The Ivors Academy has announced its 2026 honourees, with Stormzy, James Blake and Glastonbury Festival’s Emily Eavis among the artists, executives and advocates recognised for their contributions to music.
The honours were presented at the Ivors Academy Honours ceremony at the InterContinental London on Park Lane on Thursday, October 1. The awards celebrate individuals who are raising standards across the music sector and working to create a better future for songwriters and composers.
Singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist James Blake was recognised for his exceptional artistry and his continued advocacy for songwriters and artists. The Grammy-winning artist released his seventh studio album, “Trying Times,” in March, marking his first project since “Playing Robots Into Heaven” in 2023 and his first since going independent after parting with Republic Records. Blake is also a highly respected producer, with work on projects including Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” Frank Ocean’s “Blonde,” Jay-Z’s “4:44” and Rosalía’s “Motomami.”
Lord Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, and Chair Tom Gray presented Blake’s award, acknowledging his major contributions to the music industry and his efforts to bring greater attention to songwriter rights.
Glastonbury Festival organiser Emily Eavis was honoured for her impact on music and culture and for her commitment to championing emerging talent. Elbow frontman Guy Garvey presented the award.
Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO, Ireland’s music rights collecting society, received an honour for his longstanding support of Irish songwriters and composers. The recognition comes as he prepares to retire at the end of the year after nearly two decades of leadership. Broadcaster, DJ, curator and writer Annie Macmanus was also honoured by Nick Grimshaw for her role in shaping music culture and bringing new music to wider audiences.
Other honourees included MNEK, recognised for his work as a songwriter, producer and artist, as well as his advocacy for LGBTQIA+ songwriters and artists, and Chris Meehan, CEO of Sentric Music, who was celebrated for nearly 20 years of work to make music publishing more accessible, transparent and fair for songwriters.
MNEK was presented with his honour by Becky Hill. His appearance at the ceremony followed an earlier NME conversation in which he discussed his determination to speak out for trans rights and his preparations to release his first album in eight years.
Stormzy, the final honouree announced at the ceremony, was recognised for his impact on British music and culture and for his commitment to creating opportunities for others.
The London rapper is behind the #Merky community initiative and brand, which has been active for about a decade. It includes the highly praised #Merky Football Careers partnership, first established in 2022 to address racial equity in the football industry and create opportunities for UK Black Heritage Youth to access jobs in the sector.
The initiative has also announced a London centre for music, football and gaming, #MerkyFC HQ, and launched #Merky Books, an award-winning publishing imprint that has since expanded into a two-day literature festival.
In addition, Stormzy announced plans in 2021 to support 30 more students at Cambridge University through his scholarship scheme. The partnership between the #Merky Foundation and HSBC provides 10 students each year with a £20,000 annual scholarship to cover tuition fees and maintenance costs.
“Congratulations to all of our honourees,” said Lord Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy. “We are proud to honour your achievements and the positive difference you are making to music and its creators. From establishing inclusive spaces and opening up the world’s biggest stages to championing new music, meeting ambition with opportunity and ensuring creators receive the money they are due, each of you shows what can happen when we lift each other up.”
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, added: “Tonight is a moment to recognise the people putting in the hard work to make music a better place — supporting songwriters and composers, tackling inequality and exclusion, championing diverse voices and making sure creators receive a fair deal. These are people who show up, see what needs to be done and have the resolve to act. They use their positions to improve things for others, and that deserves recognition.”
The new honourees follow Sir Elton John, who was recognised at the 71st Ivor Novello Awards in May 2026 for his contributions to music and his support for emerging talent across the industry.
At that ceremony earlier this year, Thom Yorke, Sam Fender and Rosalía were among the winners, while George Michael received a posthumous Academy Fellowship. His longtime friend and former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley collected the award on his behalf.