Jacob Alon was the big winner at the 2026 Ivor Novello awards on Thursday, taking home two awards as the ceremony recognized the best in British and Irish songwriting and screen composition. Alon won the rising star prize and best song musically and lyrically for Don't Fall Asleep.
The double win capped a fast rise for the 25-year-old artist after a strong run that began with the release of debut album In Limerence in May 2025. The record was nominated for the 2025 Mercury prize, and Alon also won the equivalent rising star prize at the 2026 Brit awards in February, where the honor was called the critics’ choice award.
Don't Fall Asleep was inspired by the death of Alon’s cousin in an accidental drowning before Alon was born, and judges described the song as “profoundly emotionally honest.” Alon had said of the track: “This song, to me, floats across the stormy surface of the sea of dreams, gasping against its choppy tide, resisting the soft pull below into an endless deep.”
The rest of the night spread the spotlight across several other winners. Sam Fender was named songwriter of the year, Rosalía won international songwriter of the year, and CMAT took best album for Euro-Country. Kae Tempest won best contemporary song for I Stand on the Line, while Lola Young collected the award for most performed work for Messy. Tom Hodge won best original film score for Testimony, and David Holmes and Brian Irvine won best television soundtrack for Trespasses. George Michael and Thom Yorke received the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy.
Alon’s two wins underline how quickly the singer-songwriter has moved from breakout status to one of the year’s defining names. After a Mercury prize nomination, a Brit awards critics’ choice win and now two Ivor Novello awards, the next test is whether the acclaim for In Limerence translates into a lasting place at the center of British songwriting.
