AceShowbiz - The 2026 Libera Awards have announced their nominations, spotlighting a host of acclaimed independent artists including Clipse, Mavis Staples, and Hayley Williams. These artists, fresh off their recent Grammy achievements, are among the frontrunners vying for top honors at the prestigious ceremony scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2026, at Gotham Hall in New York City.

The Foundation for Independent Music (FIM), with support from The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), unveiled the full list of nominees on Wednesday, March 18. The 15th annual Libera Awards, presented by Merlin, will celebrate excellence in independent music across 38 categories, underscoring the creativity and impact of indie artists in today’s music landscape.

Clipse, the hip-hop duo composed of No Malice and Pusha T, earned two Grammy nominations earlier this year for their album Let God Sort Em Out, which is also in contention for record of the year at the Libera Awards. Their critically acclaimed project is not only nominated for record of the year but also recognized in categories such as best rap album at the Grammys, reflecting their powerful presence in independent hip-hop.

Hayley Williams, known for her dynamic solo work and fronting Paramore, garnered multiple Grammy nods this year for her album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. This album is also nominated for record of the year at the Libera Awards, highlighting Williams’ continued evolution and influence within the alternative music scene.

The legendary Mavis Staples, who secured two Grammy wins for tracks from her album Sad and Beautiful World, is another formidable contender for record of the year at the Libera Awards. Her album features the Grammy-winning songs "Godspeed" and "Beautiful Strangers," underscoring her enduring impact and artistic vitality in independent music.

Joining these notable names in the record of the year category are a diverse group of artists: Geese with their album Getting Killed, Oklou for choke enough, Oneohtrix Point Never with Tranquilizer, and Wednesday for Bleeds. Each nominee represents a unique sound and artistic vision, reflecting the breadth of talent recognized by the Libera Awards.

Geese, highly anticipated to receive a best new artist Grammy nomination later this year, is also nominated for breakthrough artist at the Libera Awards. They are joined by Gelli Haha, Lambrini Girls, Nourished By Time, and Water From Your Eyes in this category, signaling a vibrant new wave of indie talent making significant strides.

In the category of Best Sync Usage, Wet Leg's track "mangetout," from their 2025 album Moisturizer, gains recognition after being featured prominently in the hit miniseries Heated Rivalry. This nomination highlights the growing importance of music synchronization in television and film as a platform for independent artists.

A new category debuting at the 2026 Libera Awards is Independent Record Store of the Year, underscoring the vital role of these establishments in supporting indie music culture. Nominees include iconic retailers such as Amoeba Music, The Electric Fetus, Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, Music Millennium, Plaid Room Records, Rough Trade NYC, Turntable Lab, and Waterloo Records. This addition acknowledges the physical music community and its continued contribution to the industry.

"We are delighted to announce today the 2026 Libera Awards nominees and share a big congratulations to all of the talented artists and hard-working members of the independent music industry," said Ian Harrison, CEO of A2IM. "Their talent, ambition, drive and creativity have expanded our horizons as both an industry and simply as music fans."

The awards ceremony will be hosted once again by Delisa Shannon, Billboard’s short-form content director, who will guide the evening’s celebrations. The Libera Awards ceremony will kick off the Indie Week conference, which takes place from June 9 to June 11, 2026, at the InterContinental New York Times Square, fostering a comprehensive gathering for independent music professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Below is the complete list of nominees for the 2026 Libera Awards Presented by Merlin, spanning genre-neutral artist awards, specialized categories, and new recognitions that illustrate the vibrant state of independent music today.

Genre-Neutral Artist Awards

Record of the Year

• Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out (under exclusive license to Roc Nation Distribution)
• Geese – Getting Killed (Partisan Records)
• Hayley Williams – Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Post Atlantic)
• Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World (ANTI-)
• Oklou – choke enough (True Panther Records)
• Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer (Warp Records)
• Wednesday – Bleeds (Dead Oceans)

Breakthrough Artist

• Geese (Partisan Records)
• Gelli Haha (Innovative Leisure)
• Lambrini Girls (City Slang)
• Nourished By Time (XL Recordings)
• Water From Your Eyes (Matador Records)

Best Record From Games and Interactive Media

• C418 – Minecraft: Alpha + Beta (Box Set) (Ghostly International)
• Gracie LeClere / Jack Wall – Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 (Original Soundtrack) (Activision)
• Hudson Bikichky – Eclipsium (Original Soundtrack) (Materia Collective)
• Lorien Testard – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Original Soundtrack) (Laced Records)
• Tom Morello – "Everything Burns" (ft. Beartooth) (Mom+Pop)
• Various Artists – Arcane League of Legends: Season 2 Original Soundtrack (Extended Edition) (Riot Games)

