RAYE has earned the title of Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year for 2026.
The 29-year-old singer-songwriter is set to accept the honor during Variety’s tenth annual Hitmakers gala in Los Angeles on December 5, joining a roster of former honorees that includes Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Jack Harlow, Elton John and Dua Lipa.
Jem Aswad, Variety’s Executive Music Editor, lauded RAYE’s accomplishments both on stage and as an advocate for musicians.
He noted: “For years, we’ve admired RAYE’s distinct sound, her songwriting craft and electrifying live performances.”
“This accolade recognizes not only her world-class artistry, but also her bold and vocal backing of songwriters and independent artists. We are thrilled to honor her as Hitmaker of the Year for 2026 — the first independent artist to receive the prize.”
Olivia Rodrigo is set to receive the Songwriter of the Year prize at the ceremony, while KATSEYE has been named Group of the Year and Sienna Spiro will be presented with the Visionary Voice award.
The recognition comes amid another milestone year for RAYE, who was recently revealed as the second headliner for BST Hyde Park 2027.
The Escapism. hitmaker will take the stage at the London festival on July 10, delivering what will be her largest outdoor headline show in the capital to date.
RAYE’s career has continued to rise since the release of her independent debut album, My 21st Century Blues, in 2023.
That record established her as a major solo artist and earned her six BRIT Awards in 2024, including Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
Her ensuing achievements have included more than 10 billion Spotify streams, 21 UK Top 40 singles and six sold-out performances at London’s O2 Arena. She has also taken the stage at major festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury.
RAYE’s second studio album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE., arrived in March and shot straight to number one in the UK, while charting in the Top 10 in 16 territories worldwide.
She also earned the Recording Academy’s Best Song for Social Change award for Ice Cream Man and was named the 2026 Mercury Prize winner for THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.
RAYE will be joined at BST Hyde Park by Sienna Spiro, whose debut album Visitor peaked at number two in the UK and number nine on the Billboard 200.
She will share the BST Hyde Park lineup for 2027 with Bon Jovi, with further acts slated to be announced.
