Youth Music Awards Heads to Liverpool for 2026 Ceremony: See Full List of Nominations
The judging panel features artists Myles Smith, Bicep & ALT BLK ERA.
Black News 
The Youth Music Awards are hitting the road. Nominations for the 2026 ceremony have been unveiled, with this year’s event moving from London to Liverpool for the first time since its launch in 2019.
Taking place at St George’s Hall on Oct. 28, the event shines a spotlight on the emerging artists and community projects helping shape the future of British music. The 2026 shortlist spans 11 categories, recognising talent both onstage and behind the scenes, as well as the young leaders working to make the U.K. music industry more accessible.
More than 60 judges from across the sector will select this year’s winners, representing companies including Apple, Meta, Sony Music, Spotify, Universal Music Group and YouTube. Artist judges include BRIT Award winner Myles Smith, DJ duo Bicep, heavy rockers ALT BLK ERA, Faithless’ Sister Bliss and BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Introducing presenters Snoochie Shy and Jess Izsatt.
Among this year’s nominees are several Liverpudlian acts, spanning singer-songwriters Livvy K, Bethane and Astles to rapper KOJ, giving the host city a strong presence across the shortlist.
The rising star award (artist) features bilingual rapper Hulton, Livvy K, Marz Fay, Righteous Reck and Roukaya B. The lyricist award shortlist includes Astles, KOJ, M. Yesekaon, and Sunkissed Child, while the music video award features Dayzy, Hillarynx and Simon A.
As per a press release, the event’s relocation to Liverpool will create 23 paid opportunities for young people in the city and across the North West region, with roles including photographers, PR assistants, content creators and event runners. The Youth Music Awards Access Fund, funded by Sony Music, will also support nominees with travel costs to and from the event.
Three recent Mercury Prize winners have been previously supported by Youth Music-backed projects: Sam Fender (2025) received early funding through the Newcastle-based organisation Generator, English Teacher (2024) won the Youth Music Awards’ rising star award in 2022. Ezra Collective (2023) developed through London youth groups Tomorrow’s Warriors and Kinetika Bloco.
In a statement, Carol Reid, interim co-CEO at Youth Music said: “We’re so excited to announce this year’s Youth Music Awards nominees. It’s an inspiring snapshot of what a more diverse and creative music industry could look like, if we support grassroots music. These are the future changemakers of our industry.”
See the full list of nominees below.
Rising star award (industry)
Honey Keenan
Jed Wright
Rianne Lewis
Rising star award (artist)
Hulton
Livvy K
Marz Fay
Righteous Reck
Roukaya B
Lyricist award
Astles
KOJ
M. Yesekaon
Simon A
Sunkissed Child
Music video award
Dayzy
Hillarynx
IMVN
Simon A
Music producer award
Cherry Seraph
IMVN
Jelia
Melba
Original track award (group)
C4Truth & RHIA
Ronn & Zuko Rosemeid
TRACKS COLLECTIVE
Original track award (solo)
BEASTIE
Bethane
Hana
Shiloh
ONYINYÉ
YV Shells
Outstanding project
Blue Cabin, This is the Place (North East)
Carousel, The Rock House (South East)
Conscious Youth CIC, Elevation Music (Yorkshire & The Humber)
Jack Drum Arts, Growing Green Music (North East)
Jubacana, Music Futures (North West)
Social action award
Compass Collective (London)
Ros Hawley, Songbirds Music UK CIC (North West)
Thrive Project (North East)
TiPP (North East)
Young leader award
Finn Simpson Murphy (Young Producers)
Josh Dickinson (NextGen Fund)
Ria Leah (The Spit Game U.K.)
Inspirational music leader
Abi Johnson (The Music Works)
Holly Prest (Jubacana Music Futures)
Souria Boudina (New Sounds of Crawley)
