The winners of the IMRO Live Music Awards 2026 have been announced at a celebration in Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse. The Awards recognise the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who ensure that Ireland’s live music scene continues to go from strength to strength.
With Tom Dunne and Rachel Mae Hannon on hosting duties, the night included live performances from Dave Lofts, Ahmed With Love, BABYRAT, Scullion and DJ Maria Lawlor.
The IMRO Live Music Awards champion the venues and teams that support live music at every level and make gigs possible, on stages big and small, in every part of the country. They recognise the huge cultural and economic impact of live music across Ireland.
Winners were decided by an IMRO member vote, following submissions nationwide. The Overall Winner was decided by public vote in partnership with Hot Press.
Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of this year’s winners. Live music is at the heart of Ireland’s cultural identity and it is sustained by the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all possible. It is a privilege for IMRO to host these awards and recognise the people and places whose dedication, passion and expertise continue to drive Ireland’s live music scene forward.
We would like to thank the Guinness Storehouse for its generous support in hosting this year’s awards. As one of Ireland’s most iconic cultural venues, its ongoing commitment to music and live experiences plays an important role in the wider creative community. We are also delighted to have Hot Press, The Louise Duffy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 and Audoo as partners and we are very grateful for their continued support of live music.”
The winners of the IMRO Live Music Awards 2026 are:
Technical Crews
IMRO Festival Technical Crew of the Year – Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival
IMRO Venue Technical Crew of the Year – Spirit Store, Louth
Festivals
IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year – Aurfest, Louth
IMRO Large Music Festival of the Year – All Together Now, Waterford
Venues
Live Music Venue of the Year Dublin – Vicar Street, Dublin
Live Music Venue of the Year Leinster (excluding Dublin) – Spirit Store, Louth
Live Music Venue of the Year Munster – Dolan’s Pub & Restaurant, Limerick
Live Music Venue of the Year Connacht – Monroe’s Live, Galway
Live Music Venue of the Year Ulster – McCafferty’s Bar, Donegal Town
Promoter
IMRO Live Music Promoter of the Year – Singular Artists
Overall Winner
Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival
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