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Radio 1 Dance Awards 2026

Every year Radio 1 celebrates the year in Dance!

The Radio 1 Dance Awards look back over the biggest moments in dance music over the past 12 months, highlighting artists, records, mixes and venues that have made a big impact.

Read on to find out the nominees and winners from Radio 1's Dance Awards 2026...

MC or Vocalist of the Year - The voice that has defined the sound of dance music.

  • Clementine Douglas
  • Jazzy (WINNER)
  • Omar+
  • Poppy Baskcomb
  • Skepta

Breakthrough DJ of the Year - The DJ whose rise has been the most meteoric.

  • Josh Baker (WINNER)
  • Max Dean
  • Oppidan
  • Rossi.

Essential Mix of the Year - Last year’s best entry to the world’s longest running mix series.

  • Carl Cox recorded at [UNVRS], Ibiza (WINNER)
  • DJ Gigola
  • Djrum
  • Ela Minus
  • Interplanetary Criminal
  • Romy

DJ of the Year - The DJ who has had the biggest impact on dance music.

  • Charlotte De Witte
  • Fred again..
  • Hannah Laing
  • KETTAMA (WINNER)
  • Sammy Virji

Music Project of the Year - The best dance album, mixtape or EP.

  • Chris Lake - Chemistry
  • Jazzy - GEWAH Selects
  • PinkPantheress - Fancy That (WINNER)
  • Sammy Virji - Same Day Cleaning
  • Sub Focus - Contact

Culture Champion - Someone who has used dance music to create a positive societal impact.

  • Saffron

Outstanding Contribution - An artist or group who, over a sustained period, has changed dance music forever.

  • Disclosure

Major Venue of the Year - The one venue that’s brought dance music to the masses, in the most impactful way!

  • BCM, Mallorca
  • District, Cardiff
  • Fabrik, Madrid
  • Index, Dublin
  • KOKO, London
  • NX, Newcastle
  • Pacha, Ibiza
  • The Cause, London
  • The Warehouse Project, Manchester (WINNER)
  • Thuishaven, Amsterdam
  • UNO, Malta
  • [UNVRS], Ibiza

Grassroots Venue of the Year - The best small club that’s helped underground dance music thrive over the past year.

  • Amber’s, Manchester
  • Corsica Studios, London
  • Gonzos Two Room, Norwich
  • LAB11, Birmingham
  • Lakota, Bristol
  • Meraki, Liverpool
  • Patterns, Brighton
  • Stealth, Nottingham
  • Sub Club, Glasgow
  • THÊ DEPØ, Plymouth (WINNER)
  • The Warehouse, Leeds
  • The White Hotel, Salford

Track of the Year - The best dance track you couldn’t escape over the past year.

  • Aitch & Bou - Raving In The Studio
  • Calvin Harris ft. Clementine Douglas - Blessings
  • Chloé Caillet & Luke Alessi ft. Jocelyn Brown - The One
  • Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax - Victory Lap (WINNER)
  • Jazzy & KILIMANJARO - No Bad Vibes
  • Max Dean, Luke Dean & Locky - Can't Decide
  • MK ft. Chrystal - Dior
  • PinkPantheress - Illegal
  • Prospa ft. RAHH - This Rhythm
  • Rossi. & Jazzy - High On Me
  • Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Poppy Baskcomb - Think About Us
  • Tinashe & Disco Lines - No Broke Boys