IMRO announces the shortlist for the 2026.
IMRO’s annual Live Music Awards return on Tuesday April 21st at the Guinness Storehouse, hosted by Tom Dunne and Rachel Mae Hannon, with live performances from Ahmed, With Love, BABYRAT and Scullion, plus a special surprise guest.
The shortlist recognises the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews sustaining Ireland’s live music sector across all regions. IMRO members decide the category winners, and the public votes for the Overall Winner via Hot Press at the link below.
New this year: IMRO has partnered with The Louise Duffy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 to reward regional winners with a live outside broadcast from their venue, and has welcomed technology company Audoo as an awards partner – rolling out music recognition technology across live venues and festivals to help ensure royalties are distributed accurately to rightsholders.
Here is the full 2026 shortlist:
Live Music Venue of the Year – Dublin
- 3Arena – Dublin
- 3Olympia Theatre – Dublin
- The Grand Social – Dublin
- Vicar Street – Dublin
- Whelan’s – Dublin
Live Music Venue of the Year – Leinster (Excluding Dublin)
- Cleere’s Bar & Theatre – Kilkenny
- John Lee’s Bar and Venue – Offaly
- Set Theatre – Kilkenny
- The Spirit Store – Louth
- Wexford Arts Centre – Wexford
Live Music Venue of the Year – Munster
- Coughlan’s Bar & Live Music Venue – Cork
- Cyprus Avenue – Cork
- Dolan’s Live Music Venue – Limerick
- Gleneagle Arena – Kerry
- University Concert Hall – Limerick
Live Music Venue of the Year – Connacht
- Monroe’s Tavern – Galway
- Róisín Dubh – Galway
- TF Royal Hotel & Theatre – Mayo
- Tig Cóilí – Galway
- Westport Town Hall Theatre – Mayo
Live Music Venue of the Year – Ulster
- McCafferty’s Bar – Donegal
- McCafferty’s Bar & Restaurant – Dungloe
- The Abbey Hotel – Donegal
- The Central Bar – Donegal
- The Chasin’ Bull – Donegal
Venue Technical Crew of the Year (In partnership with Audoo)
- 3Olympia Theatre – Dublin
- Button Factory – Dublin
- The Spirit Store – Louth
- Vicar Street – Dublin
- Whelan’s – Dublin
Festival Technical Crew of the Year (In partnership with Audoo)
- Aurfest Music & Comedy Festival – Louth
- Dolan’s Live at the Docklands – Limerick
- Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival – Laois
- Galway Folk Music Festival – Galway
- Kaleidoscope Music Festival – Wicklow
Live Music Festival of the Year – Large
- All Together Now Music Festival – Waterford
- Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival – Laois
- Forbidden Fruit Music Festival – Dublin
- Kaleidoscope Music Festival – Wicklow
- BikeFest Motorcycle and Rock Music Festival – Kerry
Live Music Festival of the Year – Small
- Aurfest Music & Comedy Festival – Louth
- Forest Fest Music & Arts Festival 2026 – Laois
- Galway Folk Music Festival – Galway
- Other Voices Music Festival – Kerry
- Vantastival Music Festival – Louth
Live Music Promoter of the Year
- Aiken Promotions – Dublin
- Dolan’s Promotions – Limerick
- MCD Productions – Dublin
- Shenanigans Promotions – Louth
- Singular Artists Promotions – Dublin
Vote for the Overall Winner via Hot Press. The ceremony takes place Tuesday April 21st at the Guinness Storehouse.
See the 2025, 2023 and 2020 winners.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
