The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) has today announced the shortlists for its 2026 Awards, 'shining a light on the musicians, ensembles, organisations and initiatives that inspire and enrich lives' throughout the UK.
Among the nominees in 13 categories – including Large-Scale Composition, Conductor, Ensemble, Impact, Instrumentalist, and Opera and Music Theatre – are such recognisable names as conductor John Wilson, soprano Louise Alder, mezzo soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, pianists Nicholas McCarthy and Ethan Loch, and Peter Moore, who becomes the first trombone player to be shortlisted for the RPS Instrumentalist Award.
RPS chief executive James Murphy says of the 2026 RPS Awards:
‘The RPS Awards shortlists represent the remarkable creativity and dedication of music-makers who do so much to brighten our nation. Here we see musicians giving the best of themselves for the benefit of others. We warmly invite the music-loving public to join us in person at the RPS Awards on Thursday 12 March, to celebrate all the brilliant music made right here in the UK.’
When and where do the 2026 RPS Awards take place?
The 2026 RPS Awards return to London – following presentations in Manchester and Birmingham in 2024 and 2025 – at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Thursday 12 March 2026.
Hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Georgia Mann and Petroc Trelawny, the evening features performances from a range of nominees, and will be available to watch on the RPS website from Thursday 19 March. BBC Radio 3 presents a special broadcast featuring music of the winners and nominees at 7.30pm on Friday 13 March. Tickets to the live event are also on sale to the public.
See the full list of 2026 RPS Awards nominees below:
Chamber-Scale Composition
Supported by Boosey & Hawkes, in memory of Tony Fell
Bushra El-Turk – Three Tributes
Claudia Molitor – Fever
Richard Causton – If I Could Tell You
Conductor
Supported by Chandos Records
Domingo Hindoyan
Ellie Slorach
John Wilson
Ensemble
Supported by Outhere Music Group
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Tenebrae
The Carice Singers
Impact
Supported by Oxford University Press Music
Breaking Bach – Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Gresffordd: I’r Goleuni ‘Nawr / Gresford: Up from Underground
Orchestras for All
Inspiration
Supported by Stainer & Bell
Bradford Accordion Band
Cantorion Llandrindod
Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society
Sean Chandler and Shepherd Brass Band
Instrumentalist
Supported by The Early Music Shop
Nicholas McCarthy – piano
Peter Moore – trombone
Vilde Frang – violin
Large-Scale Composition
Supported by The Boltini Trust
David Fennessy – Bog Cantata
Golfam Khayam – I am not a tale to be told
Mark-Anthony Turnage – Festen
Opera and Music Theatre
Supported by Wise Music Group
Festen – The Royal Ballet and Opera
Uprising – Glyndebourne
woman.life.song – Birmingham Opera Company
Series and Events
Supported by Warner Classics
JAM on the Marsh
Multitudes – Southbank Centre
Nordic Music Days
Singer
Supported by Jenny Hodgson
Christine Rice – mezzo soprano
Louise Alder – soprano
Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha – soprano
Storytelling
Supported by Martin Randall Festivals
Everything We Do is Music – Elizabeth Alker
Robben Island’s Hallelujah – BBC Radio 4
Solitude with Schubert
Young Artist
Supported by Julian Lloyd Webber
Ethan Loch – piano
Hugh Cutting – countertenor
Matilda Lloyd – trumpet
An additional award – Gamechanger – without a shortlist is presented at the RPS Awards 'to those who in unique and contemporary ways continue to break new ground in classical music'.
What are the RPS Awards?
The RPS Awards are a celebration of the creativity and talent of the those working in classical music across the UK, from international stars to the unsung heroes who bring music and music making into the nation's communities.
The Royal Philharmonic Society was formed by a group of musicians in 1813 to establish a series of orchestral concerts in London. 200 years later, the Society continues to celebrate musicians through grants, commissions, coaching and performance opportunities - and through its annual RPS Awards, which recognise outstanding and inspirational music making in 13 categories.
