Campaigning and support to protect the rights and earnings of songwriters and composers.
The most prestigious celebrations of songwriters, composers and their champions.
Presented by The Ivors Academy, The Ivors Composer Awards celebrate creative excellence in British and Irish composing. Judged by composers for composers, the awards recognise excellence in craft and creativity across all genres and disciplines including jazz, sound art, classical, electronic, media and many more.
Since 1956, The Ivors Academy has honoured outstanding composers across a range of genres and disciplines through its award ceremonies. The Ivors Composer Awards strengthens that legacy by creating an elevated and unified moment to celebrate composers and their craft.
Winners will receive an iconic Ivor Novello Award statuette and join a roll call of the most talented composers including George Benjamin, Judith Weir, James MacMillan, Errollyn Wallen, Stephen Sondheim, Anne Dudley, John Barry, Debbie Wiseman, Julian Joseph, John Dankworth, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Anoushka Shankar, Brian Eno, Gavin Bryars and many more.
Tickets are now on sale for The Ivors Composer Awards 2026 to individuals and companies across the music industry and wider composition community. Professional members receive an exclusive 50% reduction on up to two tickets.
Join us for an evening at Grosvenor House London celebrating excellence in composition, featuring a drinks reception, three-course dinner and exclusive awards ceremony, where Ivor Novello Awards will be presented to composers making an extraordinary impact through their work. Apply for tickets.
Entries are open across nine categories until 5pm, 10 July recognising composing across live performances, commercial recordings, community engagement, film, television and video games.
For 2026, Professional members of The Ivors Academy can enter works for free.
If you are facing financial barriers, enter eligible work for free with The Ivors Academy Composer Awards Bursary. Find out more.
Core members receive a 50% reduction and Discovery members a 10% reduction on the entry administration fee of £100 per work including VAT. To be eligible for reductions, entries must be submitted by a member of The Ivors Academy and not by a third party.
Read the rules and guidelines before preparing your entry. Enter now.
Submit suggestions for candidates across five award categories: Breakthrough, Composer of the Year, Innovation, Outstanding Contribution to Music and Academy Fellowship.
If you know a composer that qualifies within the rules, you can submit their nomination for free.
Read the rules and guidelines and submit a nomination.
ENTRIES
Enter your music by 5pm, 10 July
Read the rules and guidelines
If you are facing financial barriers, enter for free with our bursary. Find out more
AWARDS CEREMONY
Date
17/11/2026
Timings
18:00 Pre-dinner drinks reception
19:00 Three course dinner
21:00 Awards ceremony
22:30 Departures
Address
JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, 86-90 Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN
Ticket enquiries
Contact [email protected]
Please note that submitting a ticket application form does not guarantee availability. You will be contacted upon receipt of your application to confirm your booking.
If you are facing financial barriers, enter eligible work for free with The Ivors Academy Composer Awards Bursary.
The bursary is open to all members of The Ivors Academy, including those on our free Discovery tier.
Complete the short form and in 3-5 working days you will automatically receive a code to enter eligible work for free.
We believe that financial circumstances should not prevent composers from having their work recognised.
The bursary covers the entry fee for composers who would otherwise not be able to afford to enter The Ivors Composer Awards.
You must to be a member to apply for the bursary. It is free to join The Ivors Academy as a Discovery member and there is a 50% early career reduction on Core membership.
No, there is no limit on the number of composers who can apply for The Ivors Academy Composer Awards Bursary.
For the 2026 awards:
All prices include VAT.
The Ivors Academy is a not-for-profit organisation. Entry fees partially cover the operating costs of running an independent awards programme including the entry site, adjudication and overheads.
Within 3-5 working days, you'll receive an email with a code that allows you to enter eligible works free of charge.
Contact the awards team by email [email protected] or call the office on 020 7636 2929.
£3,500 + VAT (£4,200)
£350 + VAT (£420)
£175 + VAT (£210)
Entries are open until 5pm, 10 July.
Anyone can enter The Ivors Composer Awards, including composers submitting their own work, as long as the entries meet the eligibility criteria.
For 2026, Professional members of The Ivors Academy can enter work for free. Core members receive a 50% reduction and Discovery members a 10% reduction on the entry administration fee of £100 per work including VAT. The entry must be made by a member of The Ivors Academy themselves, and not a third party.
Read the rules and guidelines before preparing your entry. Enter now.
The awards celebrate composing for all genres and disciplines of music.
Work needs to be eligible within the categories. Categories include Small-Scale, Large-Scale, Vocal and Choral and Community and Participation Composition, alongside original music for Documentaries, Television, Film and Video Games as well as Performance such as dance, theatre and opera.
Read the rules and guidelines for full details about categories and eligibility.
The nominated award categories are judged by panels of established composers and practitioners.
Gift of the Academy Awards are chosen by the Awards Committee of composers and songwriters, a sub-committee of The Ivors Academy Board.
You can suggest a recipient for a Gift of the Academy Awards year-round. Suggest a recipient.
Verifiable members of the media should apply as early as possible to [email protected].
A new bursary will support composers facing financial barriers to enter work, plus nominate composers across five award categories for free, including two new categories for 2026, Breakthrough and Composer of the Year.
