The International Dance Music Awards (IDMAs) are officially returning to the Winter Music Conference (WMC) in 2026, marking a major reunion between two of electronic music’s longest-standing institutions during Miami Music Week.
Alongside the announcement of the awards’ return, the nominees across the main artist and industry categories have now been revealed. Voting is currently underway by the newly formed IDMA Advisory Board, with winners set to be announced during a special Bridges For Music x IDMA reception at Winter Music Conference on Thursday, March 26.
The return of the IDMAs to Winter Music Conference
Originally launched in 1985, the International Dance Music Awards were among the first global honors dedicated exclusively to dance and electronic music. Established alongside the early years of the Winter Music Conference, the awards have spent nearly four decades recognizing the DJs, producers, labels, festivals, clubs, and media platforms that have helped shape the evolution of electronic music worldwide.
The 2026 edition marks a meaningful homecoming for the awards, reconnecting them with the conference where they first began while reaffirming their role in celebrating excellence across the global electronic music ecosystem.
Categories at the International Dance Music Awards 2026
The IDMA 2026 program spans a wide range of categories designed to recognize both artistic achievements and contributions from across the wider industry.
Among the headline awards are Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year, highlighting the artists who have made the biggest impact over the past year as well as emerging talents gaining global attention. The awards also spotlight musical output through categories such as Best Album, Best Song (Dance), Best Song (Electronic) and Best Remix, celebrating some of the most notable releases in recent months.
Beyond the artists themselves, the IDMAs also acknowledge the broader ecosystem that supports dance music culture. Categories including Best Label, Best Festival/Event, Best Club, and Best Event Series recognize the organizations and venues that play a central role in shaping the global electronic music scene. Meanwhile, Best Radio Show/Podcast and Best Music Media Resource highlight the platforms and media outlets that contribute to the daily promotion and coverage of electronic music worldwide.
In addition, genre-focused artist categories celebrate leaders across Dance, Techno, House, Melodic House/Techno, Progressive House, Tech House, Afro House, Trance, Bass, and Drum & Bass, reflecting the diversity and global influence of today’s electronic music landscape.
How the nominees were selected
The nominees for the International Dance Music Awards 2026 were curated through an extensive research and evaluation process conducted by the IDMA team in collaboration with members of the newly formed IDMA Advisory Board.
To build the final shortlist, several key indicators within the global electronic music ecosystem were analyzed. These included leading electronic music publications and industry media, publicly available chart and streaming data, major festival lineups, and touring activity by artists over the past year. Additional widely recognized measures of cultural and commercial impact within the dance music industry were also considered.
Members of the Advisory Board were also invited to submit write-in nominations, helping ensure that the final ballot reflects both measurable performance and the informed perspective of professionals working within the industry.
Key nominees for IDMA 2026
The nominees across the main categories reflect the current state of global electronic music, featuring both established headliners and artists making a strong impact on the international scene.
In the Artist of the Year category, the nominees include Chris Lake, Fred again.., John Summit, Mau P, and Sara Landry, all of whom have had significant presence across festivals, clubs, and streaming platforms over the past year.
The Breakthrough Artist of the Year category highlights emerging names gaining momentum across the electronic music landscape, including Chloé Caillet, Jackie Hollander, Josh Baker, Kettama, and Ki/Ki.
For Best Album, the nominated releases include Charlotte de Witte’s self-titled album Charlotte de Witte, Chris Lake’s Chemistry, Ninajirachi’s I Love My Computer, Sammy Virji’s Same Day Cleaning, and Skrillex’s FCK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3.
Meanwhile, the Best Song (Dance) category features tracks such as Hypnotized by Anyma featuring Ellie Goulding, In My Head by Chris Lake & Amber Mark, No Broke Boys by Disco Lines & Tinashe, Victory Lap by Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax, and I Guess We’re Not The Same by Sammy Virji.
In the Best Song (Electronic) category, nominees include One Mind by Amelie Lens & Charlotte de Witte, About To Begin by Barry Can’t Swim, Into Dust by Four Tet, Like I Like It by Mau P, Voltage by Skrillex, and All Systems Are Lying by Soulwax.
Ceremony during Miami Music Week
Winners across all major categories will be revealed during a special Bridges For Music x IDMA reception taking place at the Winter Music Conference on March 26, 2026.
The event will bring together artists, nominees, and industry leaders for an evening celebrating achievements across the global electronic music community.
The reception will be open to Winter Music Conference badge holders, giving attendees the opportunity to experience the International Dance Music Awards as part of the wider Miami Music Week industry gathering. Additional details about the reception and award presentations are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
A key moment for the global electronic music scene
As electronic music continues to expand its cultural and commercial influence worldwide, the return of the International Dance Music Awards marks a significant moment for the industry.
While honoring the genre’s legacy and the pioneers who helped shape it, the IDMAs also aim to recognize the artists, organizations, and professionals who are defining the future of global electronic music culture.
