The winners of Ireland's premier music awards were announced at the RTÉ Choice Music Awards ceremony in Dublin. The Album of the Year award went to the record "Euro-Country" by artist CMAT. The Song of the Year award was received by the band Amble for their track of the same name. The gala, held on March 5, 2026, was the culmination of the annual process to select the best achievements in Irish popular music. The event, broadcast by the public broadcaster RTÉ, gathered leading figures from the national music scene.

Album of the Year for CMAT

The most important award of the evening, the "Irish Album of the Year", was won by artist CMAT for her album "Euro-Country". This album was a critics' favorite and was honored with the "Choice Music Prize Album of the Year" award. The jury's decision underscores the significance and recognition of her work in the genre described as euro-country.

Song of the Year for Amble

The band Amble was awarded the "RTÉ Choice Music Song of the Year" prize for their track "Amble". This prestigious distinction highlights the popularity and quality of the composition, which won the jurors' approval in the category dedicated to single tracks.

Format and organization of the gala

The RTÉ Choice Music Prize awards have been presented since 2005 and aim to promote Irish music. The winner selection procedure involves voting by a panel of music industry experts. The gala was broadcast by the national public television RTÉ, ensuring its wide reach and prestige.

The Irish music scene recognized its winners at the annual RTÉ Choice Music Awards gala, held on March 5, 2026. The most important accolades went to artist CMAT and the band Amble. CMAT, Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, won the Album of the Year award for her second studio album titled "Euro-Country". The album, released in 2025, was met with enthusiastic critical acclaim, praised for its blend of catchy country melodies with an ironic-nostalgic reflection on European identity and pop culture. This award, also known as the Choice Music Prize Album of the Year, is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the Irish music industry. Meanwhile, the Dublin-based band Amble was awarded in the Song of the Year category for their track of the same name as the band. Amble's success highlights the vitality and diversity of the contemporary Irish independent scene. The ceremony, broadcast on the public broadcaster RTÉ, served as a summary of the year's achievements and is an important event in Ireland's cultural calendar. Awarding prizes to such different artists as CMAT and Amble shows the wide genre spectrum currently flourishing in the country. The Choice Music Prize, also known as the RTÉ Choice Music Awards, was established in 2005 by the Irish radio station RTÉ 2fm, in cooperation with music organizations. Its goal from the beginning has been to promote and reward the best Irish music, serving as a local counterpart to international ceremonies like the Mercury Prize in the UK. Over the years, winners have included artists such as Julie Feeney, Jape, Adrian Crowley, and Polish-born Anna Maria Jopek, demonstrating an openness to diverse sounds. This year's edition confirms that these awards remain an important barometer of trends and talent. The success of CMAT, who blends genres and builds a distinct, ironic stage persona, and Amble, representing an indie-rock sensibility, indicates a healthy balance between artistic ambition and direct appeal. The event's broadcast by the main public broadcaster provides the winners with significant media exposure, which can translate into broader recognition both domestically and internationally. This event not only celebrates past achievements but also sets directions and creates new opportunities for the winners in the next year of their careers.

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