“Girl Power” Dominates Nominations for 2026 Victoires de la Musique Awards
More than 60% of the nominees for France’s prestigious Victoires de la Musique awards are female artists, signaling a significant shift in representation within the French music industry. The nominations, unveiled on Friday, celebrate a wave of talent, with Theodora leading the pack with five nominations.
A Historic Year for Female Artists
This year’s awards, the 41st edition of the Victoires de la Musique, are being hailed as a watershed moment for female musicians. Of the 34 nominations across nine categories, 21 recognize female singers, a testament to their growing influence and critical acclaim. According to the new president of the awards, Antoine Gouiffes-Yan, these artists “have managed to impose their trademark in an extremely short time frame, with very different aesthetics and development processes.”
Theodora, the breakout artist known as the “Boss Lady” since her 2024 hit “Kongolese under BBL,” is nominated for Female Revelation, Scene Revelation, Album, Song, and Video of the Year. Gouiffes-Yan emphasized that Theodora’s impact extends beyond mere numbers, stating, “She is part of social conversations, she even creates expressions that are used” by a new generation.
Rising Stars and Established Icons
Alongside Theodora, Helena, a rising star discovered through the Star Academy television show, has received four nominations. The Belgian artist expressed her gratitude, noting, “The principle of Victoires touches me because I know that the public who listens to me on a daily basis is extremely present, but I did not know what the professional world could think of my music.”
Other notable female nominees include the Franco-Korean artist Miki, who gained attention with her homemade music video “Check and Mate,” and Charlotte Cardin, the Quebecois singer nominated three times, including for Best Female Artist. Veteran artists Aya Nakamura, Santa, and Vanessa Paradis, who boasts seven previous Victoires de la Musique awards, also feature prominently in the nominations.
Reflecting a Changing Industry
The increased representation of female artists is attributed, in part, to the evolving composition of the voting academy, now comprised of approximately 880 professionals. “This increased representation can also be explained by the feminization of the voting academy,” Gouiffes-Yan explained. A smaller jury of 32 professionals will ultimately decide the winners.
The ceremony, to be broadcast on France 2, France.tv, and France Inter at 9:10 p.m., will be hosted by Cyril Féraud and Helena Noguerra, with Mika serving as honorary president. A Victory of Honor will also be presented to the celebrated Greek-French singer Nana Mouskouri, 91, recognizing her illustrious career and the recent resurgence in popularity of her 1976 hit, “Quand tu chantes,” thanks to its inclusion in the Netflix series Cassandra.
Male Nominees and a Potential Record
While female artists dominate, male musicians are also recognized. Feu! Chatterton, Orelsan, and Disiz each received two nominations. Disiz’s nomination is particularly noteworthy, as it marks a comeback for the rapper, boosted by his collaboration with Theodora on the track “melodrama.”
Orelsan is aiming to tie the record for most Victoires de la Musique awards, currently held by Alain Bashung and Matthieu Chedid at 13 wins, with his nomination for “La Fuite en avant,” the musical companion to his film Yoroï. Pierre Garnier, a previous winner, is also a strong contender for the Male Artist award.
The ceremony will also recognize emerging male talent, including Sam Sauvage, Ino Casablanca, and the group L2B. Live performance nominees include Justice, Santa, Philippe Katerine, and DJ Snake, though the latter has been forced to cancel upcoming concerts due to health concerns.
The 2026 Victoires de la Musique awards promise to be a celebration of both established stars and the exciting new voices shaping the future of French music.
