Preparations are underway in Liverpool for the UK’s biggest night in grassroots music, Youth Music Awards 2026 in association with Wingstop which is just one week away. The Awards are set to take place at St George’s Hall in Liverpool on Wednesday 28th October, marking its first year outside of London for the first time since launching in 2019.
Spanning 11 categories celebrating more than 40 artists, breakthrough projects and visionary leaders, the awards highlight emerging talent and grassroots music projects across the UK, helping the next generation of young people to transform their lives through music.
For the past six years, the Youth Music Awards has been held in London, celebrating young people and projects nationwide, but with 86% of Youth Music funding supporting organisations outside the capital, the awards are heading to the North West for the first time. The move to Liverpool comes at a challenging time for the grassroots music sector.
Crystal Raybe and Success Ariyibi are set to host the ceremony next week and will be joined on stage throughout the evening by an exciting range of performers including KOJ, Roukaya B, Cherry Seraph, Righteous Reck, Livvy K, IMVN and BEASTIE, with the official afterparty set to continue with Tracks on Tap alongside a DJ set from Hannah Lynch of Girls Don’t Sync.
The move to Liverpool, a UNESCO City of Music, has also created over 20 paid opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience at a high-profile music industry event, with a big recruitment push across Liverpool and the North West. Roles included photographers, PR assistants, content creators and event runners.
The nominees for the Youth Music Awards 2026 were announced in August, featuring an exciting range of young British artists who have delivered breakthrough projects that continue to shape the future of music, alongside the visionary leaders driving a more diverse, inclusive, and creative industry. You can see the full list of nominees across the 11 categories including Rising Star Award (Artist), Rising Star Award (Industry), Lyricist Award and Music Producer Award HERE.
More than 60 judges from across music, media and technology will help select this year’s winners, representing organisations such as Apple, Meta, Sony Music, Spotify, Universal Music Group and YouTube. Artist judges include BRIT Award winner Myles Smith, DJ duo BICEP, Sister Bliss of Faithless, BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Introducing presenters Snoochie Shy and Jess Izsatt, as well as Youth Music alumni ALT BLK ERA, Emily Makis and LockdownT.
Youth Music is a national charity funded thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England, players of the Postcode Lottery and support from partners, fundraisers and donors.
Full Youth Music Awards 2026 nominees:
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 Sponsored By PRS For Music
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) Supported By Arts Council England
TRUTH & RHIA (London)
Ronn & Zuko Rosemeid (NextGen Fund – London)
TRACKS COLLECTIVE (Yorkshire & The Humber)
Original Track Award (Solo) Sponsored By Skiddle
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 Rocksteady
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 Hal Leonard, A Muse Group Company
Compass Collective (London)
Ros Hawley, Songbirds Music UK CIC (North West)
Thrive Project (North East)
TiPP (North West)
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)
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