The NRJ Music Awards, one of France's largest annual music ceremonies, returns for its 28th edition on Friday, October 23, 2026. The show will be held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes and broadcast live in prime time on TF1, with simulcasts on NRJ, NRJ.fr and TF1+, according to coverage by Sortiraparis and CG-TV. Journalist and television host Nikos Aliagas will present the ceremony, Sortiraparis reported.
Who is performing
Organisers have confirmed 22 artists for live performances during the broadcast, according to CG-TV, which cited the official list. The lineup mixes French and international names: David Guetta, Mosimann, Orelsan, Tayc, Bebe Rexha, Anyme, ESTL, Manon Lisa, Mauvais Djo, Oria, RnBOI, Adèle Castillon, Angèle, Bigflo & Oli, Charlotte Cardin, Eva, the duo Jamie Miller & Antonio Cipriano, Miki, Naïka, Ambre and Marine.
Several of the performers come from Star Academy, the TF1 talent show broadcast alongside NRJ. CG-TV noted that Mosimann, the winner of the show's seventh season and now its artistic director, is among the confirmed acts, alongside fellow Star Academy contestants Ambre and Marine, who are also nominated in competitive categories this year.
Indochine to receive a special award
Beyond the competitive categories, the French rock band Indochine, led by Nicola Sirkis, will perform on the Palais des Festivals stage and receive a special NRJ Music Award, according to a report by Stéphane Larue that cited details also carried on NRJ's own site. The honour recognises the band's "Arena Tour," which organisers say sold out 110 dates and drew more than 1.2 million spectators, including twelve shows at Paris's Accor Arena.
The same report said the recognition coincides with the upcoming release of a concert film, "L'Arena Tour, le film," recorded at the Accor Arena on March 3 and 4, 2026. The film, running more than two hours and fifty minutes, is set for release on November 20 in Blu-ray, DVD, CD and vinyl formats, with an accompanying 50-minute immersive experience opening the same day at the Atelier des Lumières in Paris.
Categories and voting
Sortiraparis reported that the ceremony includes categories such as female international artist of the year, francophone revelation of the year and international hit of the year, among a reported thirteen award categories spanning francophone and international artists, collaborations and DJs, according to CG-TV. Voting takes place on NRJ.fr and the NRJ mobile app, with CG-TV reporting a voting deadline of noon on October 23, the day of the ceremony.
Local ticket arrangements in Cannes
The host city of Cannes organised its own public ticket allocation for residents and students ahead of the show. According to the city's official website, a court-supervised lottery was held on Friday, October 16, 2026, open to adult Cannes residents and to high school and university students living or studying in the city. Winners were to be notified by email and asked to provide identification for themselves and two accompanying guests, with ticket pickup scheduled at Cannes City Hall on October 22 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
NRJ Music Awards 2026 at a glance| Detail | Information |
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| Edition | 28th |
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| Date | Friday, October 23, 2026 |
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| Venue | Palais des Festivals, Cannes |
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| Host | Nikos Aliagas |
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| Broadcaster | TF1 (also NRJ, NRJ.fr, TF1+) |
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| Confirmed performers | 22, including David Guetta, Orelsan, Bebe Rexha, Angèle |
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| Special honouree | Indochine (Arena Tour award) |
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