{"id":632939,"date":"2026-09-22T23:56:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T23:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/632939\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T23:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T23:56:10","slug":"independent-music-awards-2026-winners-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/632939\/","title":{"rendered":"Independent Music Awards 2026: Winners List"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tJorja Smith<\/a>, Robyn<\/a> and Fcukers were among the winners at the 2026 Independent Music Awards<\/a> in London on Tuesday (Sept. 22).<\/p>\n

\n\tThe annual awards, hosted by the The Association for Independent Music, celebrates the U.K.\u2019s indie music scene, with winners drawn from a genre-spanning shortlist. The ceremony took place at The Roundhouse in north London.<\/p>\n

\n\tSmith collected the best independent track prize for \u201cThe Way I Love You,\u201d released in May 2025 on her FAMM label, which peaked at No. 39 on the U.K.\u2019s Official Singles Chart<\/a>. The prize is her second overall at the Independent Music Awards, having first collected the independent breakthrough trophy in 2018.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tExplore\t\t<\/p>\n

See latest videos, charts and news<\/p>\n

\n\tRobyn earned the best independent album for her ninth album Sexistential (released via Young), while Daptone-signed soul star Jalen Ngonda, who was nominated in three categories, earned the independent breakthrough prize.<\/p>\n

\n\tJim Legxacy emerged victorious in the best independent mixtape\/EP category for his Mercury Prize-nominated mixtape Black British Music (2025), released via XL Recordings.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe PPL Award for most played new independent artist went to Bees & Honey, while Native James collected the one to watch prize.<\/p>\n

\n\tPauline Black, the lead singer of 2 tone group The Selector, received the outstanding contribution to music award and performed live on the night. DJ duo Fabio & Grooverider was awarded the innovator award in recognition of their work in the U.K.\u2019s jungle and drum \u2018n\u2019 bass scenes over the years.<\/p>\n

\n\tSee the full list of winners at the 2026 Independent Music Awards below.<\/p>\n

\t\tBest independent track\t<\/p>\n

\n\tDebby Friday, \u201cBet on Me\u201d (Sub Pop Records)
Fcukers, \u201cL.U.C.K.Y\u201d (Ninja Tune)
Genesis Owusu, \u201cStampede\u201d (Ourness)
Jalen Ngonda, \u201cDoctrine of Love\u201d (Daptone Records)
Jim Legxacy, \u201c3x\u201d (XL Recordings)
WINNER: Jorja Smith, \u201cThe Way I Love You\u201d (FAMM)
Nova Twins, \u201cPiranha\u201d (Marshall Records)
Robyn, \u201cDopamine\u201d (Young \/ Konichiwa)
Romy, \u201cLove Who You Love\u201d (Young)
Tiana Major9, \u201cDesire\u201d (+1 Records)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest independent album\t<\/p>\n

\n\tBicep,\u00a0TAKKUUK (Original Soundtrack)\u00a0(Ninja Tune, EarthSonic)
Blawan,\u00a0SickElixir\u00a0(XL Recordings)
Fcukers,\u00a0\u00d6\u00a0(Ninja Tune)
Geese,\u00a0Getting Killed\u00a0(Partisan Records)
Mitski,\u00a0Nothing\u2019s About to Happen to Me\u00a0(Dead Oceans)
Nova Twins,\u00a0Parasites & Butterflies\u00a0(Marshall Records)
Prostitute,\u00a0Attempted Martyr\u00a0(Mute)
WINNER: Robyn,\u00a0Sexistential\u00a0(Young \/ Konichiwa)
Scaler,\u00a0Endlessly\u00a0(Black Acre)
Thundercat,\u00a0Distracted\u00a0(Brainfeeder)<\/p>\n

\t\tIndependent breakthrough\t<\/p>\n

\n\tFat Dog (Domino Recording Co.)
Fcukers (Ninja Tune)
WINNER: Jalen Ngonda (Daptone Records)
Tiana Major9 (+1 Records)
Ego Ella May (Believe UK)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest independent mixtape\/EP\t<\/p>\n

\n\tBricknasty,\u00a0Blacks Law\u00a0(FAMM)
WINNER: Jim Legxacy,\u00a0black british music (2025) (XL Recordings)
Naima Bock,\u00a0Live in Toulon\u00a0(Sub Pop Records)
Strandz,\u00a0Diaspora Dance Music\u00a0(Strandz Music)
TTSSFU,\u00a0Blown\u00a0(Partisan Records)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest independent remix\t<\/p>\n

