Cmat wins best album at Ivor Novello Awards: 'It's nice to finally win an award in England'

Euro-Country was named best album at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards. Cmat, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, expressed excitement about winning in England and noted that English audiences had not generally awarded her before. She praised Ivor Novello and referenced Amy Winehouse’s earlier win for “Love Is A Losing Game,” along with Villagers’ 2011 win for “Becoming A Jackal.” Sam Fender won songwriter of the year, Rosalia won international songwriter of the year, and Sir Elton John received an Ivors Academy Honour and was announced as the academy’s first president. Thom Yorke and George Michael received fellowships, Kae Tempest won best contemporary song, Lola Young won the PRS For Music award for most performed work, and Lily Allen received an additional award.

"“It's really nice to finally win an award in England, English people don't generally give me awards, so that's a first, really good, I'm actually a big fan of the man, Ivor Novello, himself as well... He's the tits, this award is the tits, I love Amy Winehouse so much, and she won best song musically and lyrically for Love Is A Losing Game, and I remember that because I was like 10 when it happened, and she was a really big thing for me.”"

"“And I always loved the fact that she won that award, and so did a guy from Ireland called Villagers, he won it in 2011 for a song called Becoming A Jackal. And I remember being like, 'Wow, it's crazy that the most famous person in the world and this indie artist from Dublin both won the same award, what an interesting award show, I would f****** love one of them'.”"

"“Seventeen Going Under star Fender won songwriter of the year, while Rosalia, whose full name is Rosalia Vila Tobella, collected the international songwriter of the year gong, and Sir Elton was presented with an Ivors Academy Honour, and was also announced as the academy's first-ever president.”"

"“Poet Kae Tempest won best contemporary song for I Stand On The Line from his 2025 album Self Titled, and said he would celebrate with 'a little party', while singer Lola Young won the PRS For Music award for most performed work for her 2024 song Messy.”"

Read at Irish Independent