Johnny Marr will be bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sky Arts Awards tonight (13.10.26).
As well as receiving the honour, the former Smiths star will take to the stage at London’s Roundhouse to entertain guests at the bash.
The prize celebrates the musician’s work with the legendary Manchester group and the guitarist’s successful solo career, having earned six UK Top 10 albums.
It caps off a huge 2026 that included his biggest headline show yet at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl.
Later this month, his memoir Set the Boy Free returns in a special 10th-anniversary edition.
Johnny’s collaborative streak has remained just as strong. In recent years he has written and recorded with Gorillaz, Billie Eilish, Franz Ferdinand and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and contributed to the HELP(2) charity album.
The show will be hosted by Sir Grayson Perry and Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, who will open the night with a joint performance before Self Esteem closes the ceremony.
Rising singer-songwriter Victor Ray – who has built a huge following globally with tracks including Comfortable, Stay for a While and It Only Cost Everything – will team up with English National Ballet dancer Jakob Wheway Hughes for a one-off collaboration.
Saxophonist Jess Gillam MBE, currently on her UK SHINE tour, will also appear.
The Orchestral Qawwali Project, featuring musicians from major UK orchestras and led by composer Rushil Ranjan with vocalist Abi Sampa, will bring its fusion of Sufi poetry, dance and orchestral arrangements to the Roundhouse, joined by choreographer Aakash Odedra.
Scottish tenor Nicky Spence OBE will deliver a special performance with writer and broadcaster Reverend Richard Coles and the London Gay Men’s Chorus, rounding out a night celebrating creativity across the UK arts scene.
Watch The Sky Arts Awards 2026 on Sky Arts, Freeview and streaming service NOW tonight (12.10.26) at 9pm.