\n\tOvermono, \u201cIf We Ever\u201d (High Contrast Remix) (XL Recordings)
WINNER: Sherelle, Romy, \u201cLove Who You Love\u201d(SHERELLE\u2019s Intelligent Dyke Music Remix) (Young)
Robyn, \u201cSexistential\u201d (Arca\u2019s Take) (Young \/ Konichiwa)
Jorja Smith, TS7, \u201cThe Way I Love You\u201d (TS7 Remix) (FAMM)
House Gospel Choir and Donae\u2019O, \u201cYou\u201d (Donae\u2019O Remix) (Swear Down Music)<\/p>\n

\t\tOne to Watch\t<\/p>\n

\n\tAshaine White (Marshall Records)
Alewya (LDN Records)
Lauren Auder (untitled (recs))
Mandy, Indiana (Sacred Bones Records)
WINNER: Native James (Saviour Music)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest independent video\u00a0\t<\/p>\n

\n\tZak Watson (director) for Antony Szmierek, \u201cThe Heron\u201d (Mushroom Music)
Yorgos Lanthimos (director) for Jerskin Fendrix, \u201cBeth\u2019s Farm\u201d (untitled (recs))
Noel Paul (director) for Mitski, \u201cWhere\u2019s My Phone?\u201d (Dead Oceans)
WINNER: L\u00e9a Esmaili (director) for Thundercat, \u201cShe Knows Too Much\u201d feat. Mac Miller (Brainfeeder)
OCURENS (director) for Tinie Tempah, Skepsis, Carla Monroe, \u201cEat It Up\u201d (Imhotep Records)<\/p>\n

\t\tPPL Award for most played new independent artist\u00a0\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: bees & honey
Beyond Chicago
Clementine Douglas\u00a0
Jim Legxacy\u00a0
Poppy Baskcomb\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\tBest live performer\t<\/p>\n

\n\tAmelia Coburn (Quiet Crown)
WINNER: Billy Lockett (Lockett Records)
High Fade (RPN RECORDS)
Katherine Priddy (Cooking Vinyl)
The Molotovs (Marshall Records)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest independent label\u00a0\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: Because Music
Dead Oceans
FAMM
Ninja Tune
Tru Thoughts<\/p>\n

\t\tBest boutique label\t<\/p>\n

\n\tBig Scary Monsters
Black Acre
TLD Records
Sweardown
WINNER: untitled (recs)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest catalogue release\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: The Alan Parsons Project,\u00a0I Robot\u00a0(Cooking Vinyl)
Haruomi Hosono \u2013\u00a0Tropical Dandy\u00a0(Stones Throw)
Lush \u2013\u00a0Gala (2025 Remaster)\u00a0(4AD)
Orbital \u2013\u00a0The Brown Album\u00a0(London Records)
Chameleon \u2013\u00a0The Very Best of Toyah\u00a0(Cherry Red Records)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest release campaign\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: Fcukers, \u00d6 (Ninja Tune)
Geese, Getting Killed (Partisan Records)
Genesis Owusu, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE (Ourness\/Believe)
Kettama, Archangel (Steel City Dance Disks)
Mitski \u2013 Nothing\u2019s About to Happen to Me (Dead Oceans)
Wet Leg \u2013 Moisturizer (Domino Recording Co)<\/p>\n

\t\tBest independent record store\t<\/p>\n

\n\tApplestump Records
WINNER: Jacaranda Records
Just Dropped In
Ignite Record Store
Slow Century Records<\/p>\n

\t\tInnovator award\u00a0\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: Fabio & Grooverider<\/p>\n

\t\tOutstanding contribution to music\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: Pauline Black<\/p>\n

\t\tMusic entrepreneur of the year\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: Mark Lippmann (Scruff Of The Neck)<\/p>\n

\t\tDEI Champion\t<\/p>\n

\n\tWINNER: Cre8ing Vision<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jorja Smith, Robyn and Fcukers were among the winners at the 2026 Independent Music Awards in London on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":632940,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[6971,13573,93,61,60,278,633],"class_list":["post-632939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-awards","tag-billboard-uk","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-music","tag-music-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=632939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632939\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/632940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=632939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=632939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=632939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}