IMRO Live Music Awards

The IMRO Live Music Awards celebrate the venues, festivals, promoters and technical crews that support and sustain Ireland’s live music ecosystem.

Established by IMRO in 2009, the Awards recognise the businesses and teams that provide vital platforms for live music across the island of Ireland. From grassroots venues and regional festivals to the promoters and technical crews behind the scenes, the Awards acknowledge the dedication and professionalism required to bring live music to audiences night after night.

Awards are presented across a number of categories recognising excellence in live music programming, audience experience and contribution to the live music sector. Each year, the Awards ceremony brings together representatives from across the music industry to celebrate the people and places that make live music possible in Ireland.

Live music is a vital part of Ireland’s cultural life and creative economy. Research commissioned by IMRO in the Ireland: Music Report 2025 found that the Irish music industry contributes over €1 billion annually to the economy and supports more than 13,400 jobs. Live events generate approximately €786 million in consumer spending each year through concerts and festivals.

Award Categories

Venue of the Year

IMRO Venue of the Year – Dublin

IMRO Venue of the Year – Leinster (Excluding Dublin)

IMRO Venue of the Year – Munster

IMRO Venue of the Year – Connacht

IMRO Venue of the Year – Ulster

Festival of the Year

IMRO Festival of the Year – Large (Over 15,000 Attendees)

IMRO Festival of the Year – Small (Under 15,000 Attendees)

Technical Crew of the Year (In partnership with Audoo)

IMRO Technical Crew of the Year – Venue

IMRO Technical Crew of the Year – Festival

Promoter of the Year (new)

IMRO Live Music Promoter of the Year

Overall Winner (In partnership with Hot Press)

IMRO Live Music Awards – Overall Winner

Submission & Selection Process

Entries for the IMRO Live Music Awards are submitted through the official nomination form available at www.imro.ie/livemusicawards. Eligible venues, festivals and promoters are invited to complete the form and provide details of their live music activity, programming and contribution to the live music sector over the previous 12 months. For the Technical Crew categories, nominations must be submitted by the venue or festival the crew works with.

To be eligible, entrants must:

Operate on the island of Ireland
Have contributed to the delivery of live music within the past 12 months
Be fully compliant with all IMRO music licensing requirements

All submissions are reviewed by IMRO to confirm eligibility and alignment with the relevant award category. Following this review, eligible nominees are presented to IMRO members for voting to determine the winners. The winners are announced at the IMRO Live Music Awards ceremony.

2026 Winners

Tech Crews and Festivals:

IMRO Festival Technical Crew of the Year – Electric Picnic Laois

IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year – Aurfest Louth

IMRO Large Music Festival of the Year – All Together Now Waterford

IMRO Venue Technical Crew of the Year – Spirit Store Louth

Regional Winners:

Dublin- Vicar Street

Leinster – Spirit Store Louth

Munster – Dolan’s Limerick

Connacht – Monroe’s Live Galway

Ulster – McCafferty’s Bar Donegal Town

Promoter:

IMRO Live Music Promoter of the Year – Singular Artists

Overall Winner- Electric Picnic Laois

@imromusic "Why are nights like this important?" from our Live Music Awards #IMRO ♬ original sound – IMRO

@imromusic Favourite Irish venue and music memories from our Live Music awards! #LiveMusic #IMRO #IrishMusic@mcdproductions, Monroe's Tavern Galway, @babyratband , @mccaffertysbardonegal and @calumagnew ♬ original sound – IMRO