Submissions are now open for this year’s NI Music Prize, one of the key annual events recognising the breadth of music talent in Northern Ireland. The awards will return to the Ulster Hall on Wednesday 12th November 2025, as part of the Sound of Belfast festival, organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre.

Artists and representatives can now submit for the following three categories:

  • Album of the Year
  • Single of the Year
  • Live Act of the Year

The submission deadline for all categories is Monday 4th August at 5pm. All entry links and full eligibility criteria are available at the NI Music Prize website via the link in our bio.

Now in its twelfth year, the NI Music Prize highlights a diverse mix of artists across genres and career stages. Previous winners include Problem Patterns, Robocobra Quartet, Kitt Philippa, SOAK, Saint Sister and Joshua Burnside. The Prize remains an important platform for recognising artistic achievement and celebrating the quality and diversity of music being made in NI.

This year, the NI Music Prize also returns with a refreshed look and updated processes, including longlist publication, public voting, and shortlisting via a wider nominator academy. While the Video of the Year category will not return for 2025, the Album, Single and Live Act awards will remain at the core of the event, alongside the PRS for Music ‘Creator Award’ and BBC Introducing Artist of the Year award.

The NI Music Prize is coordinated by the Oh Yeah Music Centre – Belfast’s dedicated music hub and an organisation fully representative of its UNESCO City of Music designation.

For further details and to submit, visit the official NI Music Prize website.