Lo Rays at SAMA 2026 - photography by Anni Cameron

How the SAMA 2026 nominees are selected

For SAMA 2026, we’re bringing together people from 21 organisations across Scotland’s music community to help select this year’s nominees.

Each award category has a group of nominators who share suggestions, discuss artists’ work and agree on a shortlist of four nominees. They look for artistic quality, originality and development, considering talent across Scotland. Follower counts and industry connections do not determine selection.

To be eligible, artists must be based in Scotland, aged 16 or over, and have released at least three publicly available tracks between October 2025 and October 2026. Artists who won a SAMA in either of the previous two award years are not eligible for nomination in 2026.

The Best Newcomer artists must have been active for at least 12 months, while Best Live Act nominees must have performed multiple times during the eligibility period.

Thank you to everyone contributing their time, knowledge and experience to this year’s selection.

Best Metal — sponsored by Drygate

Craig Law — Hamilton Hunter
Jonathan Almond — Triple G Presents
Emma Wiggin — The Rock & Metal Alliance

Best Electronica — sponsored by UNESCO Glasgow

Rahull.mp3 — Scandal
Frankie Elysie — Polka Dot Disco Club
Vera (ona) — EPiKA

Best Rock/Alternative — sponsored by PRS For Music

Nadine Walker — Tenement TV
Meg Denholm — DF Concerts
Kitt Carr — Wide Days

Best Acoustic — sponsored by Musicians Union

Alistair Braidwood — Scots Whae Hay!
Michael Ward — La Sierra Casa
Tamara Schlesinger — Hen Hoose

Best Hip Hop — sponsored by PITCH Scotland

Alana Hepburn — Hip Hop Scotland
Nich — PlayMyMixtape
Colin Fraser — Wordplay Magazine

Best Newcomer — sponsored by Blackhall Records

Caitlin Mackenzie, Harvey Haldane, George McFayden — Crowded Flat
Adedeji Ekundayo — Raven Afrikulture | Aberdeen Music Week
Serena Piotto — Be United

Best Live Act — sponsored by St Luke’s & The Winged Ox

Chris Knight — Kelburn Garden Party | People’s Leisure Club
Jill Rodger — Glasgow International Jazz Festival
Ross Keppie and Kim Blythe — Pop Mutations

Celebrating SAMA 2026

This year’s awards ceremony takes place on Saturday 28 November 2026 at St Luke’s, Glasgow, hosted by Stephanie Cheape of BBC Introducing with performances from Dictator, with more to be announced!

Thank you to all our nominators and category sponsors for helping us celebrate Scotland’s music community. We look forward to sharing this year’s nominees with you in November!

SAMA 2026 Tickets on sale now - £14 / £20