Leeds Festival acts lead shortlist for 2026 Independent Music Awards
Clementine Douglas, Geese, and Kettama score major AIM Award nods ahead of Bramham Park sets, as Fabio & Grooverider take home the Innovator Award
With thousands of music fans preparing to descend on Bramham Park next week, several key acts on the Leeds Festival 2026 bill have received major national recognition following the reveal of the 2026 Independent Music Awards nominations.
Organised by the Association for Independent Music (AIM), the awards celebrate the cream of the UK’s independent sector ahead of a ceremony at London’s Roundhouse.
Leading the local festival connections is vocal house artist Clementine Douglas, who takes to the stage in Leeds this weekend as a nominee for the coveted PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist.
Two major acts heading for The Gallery stage have also picked up nominations in the competitive Best Release Campaign category: American art-punk outfit Geese (for their acclaimed project Getting Killed on Partisan Records) and Irish electronic producer Kettama (for his Archangel campaign on Steel City Dance Disks).
They join a heavily nominated festival cohort that includes the likes of Wet Leg, Mitski, Nova Twins, Jorja Smith, and Thundercat, who feature across various album, video, and campaign shortlists.
Beyond the festival stages, the 2026 awards are paying tribute to drum & bass and jungle pioneers Fabio & Grooverider, who have been named as the recipients of this year’s prestigious Innovator Award.
Recognising over three decades at the cutting edge of UK dance music, the duo’s seminal radio shows and club sets have left an indelible mark on underground music nationwide—a legacy that continues to resonate across Leeds' rich clubbing landscape.
Elsewhere in the nominations, South London artist Jim Legxacy and NYC band Fcukers lead the overall pack with three nominations apiece.
The event will also celebrate creative teams behind the scenes, featuring video director nods for figures like Yorgos Lanthimos (for Jerskin Fendrix’s Beth’s Farm), alongside category battles for major independent labels including Ninja Tune, Dead Oceans, and Tru Thoughts.
AIM Awards Nominees at Leeds Festival 2026: Set Times & Categories
- Kettama (Best Release Campaign): The Gallery, Friday, 7:15pm – 8:40pm
- Geese (Best Release Campaign): The Gallery, Saturday, 5:20pm – 6:20pm
- Clementine Douglas (PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist): The Ballroom, Saturday, 2:40pm – 3:20pm
Looking for the full timetable ahead of this year’s Leeds Festival? Check out our day-by-day schedule and start highlighting your days at Bramham Park.