Lily Allen, Olivia Dean and Wolf Alice are among some of the musicians nominated for this year’s Ivor Novello Awards.Other acts in the running include Lola Young, Florence + The Machine, CMAT, Little Simz, Coldplay, Damon Albarn, Jacob Alon, Self Esteem, Jim Legxacy and Kae Tempest – who is nominated twice for best contemporary song.
The Ivors recognise British and Irish musical achievement in songwriting and composition, and also celebrate a number of singer-songwriters and groups for their wider contribution to UK music.
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Olivia Dean, pictured on stage during this year’s Brit Awards, is nominated for an Ivor for the first time. Pic: Reuters
In the best album category, Allen is nominated for her “punchy and forthright” West End Girl, Jim Legxacy for the “bold and genre-traversing” black british music, and Dean for her “divine sophomore” The Art Of Loving. They are up against Wolf Alice’s fourth album The Clearing and Irish-star CMAT’s EURO-COUNTRY.Shortlisted composers also include writers for Oscar-nominated scores including this year’s Bugonia and last year’s The Brutalist, as well as soundtracks for hit TV shows including Adolescence.
While most of the gongs recognise the best songwriting of the past 12 months, the PRS For Music prize celebrates songs that received the most broadcast, online and general performances.
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Lola Young at The Ivors in 2025. Pic: Ian Gavan/Hogan Media/Shutterstock/Ivors
So as well as 2025 hits including Man I Need, by Dean, there are also older songs in the running – Messy by Lola Young, Stargazing by Myles Smith, and The Days by Chrystal, which were released in 2024 – and even further back, Coldplay’s 2008 track Viva La Vida, following the band’s global tour.Some 61 individual British and Irish songwriters and composers, and their international collaborators, have been nominated in total – with 34, more than half, in the running for the first time, including Dean and Alon.
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Self Esteem was honoured with the visionary award in 2025. Pic: Reuters/Toby Melvi
Tom Gray, chair of The Ivors Academy, congratulated the nominees and said in a statement: “To be recognised by your peers for exceptional craft and originality at The Ivors is one of the greatest honours in music writing.”
The awards ceremony takes place in London on 21 May. Here is the full list of nominees.BEST ALBUMblack british music – written by Jim Legxacy and Joe Stanley, performed by Jim LegxacyEURO-COUNTRY – written and performed by CMATThe Art Of Loving – written by Olivia Dean, Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang, performed by Olivia DeanThe Clearing – written by Joff Oddie and Ellie Rowsell, performed by Wolf AliceWest End Girl – written by Lily Allen, Chloe Angelides, Kito and Blue May, performed by Lily Allen
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CMAT, aka Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, at the 2024 ceremony. Pic: Reuters/Maja Smiejkowska
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONGDamascus – written by Damon Albarn, Yasiin Bey and Omar Souleyman, performed by Gorillaz featuring Omar Souleyman and Yasiin BeyFree – written by Alex Bonfanti, Miles Clinton James and Little Simz, performed by Little SimzI Do And I Don’t Care – written by Johan Hugo and Self Esteem, performed by Self EsteemI Stand On The Line – written by Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest, performed by Kae TempestKnow Yourself – written by Tom Rowlands, Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest, performed by Kae Tempest
BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLYDon’t Fall Asleep – written and performed by Jacob AlonEverybody Scream – written by Mark Bowen, Mitski and Florence Welch, performed by Florence + The MachineFocus Is Power – written by Johan Hugo, Self Esteem and Jacob Vetter, performed by Self EsteemThe Sofa – written by Ellie Rowsell, performed by Wolf AliceWeeds – written by Tove Burman, Anya Jones and Jon Shave, performed by Sugababes
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Chris Martin on stage during Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres world tour in January 2025. Pic: AP/Rajanish Kakade
PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORKMan I Need – written by Olivia Dean, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Zach Nahome, performed by Olivia DeanMessy – written and performed by Lola YoungStargazing – written by Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink and Myles Smith, performed by Myles SmithThe Days – written and performed by ChrystalViva La Vida – written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, performed by ColdplayRISING STAR AWARDChloe QishaDivorceJacob AlonKwnSkye Newman
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Emma Stone as Michelle in Bugonia – the film’s score is among this year’s Ivor nominees. Pic: Atsushi Nishijima/Focus Features
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCOREBugonia – composed by Jerskin FendrixDragonfly – composed by RaffertieNosferatu – composed by Robin CarolanTestimony – composed by Tom HodgeThe Brutalist – composed by Daniel BlumbergBEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACKAdolescence – composed by Aaron May and David RidleyLazarus – composed by Sarah WarneSummerwater – composed by Gazelle TwinThis City Is Ours – composed by Rael JonesTrespasses – composed by David Holmes and Brian Irvine