Liam Gallagher's tambourine grin and Charli XCX says bye to Brat - Music Photography Awards 2026 shortlist

The awards, which this year considered works by more than 24,500 submissions from 42 different countries, released a shortlist of 40 finalists across eight categories on Tuesday. The likes of Kendrick Lamar, Fontaines DC, Tame Impala and Sombr also feature in the shots, while other images of stars including FKA Twigs have been selected - out of competition - for judges' awards. All of the finalist photographs will go on display in the LED tunnel at entertainment complex Outernet London from 8 to 14 September.

These will include the five pieces picked out for consideration in the fan-voted music moment of the year award. Voting is available online via the official websites of both the Music Photography Awards (MPA, external) and Abbey Road Studios, and in person at the exhibition. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the London studios - made famous by the 1969 Beatles album of the same name - on 24 September.

Head judge, British photographer and director Rankin, said 2026 "feels like the strongest year yet" for the awards, which began five years ago. "The quality of the work entered was genuinely exceptional - not just technically brilliant, but full of energy, emotion and a real point of view." He added: "Music photography is in a really exciting place right now, and these awards are a brilliant snapshot of that." This year's guest category celebrates 50 years of punk. It was previously announced that photographers Roberta Bayley and Masayoshi Sukita will both receive special recognition on the night.

The judging panel includes artists from around the worlds of music and photography, including Chic guitarist and producer Nile Rogers and Brit Award-winning singer Raye. Here are some more of the eye-catching nominees: Image: A single Oasis fan caught in the middle of the swirling, chaotic movement of the River Plate stadium crowd in Buenos Aries, Argentina, during their 2025 comeback tour Award category: Music moment of the year Image: Liam (right) and Noel Gallagher of Oasis sharing a moment on stage but off mic during their band's penultimate Wembley Stadium show of their 2025 comeback tour Image: The New York band Geese pictured clearing out their studio space ahead of a photo shoot Image: A fisheye portrait of The OGM, one half of the group HO99O9, smiling while displaying his custom grill Image: Surrounded by performers in red, white and blue, forming the US flag, Kendrick Lamar takes centre stage at the Super Bowl halftime show Image: Yorkshire singer-songwriter Billie Marten riding a white horse in Aotearoa, New Zealand at sunset Category: Emerging photographer of the year Image: Metal fans at Download Festival form a human pyramid on the campsite Image: Fontaines DC rocking out at a festival in their native Ireland, opposite a ferris wheel. What a ride it has been for the band, who also headlined Reading and Leeds this year Image: Phoebe Lunny of Brighton band Lambrini Girls jumping backwards from the top of speakers and down into a sea of hands held aloft in the crowd to catch her Image: US singer-songwriter Sombr playing (or should that be resting his hands on) a piano backwards while looking directly into the camera Image: Punks with Dolly and Harriet, featuring Ian Anderson who became the singer with Crazyhead, and Robber Byker who went on to be the bass player with Gaye Bykers on Acid.

Taken in Leicester in 1979 Image: Kevin Parker of Tame Impala has a moment of blissful solitude on the low-lit set of the music video for his track Loser Image: Australian punk rock band Private Function playing one of their last gigs at a party on Gold Street, Melbourne. Chris Penney can be seen diving into the backyard crowd Image: An upside down shot of Amyl and the Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor crowd surfing the very low ceilings of Soda Bar in San Diego in 2019 Image: FKA Twigs and her dancers letting out a collective primal scream while headlining the LadyLand Festival at Under the K Bridge Park in Brooklyn. The photo was taken as part of Rolling Stone magazine's coverage of the festival, which celebrates queer talent and gay icons See stunning shots of Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Doja Cat up for music photo award