Geese and Oklou Lead the Night at the 2026 Libera Awards

The 15th Libera Awards - presented by Merlin and produced by A2IM and the Foundation for Independent Music - kicked off Indie Week at Gotham Hall in New York City on Monday night.

The Headlines:

Geese had a big night taking home Record of the Year and Breakthrough Artist for Getting Killed, plus Best Alternative Rock Record and Marketing Genius - four wins in total. Oklou went 4-for-5 across Best Pop, Best Electronic, Music Video of the Year, and Best Remix for choke enough, losing only the night's top prize. MF DOOM's Special Herbs swept Best Reissue and Creative Packaging - the second year running DOOM has featured prominently in the ceremony.

On the company side, Secretly claimed both Distributor and Publisher of the Year, a rare feat. True Panther kept walking up to the stage as well, 6 times in total, including Label of the Year (5 or fewer employees).

Performances came from Valerie June, Dawn Richard, Mdou Moctar (whose Tears of Injustice won Best Global Record), Aaron Maine of Porches. The night also included giving out the Lifetime Achievement Award to Nettwerk Music co-founders Terry McBride and Mark Jowett. Rough Trade NYC won Best Independent Record Store, a category new to the ceremony this year.

Full Winners List:

Record of the Year - Geese - Getting Killed (Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam)

Breakthrough Artist - Geese (Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam)

Best Alternative Rock Record - Geese - Getting Killed (Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam)

Marketing Genius - Geese - Getting Killed (Partisan Records/Play It Again Sam)

Best Pop Record - Oklou - choke enough (True Panther Records)

Best Electronic Record - Oklou - choke enough (True Panther Records)

Music Video of the Year - Oklou - "viscus" (True Panther Records)

Best Reissue - MF DOOM - Special Herbs (Rhymesayers Entertainment/Metalface Records)

Creative Packaging - MF DOOM - Special Herbs (Rhymesayers Entertainment/Metalface Records)

Best Remix - Oklou - "blade bird (Nick León Broward Mix)" (True Panther Records)

Best Folk Record - Folk Bitch Trio - Now Would Be a Good Time (Jagjaguwar)

Best Country Record - Margo Price - Hard Headed Woman (Loma Vista Recordings)

Best Singer-Songwriter Record (tie) - Ichiko Aoba - Luminescent Creatures (Psychic Hotline) / Annahstasia - Tether (drink sum wtr)

Best American Roots Record - Hayden Pedigo - I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away (Mexican Summer)

Best Rock Record - Wednesday - Bleeds (Dead Oceans)

Best Punk Record - Lambrini Girls - Who Let the Dogs Out (City Slang)

Best Heavy Record - Model/Actriz - Pirouette (True Panther Records)

Best Dance Record - Fcukers - "I Like It Like That" (Ninja Tune)

Best Global Record - Mdou Moctar - Tears of Injustice (Matador Records)

Best Jazz Record - Mei Semones - Animaru (Bayonet Records)

Best Spiritual Record - Lecrae - Reconstruction (Reach Records)

Best Blues Record - Antone's 50th Allstars - The Last Real Texas Blues Album (New West Records)

Best Latin Record - Lido Pimienta - La Belleza (ANTI-)

Best Classical Record - Tiffany Poon - Nature (Pentatone)

Best Outlier Record - Panda Bear - Sinister Grift (Domino)

Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record - Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse, under exclusive license to Roc Nation Distribution)

Best R&B Record - Thundercat - "Children of the Baked Potato" (feat. Remi Wolf) (Brainfeeder)

Best Soul/Funk Record - Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World (ANTI-)

Best Sync Usage - Wet Leg - "mangetout" (Heated Rivalry) (Domino)

Best Record from Games & Interactive Media - C418 - Minecraft: Alpha + Beta (Box Set) (Ghostly International)

Self-Released Record of the Year - Hayley Williams - Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Post Atlantic)

Best Independent Record Store - Rough Trade NYC

Distributor of the Year - Secretly Distribution

Independent Champion - Qobuz

Publisher of the Year - Secretly Publishing

Label of the Year (15+ employees) - Partisan Records

Label of the Year (6-14 employees) - Mexican Summer

Label of the Year (5 or fewer employees) - True Panther Records

Lifetime Achievement - Terry McBride & Mark Jowett (Nettwerk Music Group)