Press Release
Nominations announced for the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2026
The nominations have today been announced for the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The Awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) and supported by the Musicians’ Union, the Royal Society of Musicians and UK Music. The recipients of the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards will be announced on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at the World Heart Beat. The Parliamentary Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, breadth and talent of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.
The award categories reflect the ever-increasing scope of talent from within the UK’s jazz scene: Jazz Vocalist of the Year; Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year; Jazz Album of the Year; Jazz Ensemble of the Year; Jazz Newcomer of the Year; Jazz Venue of the Year; Jazz Media Award; Jazz Education Award; and the Services to Jazz Award. The Martin Hummel Award to commemorate the life and work of Martin Hummel the CEO of Ubuntu Music will be announced on the night.
The Musicians’ Union is supporting the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2026 and in particular a new award to celebrate the work of Music Hubs and Schools Music Services. This new award is being organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group with assistance of Music Mark and SoundStorm.
Following the online public vote for the Awards, the shortlist was then voted upon by a selection panel, representing a broad cross-section of backgrounds united in their passion and knowledge of jazz. The winners, chosen by members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), will be announced on Tuesday 13th October 2026.
Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of APPJG, said: “These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the great musicians, educators, promoters, record labels, jazz organisations, blogs, jazz magazines and journalists who help keep jazz flourishing. These shortlists demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene. Now in its 21st year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards honour the best of British jazz. MPs and Peers in the All Party Group are grateful to the Musicians’ Union and UK Music for supporting the event.”
“The Musicians’ Union is proud to support the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards,” said Naomi Pohl, General Secretary of the MU. “This year’s shortlist showcases the phenomenal jazz talent thriving across the UK, as well as the vibrant communities that support them in every nation and region. Congratulations to all the nominees on their well-deserved recognition. Furthermore the MU is pleased to support the new award for music hubs at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Music hubs play a crucial role in the development of young talent and it is fantastic to see this work formally recognised”.
Charlotte Penton-Smith CEO of the Royal Society of Musicians said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards for the first time and getting to play a part in recognising the finest jazz talent across the UK. Congratulations to all the nominees; we look forward to finding out who the winners are on the night from such a talented field.”
Tom Kiehl Chief Executive of UK Music said: “UK Music is delighted to again support the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. It is a fantastic celebration of Jazz’s contribution to our £8 billion music industry, and all the great achievements from the community over the past year.”
The Awards are supported by the Musicians’ Union, who are a community of over 36,000 musicians working to protect their members’ rights and campaign for a fairer music industry. With additional support from the Royal Society of Musicians which provides vital financial assistance, advice and guidance to music professionals across the UK who have been impacted by physical or mental ill health. Our support is open to all professionals whether working as performers, teachers, technicians or anything in between. Further support is provided by UK Music which is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. They represent all sectors of the UK music industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music.
The full list of nominees is as follows:
Jazz Vocalist of the Year
Heidi Vogel
Lucy-Anne Daniels
Marvin Muoneke
Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year
Joe Webb
Yazz Ahmed
Deschanel Gordon
Jazz Album of the Year
“The Shieling” – Fergus McCredie
‘Sema4’ – ARQ
“Alleviate” – Donovan Haffner
“Riversphere Vol. 1” – Iain Ballamy
Jazz Ensemble of the Year
Knats
Tom Smith Big Band
Donovan Haffner Band
Jazz Newcomer of the Year
Olivia Cuttill
Sylvie Noble
Ursula Harrison
Jazz Venue of the Year
World Heart Beat (London)
The Sound Cellar (Poole)
Church of Sound (London)
Jazz Stroud (The Goods Shed)
The Bear Club (Luton)
Jazz Media Award
UK Jazz News
One Jazz
Richard Williams (The Blue Moment)
Jazz Education Award
Jazz at Leeds Conservatoire (Celebrating 60 years)
Julian Joseph Jazz Academy
New Generation Jazz – Jazz Futures
Services to Jazz Award
Nikki Illes
Paul Jolly
Jean Toussaint
Ends
31st August 2026
The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), co-chaired by Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mann.
Notes to the Editor
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 70 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Their aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament. The Group’s officers as at the Inaugural Meeting on 20th November 2025 are the Chair, Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Deputy Chair, Lord Mann. The Officers are Baroness Nicholson with additional elected members, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, Lord Spellar and Sarah Champion MP.
Recent reports can be seen here:
Submission to the open consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence from Chris Hodgkins
Review of Jazz in England March 2025
State of Play: submission to the Culture Media and Sport committee
ACE Review a response from the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group
The Secretary is Chris Hodgkins with the assistance of Simon Jennings and Will Riley-Smith of NorthPoint Strategy and Joe Paice.. The Secretary operates on a strictly pro bono basis and no expenses of any kind are paid to the Secretary. The contact address is: admin@appjag.org and the website is https://appjag.org/
All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group 