Mari Boine was awarded the honorary award by Mia Hallesby, who is the chairwoman of Musikkforlaggerne and deputy chairwoman of TONO's board. Photo: Jonathan Vivaas Kise
On March 4, the 2026 Music Publishers Awards took place at the Embassy in Oslo. Nine awards and one honorary award were presented to some of the country's leading songwriters and composers.
/ 07/03/2026 / Willy MartinsenMari Boine was awarded the Honorary Award of the Year for his long and significant work as a songwriter and artist.
Among the evening's award winners were: Ari Bajgora, Synne Vorkinn og Daniel Herskedal, og Sandeep Singh was a conference speaker.
The evening also featured strong musical moments. Tobias Stone og Synne Vo performed "Ingen her e deg", nominated for Song of the Year – Popular Music. Breakthrough of the Year winner Iris Caltwait delivered "Honey, baby" together with Oslo Strings.
As a tribute to Mari Boine, performed Kristoffer Lo, Kajsa Balto, Aslak Heika Hätta Bjørn (Bad Blood), Maciek Ofstad (Stranglehold) and Knut Oscar Nymo (Oslo Ace) «Vuoi Vuoi Mu» – a song from Boine's commissioned work of the same name from 2005.
The Music Publishers Award highlights the breadth and quality of Norwegian music, and this year's winners represent a wide range of genres and expressions.
New this year was the price International progress of the year, which went to composer Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen.
The music publishers is one of three group associations in TONO, together with NOPA og Norwegian Composers' AssociationThese three associations manage 2/3 of TONO's cultural assetsThe associations work to improve the framework conditions for TONO's members, among other things through political influence, they have many support and scholarship schemes and, like TONO, they also work to create increased understanding for authors and music publishers in Norway. One of the Music Publishers' initiatives in this context is the Music Publishers Award.
"Fall and hit" – Ari Bajgora
Aadne Eriksen Haaland (Toothfairy Publishing), Ari Bajgora, Andrew Murray, Christian Pehrson Balvig
Synne Vorkinn / Popular Demand / Universal Music Publishing Scandinavia
Wild Iris Hartveit Kolltveit / Warner Chappell Music Norway
"And Fear of Loss Will Not Oppress Your Heart" - Henrik Hellstenius (Edition Wilhelm Hansen)
"Untitled (Horizons)" – Eivind Buene (Edition Wilhelm Hansen)
Daniel Herskedal/GILT
"Against the Wind" – Daniel Herskedal (GILT)
"Nickname" from Nepobaby
peermusic Arctic Rights Norway / BMG Rights Management (Scandinavia) AB
Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen / Norwegian Music Publishers
Mari Boine
The Music Publishers Award nominees are selected by four juries, which are composed of the Music Publishers Award board. The honorary award is determined by the Music Publishers Award board.
Read the jury's reasons for the winners HERE.