Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2026 Shortlist Announced

The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards (MPA) has unveiled its 2026 shortlist, featuring 40 finalists across eight categories from over 24,500 submissions across 42 countries. Notable nominees include images from Oasis's reunion tour, Charli XCX's Glastonbury performance, and Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show. The shortlist was released on Tuesday, with finalist photographs to be displayed at Outernet London from September 8 to 14. Fan voting for the music moment of the year is open online and in person. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Abbey Road Studios on September 24. British photographer and director Rankin, head judge, praised the quality of entries, calling 2026 'the strongest year yet' for the awards, which began five years ago. Special recognition will be given to photographers Roberta Bayley and Masayoshi Sukita, and the guest category celebrates 50 years of punk. The judging panel includes Nile Rogers and Raye. Other nominated works capture moments from Fontaines DC, Tame Impala, and emerging artists, with images selected for categories like live music, behind the scenes, portrait, and festivals.