The Parliamentary Jazz Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.

 

For 2026, the Musicians’ Union is sponsoring the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and, in particular, a new award to celebrate the work of Music Hubs and Schools Music Services.

 

The new Musicians’ Union Music Hub/Schools Music Services Jazz Education Award is being organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group, with financial assistance from the Musicians’ Union and the help and support of SoundStorm and Music Mark.

 

The Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2026 will be held on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at World Heart Beat in Nine Elms, London.

“The Musicians’ Union is proud to support the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards,” said Naomi Pohl, General Secretary of the MU. “The MU is pleased to support the new award for music hubs at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Music hubs play a crucial role in the development of young talent and it is fantastic to see this work formally recognised.”

 

The award gives Music Hubs and Schools Music Services a clear route to share their work in jazz education, whether through ensembles, workshops, progression routes, partnerships, curriculum activity, youth jazz development or wider access to the music.

 

Applications will be reviewed by a panel drawn from the Musicians’ Union, Music Mark, jazz promoters and jazz educators. A shortlist of three nominees will be selected.

 

Dan Somogyi, head of SoundStorm Music Education Agency, co-lead of the South Coast Music Partnership music hub, musician with Thokozile Collective and jazz programmer at Lighthouse, Poole, said:

It’s been great to work in partnership with the APPG, the Musicians Union and Music Mark in helping to move forward with this new award for music hubs and services. It’s vital for a thriving jazz scene that young people are supported to explore and play a wide range of music genres, including jazz. This new award should hopefully encourage hubs and music services to grow their investment in jazz, whilst recognising those that are already doing great work in this field.

 

Chris Buglass, Director of Operations at Music Mark, said:

Music Mark is delighted to be supporting the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, which celebrate the outstanding talent, creativity and diversity of the Jazz scene in the UK. Jazz enriches the UK music industry, inspires audiences, and provides opportunities for young emerging artists. We are proud to support an event that raises the profile of the genre and recognises those who continually shape the future of Jazz.

 

Lord Mann and Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Co-chairs of APPJAG, said:

This new award is a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the Music Hubs and Schools Music Services.

 

Applications should be submitted to Chris Hodgkins at appjag1@gmail.com by the deadline of Friday 31 July 2026 at midnight.

 

Application forms are available to download from the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group website.

 

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group currently has more than 73 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Its aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament.

 

The Group’s officers, as at the Annual General Meeting on 20 November 2025, are Chair Chi Onwurah MP and Deputy Chair Lord Mann. The officers are Jo White MP, Baroness Nicholson, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, Sarah Champion MP and Lord Spellar.

 

The Secretary is Chris Hodgkins, with the assistance of Simon Jennings and Will Riley-Smith of NorthPoint Strategy and Andrew Lansley. The Secretary operates on a strictly pro bono basis and no expenses of any kind are paid to the Secretary.

 

Contact: admin@appjag.org

Website: https://appjag.org/