Oasis, Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C., Geese images among Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2026 nominees

The nominees for the 2026 Abbey Road Music Photography Awards have been announced, and they include shots of Oasis, Charli XCX, Fontaines D. C., Geese.

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This year’s ceremony will take place on September 24, and marks the fifth edition of the awards, which celebrate the art of music photography while elevating and empowering the talents behind the lens.

Over 24,500 images were submitted from across 42 countries for the 2026 edition, and included shots of Oasis, Charli xcx, Florence + The Machine, FKA Twigs, Fontaines D.

C., Ho99o9, Yungblud, Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Billy Idol, Lambrini Girls, Warren Ellis, Sombr, Billie Marten, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Geese.

Previously announced winners so far include New York-based Roberta Bayley, who is receiving the ICON award, having captured shots from across the iconic ‘70s punk movement – including Iggy Pop, the Ramones, Debbie Harry and Blondie, Richard Hell, the Sex Pistols and more.

It has also already been announced that Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award – having worked with David Bowie over 44-years, shooting the cover of his ‘Heroes’ album, and creating era-defining images of Iggy Pop, Marc Bolan, Joe Strummer, Yellow Magic Orchestra and David Sylvian.

Categories include Music Moment of the Year, with nominees including Harriet T K Bols, who caught Oasis backstage at their ‘Live ‘25’ shows at Wembley, Jenn Devereaux, who shot Kendrick Lamar at the Superbowl, Jack Oliver, who got a snapshot of Charli XCX burning down the ‘brat’ flag at Glastonbury Festival, and more.

That is the only category voted for by the public, and the vote is open now here.

Other nominees include Lewis Evans, who is nominated for his behind the scenes shot of Geese, Tom Pallant for his images of Yungblud, Charlie Barclay Harris for his live shots of Fontaines D.

C., Jamie Wdziekonski for his images of Amyl and the Sniffers and more.

Head Judge Rankin says: “2026 feels like the strongest year yet for the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards. The quality of the work entered was genuinely exceptional – not just technically brilliant, but full of energy, emotion and a real point of view.

Music Moment of the Year finalists’ photos are on display at Outernet London from 1. 30pm today (September 8) until September 14, with on-screen voting available at the exhibition.

Nominees for Abbey Road Music Photography Awards 2026 are.

Portrait Frances Carter – Billie Marten Jamie-Lee Culver – Aynjel Wanda Martin – Billy Idol Daniel Rojas – The OGM – Ho99o9 Manuel Vazquez – Warren Ellis.

Festivals – supported by DHL (Headline Partner) Viktória Erdős – Palaye Royale Danny North – Download Festival, Humans of Download Giulia Spadafora – Glastonbury Festival – Audience Ian Zandi – The Killing Floors Jake Zaoutis – Hey, Nothing.

Music Moment of the Year – supported by Outernet London Harriet T K Bols – Oasis Jenn Devereaux – Kendrick Lamar Joshua Halling – Oasis Jessie Morgan – Lambrini Girls Jack Oliver – Charli xcx.

Emerging Photographer of the Year – supported by adidas Frances Carter – Gin Wigmore Bryce Glenn – Sombr Natalia Peralta – Nicholas y los fumadores Dara Petrova – Techno rave Laboratorium Isaac Wheatley – Mikael.

Behind The Scenes (BTS) – supported by Abbey Road Olly Bromidge – Matt Molotov Sophie Buckley – Black Honey Lewis Evans – Geese Caity Krone – Kevin Parker / Tame Impala Gabrielle Ravet – My Chemical Romance fans.

Underground Scenes AF Cortes – Audience at Kartel Show Andrea Gonar – Ruido en casa Geoffrey Nicholson – Spunk Suzanne Phoenix – Private Function at Gold Street James Streiker – Rosanna.

Live Music – supported by Hydro Flask Charlie Barclay Harris – Fontaines D. C. Rhys Bennett – Battlesnake Lewis Evans – Oasis Tom Pallant – Yungblud Rico Suhr – Dr.

Guest category: 50 Years of Punk Joe Hughes – Sonic Youth Wayne Large – Members of various punk bands Keith Marlowe – The Black Halos Gerard McNamara – Bauhaus, Peter Murphy Jamie Wdziekonski – Amyl and the Sniffers.

Judges Choice Matt Auger – Substandards Carlos Avendano – Lisa Alvarado Scarlett Carlos Clarke – Self Esteem Autumn de Wilde – Florence + The Machine Angus Jenner – Oasis Sacha Lecca – FKA Twigs Tom Pallant – Yungblud.

ICON (previously announced) Roberta Bayley.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT (previously announced) Masayoshi Sukita.

Those nominated at the 2025 awards included those who caught eye-catching shots of artists including Nile Rodgers, Djo/Joe Keery and Sunflower Bean‘s Julia Cumming.

In 2024, over two million visitors attended the Outernet exhibition of MPA photography, and several of the winners have since secured high-profile shoots and opportunities following nominations.

Among the winners at the first-ever instalment of the MPAs in 2022 was Eric Johnson – who won the Icon Award for his legendary photographs of the late ’90s and early ’00s New York hip-hop scene, including famous shots of Biggie Smalls, Aaliyah, Nas, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill and many more.

Visit here for a full list of that year’s winners.

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