Guide to Music Award Shows: Complete List of Ceremonies
Guide to Music Award Shows: Complete List of Popular Ceremonies
Celebrating Musical Excellence Worldwide
Music award shows are the pinnacle of recognition for artists, producers, and industry professionals, honoring exceptional talent and groundbreaking achievements.
From fan-voted celebrations to prestigious industry events, these ceremonies showcase the diverse landscape of global music.
Whether you’re a fan of pop, rock, hip-hop, country, or Latin music, these awards highlight the best in the business.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most anticipated music award shows, providing details on dates, history, and significance.
Most Prestigious Music Award Shows of 2025
- Grammy Awards – February 2, 2025
The Grammy Awards, hosted by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, have been the gold standard in music recognition since 1959.
Featuring over 90 categories, the Grammys honor artists across all genres, making it the most prestigious music award ceremony worldwide.
- American Music Awards (AMA) – May 2025 (Exact Date TBD)
The AMAs, founded by Dick Clark in 1973, are entirely fan-voted, making them one of the most interactive and exciting music award shows.
The 2025 AMAs will be hosted on CBS after years on ABC.
- MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) – September 2025 (Exact Date TBD)
Since 1984, the MTV VMAs have celebrated the artistry behind music videos.
Known for jaw-dropping performances and viral pop culture moments, this awards show remains a favorite among fans of visual storytelling in music.
- Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) – November 2025 (Exact Date TBD)
Hosted by Billboard, this award show recognizes the most commercially successful artists based on chart performance, digital streaming, and album sales.
- BRIT Awards – March 1, 2025
Often referred to as the UK’s Grammys, the BRIT Awards celebrate British and international artists across various genres, highlighting the best in UK music.
- BET Awards – June 2025 (Exact Date TBD)
The BET Awards honor excellence in Black entertainment, including R&B, hip-hop, and gospel music.
- Latin Grammy Awards – November 2025 (Exact Date TBD)
Since 2000, the Latin Grammys have recognized the best Latin music across Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.
- CMA Awards (Country Music Association Awards) – November 2025 (Exact Date TBD)
Celebrating country music excellence, the CMA Awards remain one of the most prestigious events in the country music industry.
- iHeartRadio Music Awards – March 17, 2025
A fan-driven awards show recognizing the most-played artists on iHeartRadio, featuring over 50 categories covering all major genres.
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – October 2025 (Exact Date TBD)
Not a traditional award show, but an iconic event celebrating legendary artists and their contributions to music history.
Additional Music Award Shows in 2025
- Golden Globes (January 5, 2025) – Recognizing achievements in film and television, including Best Original Song and Best Score.
- NAACP Image Awards (February 22, 2025) – Honoring Black excellence in entertainment, including multiple music categories.
- People’s Choice Awards (February 2025) – A fan-voted event spanning music, movies, and television.
- Juno Awards (March 30, 2025) – Canada’s equivalent of the Grammys, celebrating Canadian artists.
- Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (March 2025) – Featuring kid-friendly music categories.
- CMT Music Awards (April 2025) – A country music fan-favorite ceremony.
- Latin American Music Awards (April 2025) – A Spanish-language, fan-voted award show.
- Blues Music Awards (May 8, 2025) – Celebrating excellence in blues music for over 40 years.
- Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM Awards) (May 8, 2025) – Another major country music award show.
- Tony Awards (June 8, 2025) – Honoring the best in musical theater.
- MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) (November 2025) – Recognizing global pop culture and music excellence.
- Soul Train Awards (November 2025) – Highlighting the best in R&B and hip-hop music.
Defunct Music Award Shows
While many award shows continue to thrive, some have been discontinued. Here are a few notable defunct music award shows:
- Q Awards (1990-2019) – UK rock magazine awards that ended when the publication ceased operations.
- Radio Disney Music Awards (2001-2019) – Focused on kid-friendly artists before being discontinued.
- YouTube Music Awards (2013, 2015) – Short-lived awards celebrating viral digital music content.
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (1995-2001) – Nominations based on commercial success.
- Alternative Press Music Awards (2013-2017) – Celebrated alternative and rock music.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Music Award Shows in 2026
Although official dates have yet to be announced, here’s a tentative list of major music award shows expected in 2026:
- Grammy Awards – February 2026
- People’s Choice Awards – February 2026
- BRIT Awards – March 2026
- Academy Awards (Oscars) – March 2026
- Juno Awards – March 2026
- iHeartRadio Music Awards – March 2026
- ACM Awards – May 2026
- BET Awards – June 2026
Conclusion: Which Music Award Show Is Your Favorite?
Music award shows continue to evolve, reflecting changes in industry trends, fan engagement, and musical innovation.
Whether you tune in for the performances, acceptance speeches, or red-carpet fashion, these ceremonies offer unforgettable moments for music lovers worldwide.
What’s your favorite music award show? Let us know in the comments!
