Scottish singer-songwriter Jacob Alon emerged as the standout winner at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards, which celebrate excellence in British and Irish songwriting and screen composition. The 25-year-old artist, known for their soaring vocals and imaginative alt-folk arrangements, took home two prestigious trophies.
Rising Star and Best Song Honors
Alon won the Ivor Novello award for rising star, marking their second such accolade this year after claiming the equivalent critics' choice award at the 2026 Brit Awards in February. They also secured the award for best song musically and lyrically for "Don't Fall Asleep," a poignant ballad inspired by the death of their cousin in an accidental drowning before Alon was born. The song imagines the cousin waking underwater after death and being guided by an angel, allowing him to watch his unborn son enter the world. Alon described the track as one that "floats across the stormy surface of the sea of dreams, gasping against its choppy tide, resisting the soft pull below into an endless deep." Judges praised it as "profoundly emotionally honest."
Debut Album Success
The two wins cap a successful debut album release for Alon, with In Limerence (released in May 2025) also earning a nomination for the 2025 Mercury Prize. Although Alon lost that prize to Sam Fender, Fender himself won songwriter of the year at the Ivor Novellos for his social realist anthems on People Watching.
Other Major Winners
Catalan musician Rosalía won international songwriter of the year for her bold album Lux, which blends opera, pop, and avant-garde electronics. Irish singer-songwriter CMAT took best album for Euro-Country, an exploration of personal existential and romantic crises alongside those facing a recession-hit Ireland. Kae Tempest won best contemporary song for "I Stand on the Line," co-written with Fraser T Smith, which reflects on Tempest's experiences as a trans man, including anxieties over public toilet policing. Judges commended the song for giving a voice to those "too often unheard." Tempest was unusually nominated twice in the category, with his song "Know Yourself" also up for the award.
The most performed work award went to "Messy" by Lola Young, reflecting the alt-pop hit's widespread popularity since its release in May 2024. It reached UK No. 1 in early 2025, spending four weeks atop the charts, and continues to dominate streaming and radio.
Film and TV Scores
Tom Hodge won best original film score for Testimony, a documentary about Ireland's Magdalene laundries scandal. David Holmes and Brian Irvine took best television soundtrack for the Belfast-set drama Trespasses.
Honorary Awards
The Ivor Novellos also presented honorary prizes, with the prestigious Fellowship of the Ivors Academy awarded to George Michael and Radiohead's Thom Yorke. Michael's former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley accepted on his behalf, and pop singer Skye Newman performed "Careless Whisper" in tribute. Lily Allen, Calvin Harris, Linda Perry, and Kano received awards recognizing their songwriting careers.
Full List of 2026 Winners
- Best album: CMAT – Euro-Country
- Best contemporary song: Kae Tempest – "I Stand on the Line"
- Best song musically and lyrically: Jacob Alon – "Don't Fall Asleep"
- Most performed work: Lola Young – "Messy"
- Rising star: Jacob Alon
- Best original film score: Tom Hodge – Testimony
- Best television soundtrack: David Holmes and Brian Irvine – Trespasses
- Fellowship of the Ivors Academy: George Michael, Thom Yorke
- Outstanding song collection: Lily Allen
- Icon award: Calvin Harris
- International songwriter of the year: Rosalía
- Songwriter of the year: Sam Fender
- Special international award: Linda Perry
- Visionary award: Kano
