nominees.”

“At a time when questions around authorship and AI are reshaping the music landscape, the Ivors stand as a powerful affirmation of human creativity and the cultural value of songwriters,” reads the press release.

The legacy of the awards includes past winners such as all members of The Beatles, David Bowie, Adele, RAYE, Stormzy, Bill Withers, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, Charli xcx, and more.

The Ivors 2026 nominations will also feature categories for Best Original Film Score and Best Television Soundtrack.

You can see the full list of nominees for 2026 Ivor awards here.