The nominees for the Sky Arts Awards 2026 have been announced, with artists and creative organisations from across the UK and Ireland recognised across 11 major arts categories.
This year’s ceremony will return to the iconic Roundhouse in Camden on Tuesday, 13 October, with Sir Grayson Perry and Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, set to host the event.
Share this article with someone via Whatsapp:
The annual awards celebrate achievements across the breadth of the arts, from classical and popular music to film, television, theatre, literature, dance, opera, poetry and visual art.
Alongside the competitive categories, the 2026 ceremony will also feature the Lifetime Achievement Award, Arts Hero Award and The Times Breakthrough Award, recognising significant contributions and emerging talent within the creative industries.
Sky Arts Awards 2026 nominees
The 2026 shortlist features a mix of established artists, major cultural organisations and rising creative voices.
Classical Music
The Classical Music category includes Music in the Round and Ensemble 360 for the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival.
They are joined by Anna Meredith, recognised for her wider body of innovative work, and Chineke!, nominated for its 10th anniversary concerts.
Comedy
The Comedy shortlist features three performers and their latest acclaimed shows.
Nick Mohammed is nominated for Show Pony, while Sam Nicoresti receives a nomination for Baby Doomer. Susie McCabe completes the category with Coming of Rage.
Dance
The Dance category brings together a number of distinctive projects and collaborations.
Marc Brew and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui are nominated for an Accident / a Life, while Alesandra Seutin is recognised for Mimi’s Shebeen.
Also shortlisted is Oluwaseun Alatise for AfroDanceBlast, a platform focused on African dance and culture.
Film
The Film category features three acclaimed productions.
Hamnet, which has already received multiple awards, is nominated alongside Akinola Davies Jr’s directorial debut My Father’s Shadow and the queer drama Pillion.
The nominations highlight a diverse selection of contemporary filmmaking, spanning historical drama, family and cultural identity, and LGBTQ+ storytelling.
Literature
The Literature nominees include celebrated writers working across fiction and non-fiction.
Wendy Erskine is nominated for her debut novel The Benefactors, while Oyinkan Braithwaite is shortlisted for Cursed Daughters.
Completing the category is Robert Macfarlane, nominated for Is a River Alive?
Opera
Three major productions and organisations feature in the Opera category.
Welsh National Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru is nominated for its production of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes.
English National Opera is recognised for its production of Dead Man Walking, while Irish National Opera and Jennifer Walshe receive a nomination for the ambitious work MARS.
Poetry
The Poetry category includes Danny Carlo Pandolfi, nominated for Raise the Bar, his poetry events organisation and writers’ development platform.
He is joined by Ashley Hickson-Lovence for Why I Am Not a Bus Driver?, a collection exploring themes including grief, love and community.
Joelle Taylor completes the shortlist with Maryville, which explores the hidden histories of queer London.
Popular Music
The Popular Music category features three artists whose work crosses traditional genre boundaries.
Irish artist CMAT is nominated for her third studio album, EURO-COUNTRY.
She is joined by Jim Legxacy, nominated for black british music, and Jacob Alon for the emotionally charged In Limerence.
Television
The Television category brings together three documentaries examining difficult and significant real-world subjects.
BBC One’s Babies is nominated alongside Netflix’s Grenfell: Uncovered and Channel 4’s Gaza: Doctors Under Attack.
Theatre
The Theatre nominees include Graeae Theatre Company, recognised for Bad Lads.
Also shortlisted is Punch, the West End transfer from KPPL Productions, following its two Olivier Award wins.
The category is completed by Michael Sheen, nominated for his work with National Theatre Wales.
Visual Art
The Visual Art category features three artists and ambitious exhibitions or installations.
Andy Goldsworthy is nominated for Fifty Years, while British artist Linder is recognised for Danger Came Smiling.
Julianknxx completes the category with Shifting / Spirit / Time, a multi-screen film installation.
What did Sky say about the 2026 awards?
Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, Executive Director, Unscripted, Sky, said:
“The arts shape our lives in countless ways, and the Sky Arts Awards celebrate the exceptional people who bring them to life. Artists and performers from across the creative world come together to recognise a sector that enriches our lives, sparks our imagination and brings us inspiration, connection and joy. We’re looking forward to revealing the winners and celebrating them at the Roundhouse for another memorable evening.”
The awards are designed to recognise creative achievement across the arts while bringing together artists, performers and organisations from different areas of the cultural sector.
When are the Sky Arts Awards 2026?
The Sky Arts Awards 2026 ceremony takes place on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at the Roundhouse in Camden.
The winners will be announced during the ceremony, while details of the performers appearing on the night are expected to be revealed ahead of the event.
The recipients of the Arts Hero Award and The Times Breakthrough Award will also be announced in due course.
Who is hosting the Sky Arts Awards 2026?
The 2026 ceremony will be hosted by artist and broadcaster Sir Grayson Perry alongside singer-songwriter Rebecca Lucy Taylor, who performs under the name Self Esteem.
The pair will present the ceremony from the Roundhouse in Camden.
How to watch the Sky Arts Awards 2026
The Sky Arts Awards 2026 will be broadcast on Sky Arts, with viewers also able to watch via Freeview and the streaming service NOW.
The ceremony will air at 9pm on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
Who produces the Sky Arts Awards?
The Sky Arts Awards are commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, Executive Director, Unscripted Originals at Sky, for Cécile Frot-Coutaz, Chief Advertising and Content Officer at Sky and CEO of Sky Studios.
Leanne Cosby is the Commissioning Editor for Sky, with Vanessa Woodard serving as Project Manager.
The ceremony is produced by DRUM Studios, part of Omnicom Media. Danny Carvalho and Andy Holland serve as Executive Producers.
With the full shortlist now confirmed, attention turns to the ceremony at the Roundhouse, where this year’s winners will be announced across the 11 arts categories.
Get entertainment news, where to watch guides & lifestyle/travel recommendations in your inbox for free:
Discover where to stream the best TV shows and movies. Get fresh entertainment news, streaming guides, and real-life pop culture experiences at WhereToWatch.tv.
Share this post with someone you think would like it…