Stormzy, James Blake and Emily Eavis recognised at 2026 Ivors Academy Honours
Stormzy, James Blake and Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis were among seven people recognised at the 2026 Ivors Academy Honours in London on Oct. 1.
The ceremony took place at Intercontinental London Park Lane, according to Billboard. It is the second edition of the Honours, which launched in 2025 with singer RAYE and Sony Music Publishing chief executive Jon Platt among the first recipients.
The full 2026 list was Stormzy, Blake, Eavis, radio DJ and podcast host Annie Macmanus, singer-songwriter MNEK, Sentric chief executive Chris Meehan and Victor Finn, chief executive of IMRO, Ireland's music rights collecting society. A collecting society collects royalties when songs are played or performed and pays them to writers and publishers.
The seven join Elton John, who received his Ivors Academy Honour separately at the Ivor Novello Awards in May 2026. The Novellos are the Academy's main songwriting awards. The Honours run alongside them to recognise wider contributions to music.
Stormzy's honour was presented by Shani Gonzales, managing director of Warner Chappell Music U.K. and head of international A&R. A&R, or artists and repertoire, is the part of the business that signs writers and artists and oversees their creative development.
Blake was honoured for exceptional artistry and advocacy for songwriters and artists, according to Music Week. That included his work to demystify songwriting and distribution deals. Distribution is how recorded music gets to streaming services and shops, and the terms can decide how and when an artist is paid.
Eavis was saluted for creating a space for emerging songwriters to be heard on the biggest stages. She co-organises the Glastonbury Festival, which puts new writers alongside established headliners.
Macmanus, known to listeners as Annie Mac, was lauded for her work as a curator and champion of new music. MNEK also took the stage to give an acceptance speech as a recipient.
Finn and Meehan were recognised from the business side. Finn leads IMRO. Meehan leads Sentric.
What makes this stand out is the mix. Performers, a festival organiser, a broadcaster and two executives stood on the same stage. For fans, this means the names behind the songs got the same billing as the voices in front of them.
