Johnny Marr is set to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at tonight’s Sky Arts Awards 2026, celebrating his iconic songwriting legacy and enduring impact on British music. Broadcast live from London’s Roundhouse, the ceremony will also feature a special live performance from Marr alongside a stellar lineup of guest performers.
Marr first rose to fame as the guitarist and co-founder of The Smiths, establishing himself as one of the most influential songwriters in British music history. Since launching his solo career, he has scored six UK Top 10 albums, including his latest acclaimed release, The Age Of Everything. The award caps off a monumental year for Marr, which featured his largest solo headline show to date at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl and precedes the 10th anniversary release of his autobiography, Set the Boy Free. His recent collaborations include recordings with Gorillaz, Billie Eilish, Franz Ferdinand, and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Tonight's ceremony will open with a joint performance by co-hosts Sir Grayson Perry and Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem), with Self Esteem also delivering the evening’s closing musical set. Breakout singer-songwriter Victor Ray will collaborate with English National Ballet dancer Jakob Wheway Hughes, while award-winning saxophonist Jess Gillam MBE will perform amidst her ongoing UK tour.
Further highlights scheduled for the broadcast include a performance by The Orchestral Qawwali Project—featuring members of the CBSO, Manchester Camerata, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra—alongside vocalist Abi Sampa and choreographer Aakash Odedra. Scottish tenor Nicky Spence OBE will also take to the stage joined by Reverend Richard Coles and the London Gay Men's Chorus.
Commissioned by Sky and hosted in association with DRUM Studios, the Sky Arts Awards honor exceptional British talent across classical music, comedy, dance, film, literature, opera, poetry, popular music, television, theatre, and visual arts. The ceremony airs tonight at 9pm on Sky Arts, Freeview, and NOW.