Best Outlier Record

• Guerilla Toss – You’re Weird Now (Sub Pop)
• Khruangbin – The Universe Smiles Upon You ii (Dead Oceans)
• Panda Bear – Sinister Grift (Domino)
• William Tyler – Time Indefinite (Psychic Hotline)
• Youth Code – Yours, With Malice (Sumerian Records)

Best Reissue

• Everything but the Girl – The Best of Everything but the Girl (Chrysalis Records)
• Hiroshi Yoshimura – Flora (Temporal Drift)
• MF DOOM – Special Herbs (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
• Rilo Kiley – The Execution of All Things (Frozen Lake Edition) (Saddle Creek)
• Sister Irene O’Connor – Fire of God’s Love (Freedom to Spend)
• The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle: Mono Remastered (Beechwood Park Records)

Best Remix

• Ela Minus – "QQQQ (Nick León Apocalypto Remix)" (Domino)
• Faux Real – "Walking Away From My Demons (Wet Leg Remix)" (City Slang)
• Fat Boy Slim & The Rolling Stones – "Satisfaction Skank" (Southern Fried Records and ABKCO Music & Records)
• Justice – "Mannequin Love" (The Dare Remix) (Ed Banger)
• Lambrini Girls – "Cuntology 101 (Peaches Remix)" (City Slang)
• Oklou – "blade bird (Nick León Broward Mix)" (True Panther Records)
• Reyna Tropical / Amantes del Futuro – "Conocerla" (Psychic Hotline)

Best Sync Usage

• Bully – "Days Move Slow" (I Know What You Did Last Summer) (Sub Pop)
• Buzzcocks – "Why Can’t I Touch It" (ROSS) (Domino)
• De La Soul – "Me Myself and I" (Target Back to School) (A.O.I. Records/Reservoir)
• Goldie Boutilier – "King of Possibilities" (The Hunting Wives) (ONErpm)
• John Prine – "In Spite of Ourselves" (Die My Love) (Oh Boy Records)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – "Burning" (Lucid) (Secretly Canadian)
• Wet Leg – "mangetout" (Heated Rivalry) (Domino)

Best Creative Packaging

• Bobby "Boris" Pickett & Edgar Winter – "Monster Rap" b/w "Frankenstein 1984" (Frankenstein-Shaped Vinyl) (Reservoir Recordings)
• Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE (Jagjaguwar)
• Chucho Valdés, Royal Quartet – Cuba and Beyond (InnerJazz)
• J Dilla – Donuts (Audiophile Edition) (Stones Throw Records)
• John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies – Halloween: The Complete Expanded Collection (Sacred Bones Records)
• MF DOOM – Special Herbs (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

Marketing Genius

• Because Music – Because Beaubourg (Because Music)
• Clipse – Let God Sort ’Em Out (under exclusive license to Roc Nation Distribution)
• Geese – Getting Killed (Partisan Records)
• Hayley Williams – Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Post Atlantic)
• MF DOOM – Special Herbs (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
• Wednesday – Bleeds (Dead Oceans)
• We’ll Never Stop Living This Way: A Ghostly International Catalogue (Ghostly International)

Music Video of the Year

• Clipse – "So Be It" (under exclusive license to Roc Nation Distribution)
• Die Spitz – "Throw Yourself to the Sword" (Third Man Records)
• Geese – "Taxes" (Partisan Records)
• Oklou – "viscus" (True Panther Records)
• Wednesday – "Elderberry Wine" (Dead Oceans)
• Wet Leg – "catch these fists" (Domino)

Self Released Record of the Year

• Charlotte de Witte – Charlotte de Witte (KNTXT)
• Colbie Caillat – This Time Around (Blue Jean Baby Records)
• Hayley Williams – Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Post Atlantic)
• MIKE – Showbiz! (10k)
• Navy Blue – The Sword & The Soaring (Freedom Sounds)
• Rebecca Black – SALVATION (Rebecca Black)
• SNACKTIME – "ENOUGH." (Self-Released)

The 2026 Libera Awards promise to be a vibrant celebration of independent music’s diversity and innovation, spotlighting artists who continue to redefine the boundaries of their genres while maintaining a strong independent spirit. Fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely as these nominees compete for some of the most respected honors in indie music.