Sky Arts Awards 2026: Full List of Winners Revealed

The winners of the Sky Arts Awards 2026 have been announced at London’s Roundhouse, celebrating outstanding achievements across film, television, music, theatre, literature, dance and the wider arts.

Among this year’s big winners were comedian Sam Nicoresti, musician Jacob Alon, visual artist Andy Goldsworthy and the team behind Pillion, the acclaimed LGBTQ+ drama starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård.

Johnny Marr was also honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising a remarkable career that helped shape British indie music and continues to influence artists across generations.

The ceremony brought together familiar faces from across the entertainment industry, including Myleene Klass, Nick Mohammed and Justin Hawkins. Guests were also treated to performances from Nicky Spence, Reverend Richard Coles, The London Gay Men’s Chorus and Johnny Marr himself.

This year’s awards were hosted by the fabulous Sir Grayson Perry and Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka Self Esteem) and were broadcast live.

Here’s the full list of winners from the Sky Arts Awards 2026.

Sky Arts Awards 2026: Full list of winners

Comedy — Sam Nicoresti

Presented by Sara Pascoe, the Sky Arts Award for Comedy went to Sam Nicoresti, recognising the comedian’s work in the world of stand-up and performance.

Popular Music — Jacob Alon, In Limerence

Jacob Alon took home the award for Popular Music for In Limerence, an emotionally raw and intimate musical work that resonated with the judges.

Watch Jacob’s full film: Jacob Alon, Live from the Roundhouse:

Visual Art — Andy Goldsworthy, Fifty Years

Marking five decades of remarkable artistic work, Andy Goldsworthy won the Visual Art award for Fifty Years, a retrospective celebrating his extraordinary creative career.

Theatre — KPPL Productions, PUNCH

The Sky Arts Award for Theatre went to KPPL Productions’ PUNCH, a powerful production exploring violence, forgiveness and redemption.

Film — Pillion

The award for Film was presented to Pillion, the deeply human LGBTQ+ drama led by Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård.

Where to watch Pillion? It’s streaming on Sky Cinema, available via Sky TV or NOW.

Dance — Marc Brew and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, An Accident / a Life

Blending movement, memory and resilience, An Accident / a Life won the Dance award for its distinctive artistic exploration.

Lifetime Achievement — Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr received this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his enormous contribution to music. From helping define British indie music with The Smiths to influencing generations of musicians over a career spanning four decades, Marr’s impact on modern music remains undeniable.

Literature — Wendy Erskine, The Benefactors

Wendy Erskine won the Literature award for The Benefactors, a powerful examination of motherhood, class and power.

Television — Gaza: Doctors Under Attack

The Television award went to Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, a documentary examining healthcare workers in Gaza and highlighting their courage and resilience.

Classical Music — Anna Meredith

Anna Meredith received the Classical Music award, celebrating an extraordinary body of work and her contribution to contemporary music.

Poetry — Danny Carlo Pandolfi, Raise the Bar

Danny Carlo Pandolfi won the Poetry award for Raise the Bar, recognising his work as a driving force in UK spoken word and live poetry nights.

Arts Hero Award — Liz Light, Stage2 Youth Theatre

Liz Light was recognised with the Arts Hero Award for 38 years of opening doors to theatre and performance for young people through Stage2 Youth Theatre.

Opera — The Irish National Opera and Jennifer Walshe, MARS

The Opera award went to MARS, the bold and boundary-pushing collaboration between The Irish National Opera and Jennifer Walshe, celebrated for its inventive artistic approach.

Johnny Marr honoured for his contribution to music

One of the evening’s standout moments was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Johnny Marr.

Best known as the guitarist and co-songwriter of The Smiths, Marr helped shape the sound of British alternative music and influenced countless artists over the course of his career.

His contribution extends well beyond the band’s celebrated catalogue, with his distinctive guitar playing and continued creative work securing his place among Britain’s most influential musicians.

The award recognises a career spanning four decades and a lasting impact on the music industry.

A celebration of the arts

The Sky Arts Awards 2026 brought together artists and performers from across the creative industries, celebrating both established names and emerging talent.

Among the attendees were presenter Myleene Klass, comedian and actor Nick Mohammed, and musician Justin Hawkins. The evening also featured performances from tenor Nicky Spence, Reverend Richard Coles, The London Gay Men’s Chorus and award recipient Johnny Marr.

From Jacob Alon’s intimate musical expression to Andy Goldsworthy’s five-decade artistic retrospective, this year’s winners demonstrated the breadth of creative work being produced across the arts.

The awards also highlighted the power of theatre, film and television to confront difficult subjects, with PUNCH, Pillion and Gaza: Doctors Under Attack among the productions recognised.

How to watch the Sky Arts Awards 2026

The ceremony was broadcast live on Sky Arts and is scheduled to be repeated on Thursday night.

Viewers can also stream the awards on demand through Sky TV, NOW or Freely, giving audiences another opportunity to catch the ceremony and its performances.

Sky Arts Awards 2026: The verdict

This year’s Sky Arts Awards celebrated an impressive range of talent, from Sam Nicoresti’s comedy and Jacob Alon’s music to the socially conscious storytelling of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack and Pillion.

Johnny Marr’s Lifetime Achievement Award provided a fitting tribute to a musician whose influence has endured for generations, while Liz Light’s recognition as an Arts Hero highlighted the importance of nurturing the next generation of performers.

With winners spanning 13 categories, the ceremony offered a reminder of the arts’ ability to entertain, challenge perspectives and bring people together.

For anyone who missed the live broadcast, the Sky Arts Awards 2026 will be repeated on Thursday night at 10pm on Sky Arts and available to stream on demand via Sky TV, NOW and Freely.

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