Johnny Marr will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sky Arts Awards 2026 tonight, recognising his influential songwriting and lasting contribution to British music. Taking place at London's Roundhouse, the ceremony will also see the guitarist perform live alongside a host of special guests.
Marr made his name as the guitarist and co-founder of The Smiths, becoming one of the most respected songwriters in British music. He has since enjoyed a successful solo career, earning six UK Top 10 albums, including his latest acclaimed release, The Age Of Everything. The award comes after a busy year for Marr, who played the biggest headline show of his solo career at Manchester's Castlefield Bowl. It also arrives ahead of a special 10th anniversary edition of his autobiography, Set the Boy Free. In recent years, he has worked with Gorillaz, Billie Eilish, Franz Ferdinand and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
The evening will begin with a joint performance from presenters Sir Grayson Perry and Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem. Self Esteem will also return to the stage to close the ceremony. Singer-songwriter Victor Ray will join forces with English National Ballet dancer Jakob Wheway Hughes for a special performance, while award-winning saxophonist Jess Gillam MBE will appear during her ongoing UK tour.
Another highlight will come from The Orchestral Qawwali Project, featuring musicians from the CBSO, Manchester Camerata and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Led by composer Rushil Ranjan and vocalist Abi Sampa, the group will perform alongside choreographer Aakash Odedra. Scottish tenor Nicky Spence OBE will also appear with Reverend Richard Coles and the London Gay Men's Chorus.
Produced for Sky and presented in association with DRUM Studios, the Sky Arts Awards celebrate outstanding British achievements across classical music, comedy, dance, film, literature, opera, poetry, popular music, television, theatre and visual arts. The ceremony will be broadcast tonight at 9pm on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW.
