Major awards ceremony moves to Liverpool as nominations announced

Three Liverpool artists are nominated for prizes at the Youth Music Awards

The biggest night in grassroots music has moved to Liverpool. The Youth Music Awards will be staged at St George’s Hall on October 28.

The move to Liverpool marks the first time the ceremony will be held outside of London for six years. The awards ceremony comprises 11 categories and acts as a precursor for the next big thing in music. Musicians who have been backed by Youth Music and have gone on to achieve great things in the industry include Sam Fender, Ezra Collective and English Teacher.

The interim co CEO of Youth Music has spoken about why a musical city like Liverpool is a perfect setting for the awards. Carol Reid 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.

“In fact, the last three Mercury Prize winners all came through Youth Music-funded projects at some point in their journey. Behind many of the artists we see on the biggest stages are local grassroots projects giving young people the space, support and opportunities to develop their talent. So, we can’t wait to celebrate them in Liverpool this year. It’s going to be a brilliant evening.”

A number of Liverpool artists are nominated for awards in the category as Livvy K is up for the Rising Star Award, KOJ is on the shortlist for Best Lyricist and Bethane is in the running for the Best Original Track award.

The winners are selected by a panel of more than 60 judges from across music, media and technology. Artist judges include BRIT Award winner Myles Smith, 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.

The past six years has saw the Youth Music Awards held in London. However, the move to Liverpool will be the first time the awards are held in the North West.

We have rounded up a full list of the nominees below:

Full Youth Music 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

• 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

• IMVN (NextGen Fund – London)
• Cherry Seraph (NextGen Fund – Yorkshire & The Humber)
• 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)