Youth Music Awards Moves to Liverpool for 2026, Announces Nominees Across 11 Categories
The Youth Music Awards will be held at St George's Hall in Liverpool on October 28, marking the first time the ceremony takes place outside London since its 2019 launch. The 2026 shortlist spans 11 categories, featuring emerging artists and community projects, with several Liverpool-based acts nominated. The event will create 23 paid roles for young people in the region, and a travel fund supported by Sony Music will assist nominees with expenses.
The ceremony's move north represents a significant geographic shift for the awards, which have been London-based since their inception. St George's Hall will host the October event, with the shortlist featuring strong local representation from Liverpool acts including Livvy K, Bethane, Astles, and KOJ across multiple categories. The relocation is designed to generate tangible local benefits, including 23 paid positions for young people in the region spanning photography, PR, content creation, and event support roles. A travel fund underwritten by Sony Music will help offset nominee expenses.
The awards have a track record of identifying future industry success. Recent Mercury Prize winners Sam Fender, English Teacher, and Ezra Collective all received early support through Youth Music-backed initiatives before their breakthrough achievements. The judging panel for 2026 draws on expertise from major labels and platforms, with artist judges including Myles Smith, Bicep, and Sister Bliss lending their perspectives to the selection process.
This relocation could broaden access to industry recognition beyond London's traditional dominance, potentially inspiring young musicians in northern England who may have felt geographically excluded from such opportunities. The paid roles and travel fund may serve as a model for how awards ceremonies can distribute economic and professional benefits to host regions. For the music industry, the move signals a possible shift toward greater regional representation, which could influence where future talent is discovered and how industry networks develop outside the capital.