Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2026 Reveals Finalists Across Seven Categories
Abbey Road Studios has unveiled the nominees for the 2026 Music Photography Awards, marking its fifth anniversary. The awards span multiple categories, including Portrait, Music Moment of the Year, and Emerging Photographer of the Year, alongside special categories like 50 Years of Punk, highlighting the genre’s cultural significance. Notable nominees include Lewis Evan’s photograph of Liam Gallagher, Jessie Morgan’s image of Phoebe from Lambrini Girls, and Wanda Martin’s picture of Billy Idol. Public voting for the Music Moment of the Year is open until September 14, with head judge Rankin commending the compelling artistry and technical excellence of the entries.
Key facts
- Abbey Road Studios announced the finalists of the Music Photography Awards 2026, the competition's fifth year.
- Categories include Portrait, Music Moment of the Year, Emerging Photographer of the Year, Behind the Scenes, Underground Scenes, Live Music, and Festivals.
- A guest category, 50 Years of Punk, marks half a century since the movement reshaped music, fashion, and youth culture.
- Music Moment of the Year is the only publicly voted category, with voting online or at Outernet London in the West End until September 14.
- Head judge Rankin said 2026 felt like the strongest year yet and described the entries as technically brilliant and full of energy, emotion, and a real point of view.
- Finalist photographs include Liam Gallagher by Lewis Evan, Phoebe of Lambrini Girls by Jessie Morgan, and Billy Idol by Wanda Martin.
- Other finalists include Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) by Caity Krone, Gin Wigmore by Frances Carter, and Oasis by Harriet Bols.
- Judging required narrowing each category to five finalists, leaving out many images Rankin said deserved recognition.
Entities
Artists
- Liam Gallagher
- Phoebe
- Lewis Evan
- Jessie Morgan
- Billy Idol
- Wanda Martin
- Kevin Parker
- Tame Impala
- Caity Krone
- Gabrielle Ravet
- Gin Wigmore
- Frances Carter
- Ian Zandi
- Rhys Bennett
- Rico Suhr
- Harriet Bols
- Suzanne Phoenix
- Keith Marlowe
- Rankin
- Noel Gallagher
- Charli XCX
- Kendrick Lamar
- Fontaines DC
- Sombr
- FKA Twigs
- Billie Marten
- Phoebe Lunny
- Ian Anderson
- Robber Byker
- Amy Taylor
- Nile Rogers
- Raye
- Roberta Bayley
- Masayoshi Sukita
- Jack Oliver
- Joshua Halling
- Lewis Evans
- Daniel Rojos
- Jenn Devereaux
- Danny North
- Charlie Barclay Harris
- Bryce Glenn
- Wayne Spike Large
- Jamie Wdziekonski
- Sacha Lecca
Institutions
- Abbey Road Studios
- Oasis
- Lambrini Girls
- My Chemical Romance
- The Killing Floors
- Battlesnake
- Download Festival
- UFO Club
- Echo Park Rising
- Outernet London
- PetaPixel
- Music Photography Awards (MPA)
- Glastonbury Festival
- Reading and Leeds Festival
- Super Bowl
- Rolling Stone
- LadyLand Festival
- Soda Bar
- Under the K Bridge Park
- Wembley Stadium
- River Plate stadium
- BBC
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- West End
- Gold Street
- Wembley
- Glastonbury
- Buenos Aires
- Argentina
- New York
- United States
- Aotearoa
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- Leicester
- Melbourne
- Australia
- San Diego
- Brooklyn
Sources
- PetaPixel —
- BBC Culture —