25 February 2027 | Hilton Park Lane, LONDON
The Arthur Awards – the most prestigious and highly anticipated annual awards of the global live music business – take place during ILMC week, with a broad music business audience in attendance.
Housed in a brand-new top-flight venue for 2027, the night sees 600 of the world’s top live music professionals – promoters, agents, venues, festivals, and more – come together as excitement builds, the winners are announced, and the golden statuettes are handed out.
Supported by:
Three decades of celebrating excellence
The Arthur Awards began as a tongue-in-cheek affair in 1995 but have grown over three decades to become known as the Oscars of the international live music business.
The finalists in each category are shortlisted from thousands of votes received from fellow live industry professionals from across the globe. Once the shortlist in each category is announced, the winners are selected by an open vote of live music professionals in addition to a closed jury vote.
The 'Off the Charts' Gala Dinner
The evening begins with a champagne reception before the real spectacle begins: a five-star, four-course banquet from the Hilton’s award-winning chefs, complemented by fine wines, all with illustrious company.
As anticipation builds, the spotlight shifts to the Arthur Awards themselves: eleven categories, countless nominees, and only one victor in each. The 2027 Awards will be hosted by The Arthurs’ longstanding host and conductor extraordinaire, Ms Emma Banks.
Arthur Award Highlights
James Blackall
Production Manager
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The O2
James joined The O2 in 2023 as Production Supervisor when he was just 18yrs old. He has quickly risen through the ranks to become Deputy Production Manager thanks to his operational excellence, technical expertise, and relentless commitment to delivering a best-in-class experience for the hundreds of artists and performers who come to the venue each year.
In the past 12 months alone, James has earned key certifications including BS7909, IOSH Managing Safely, and become an AutoCAD Certified Professional—while simultaneously leading major production efforts for world-class events like League of Legends World Championships, F1 75 Live, and Justin Timberlake, Sabrina Carpenter, Usher, Paul McCartney, Tyler The Creator, Linkin Park and more. He oversees the electrical and rigging contracts for The O2 Arena and has implemented new processes and efficiencies for maintenance and inspection, raising safety and quality standards across the board.
Beyond his core role, James serves as Vice Chair of the AEV Electrics Technical Working Group, contributes to industry reports, attends NAA training groups, and is actively pursuing further involvement in advisory groups. He’s also committed to developing others, mentoring new production staff, and supporting the leadership of both internal venue production teams and external crews.
From playing a pivotal role in designing bespoke, one-of-a-kind global shows to supporting major world tours and driving industry best practices, James is a rising leader who is helping to shape the future of live event production.
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