Raye, Nile Rodgers to Judge 2026 Abbey Road Music Photography Awards

Raye and Nile Rodgers have been tapped to help judge the fifth edition of the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards.

The free-to-enter competition aims to recognize the best in music and concert photography from around the world. The winners of the 2026 MPAs will be announced Sept. 24 at a special ceremony at Abbey Road Studios in London.

The contest will be judged by a mix of pro photographers and established musicians. On the latter end, joining Raye and Rodgers will be Måneskin’s Damiano David, Abbey Road’s producer-in-residence King Harpoon, Lilly Fontaine of Leeds-based indie rockers English Teacher, and Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada. 

The photographers on the panel include MPA head judge and co-founder Rankin, as well as Platon, Dean Chalkley, Dennis Morris, Jackie Lee Young, Phoebe Fox, and Simon Wheatley. Rolling Stone’s own Sacha Lecca will serve on the shortlist panel alongside Andreia Lemos, Rich Fury, Khali Ackford, Ebru Yildiz, and Ped Millichamp.

The MPAs also announced photographer Roberta Bayley as the recipient of this year’s Icon Award. Bayley is renowned for capturing the New York City punk scene of the 1970s, capturing iconic photos of the countless artists who came up in that scene, or passed through it, such as Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry and Blondie, Elvis Costello, the Clash, Richard Hell, X-Ray Spex, and more. One of Bayley’s most famous images is the portrait of the Ramones that appeared on the cover of their 1976 self-titled debut album. 

“I am very honored to be receiving the Abbey Road Icon award, especially to be in the company of such great photographers as David Bailey, Anton Corbijn, and Jill Furmanovsky,” Bayley said in a statement. “This New York punk has come a long way!”

Submissions are now being accepted for all eight open categories on the MPAs’ website. These include Festivals, Emerging Photographer of the Year, Music Moment of the Year, Live Music, Behind the Scenes, Portrait, Underground Scenes, and this year’s guest category, 50 Years of Punk. There will also be two invited categories, Judges’ Choice and Icon.