The next Music & Drama Education Awards will take place on 12 February 2026

Nominations are now open for the Music & Drama Education Awards 2026, which celebrate the achievements of teachers, school departments, individuals, resources, organisations and charities. This year, nominations will be submitted through a new form-based system, which streamlines the submission and selection process.
The 2026 awards ceremony will be held at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. The host, and expert judging panel, will be announced closer to the event.
Nominations can be submitted in the following categories:
- Outstanding musical initiative
- Outstanding drama initiative
- Outstanding music education resource
- Outstanding music education print resource
- Outstanding drama education resource
- Excellence in SEND (music and drama)
- Excellence in musical theatre (music and drama)
- The MTI award for achievement in musical theatre provision
- Excellence in primary/early years (music and drama)
- The Rocksteady award for progressive and inclusive music education
- Outstanding school music department
- Outstanding school drama department
- Instrumental or vocal teacher of the year
- Music inspiration award
- Drama inspiration award
- Lifetime achievement award – music
- Lifetime achievement award – drama.
We will also be presenting the Drama & Theatre and Music Teacher Editors’ Awards at the ceremony.
The Music & Drama Education Awards 2025 ceremony took place in January and was hosted by Simon Beale. It was supported by sponsors: AVID, Music Teachers’ Association, Music Theatre International, Rocksteady Music School and Royal Marines Band Service.
The deadline for receiving nominations for the 2026 Music & Drama Education Awards is 15 August 2025.
To find out more about each category and submit a nomination online, visit musicdramaedawards.com