From Los Angeles to the World: 122 Cities, 441 Winners, One Language of Music

Artists at the 2026 InterContinental Music Awards shared stories of survival, healing, remembrance and the human need to connect.

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, September 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) brought artists from around the world together on Aug. 23 for its 2026 online awards ceremony, recognizing 441 winners and celebrating the cultural diversity, creativity and human stories behind their music.

Now in its 14th year, the Los Angeles-based awards welcomed submissions representing more than 100 countries and regions, while attendees joined the ceremony from 122 cities worldwide.

For nearly eight hours, Los Angeles became the virtual meeting point for a global music community, bringing together hundreds of artists and attendees across borders, cultures and time zones.

Beyond announcing winners, this year’s celebration highlighted a recurring theme throughout the artists’ stories: the power of music to connect, heal and carry people through difficult moments.

Artists shared experiences of creating through cancer and recovery, returning to musical dreams after years away, preserving cultural heritage, remembering loved ones and finding ways to continue creating amid conflict.

The theme took on another dimension when ICMA judge Maria Di Cara, founder of Song of the Soul sound therapy, introduced attendees to crystal quartz singing bowls and demonstrated their use in sound healing and meditation. The moment reflected a larger idea that emerged throughout the ceremony — music not only as entertainment, but also as a source of reflection, emotional connection and well-being.

At the center of the nearly eight-hour celebration were ICMA founder and CEO Shahed Mohseni Zonoozi and Merry M Pour, host of ICMA’s Star🌟Spot series. Rather than moving through hundreds of announcements, the hosts made an intentional effort to give attending winners the opportunity to speak, share the stories behind their music and have their moment of recognition without feeling rushed.

For nearly eight hours, Los Angeles became the virtual meeting point for a global music community, connecting artists across cities, countries, cultures and time zones in a celebration where recognition was as much about the people and their stories as the awards themselves.

“Every submission carries a unique story — a different culture, a different musical tradition and a different creative journey,” said Mohseni. “The ceremony gives us an opportunity to hear those voices and remind ourselves how much music can connect us, even when we come from completely different parts of the world.”

Another highlight was the presentation of the 2026 ICon Award to Chris Redding. The special recognition included a $1,000 cash prize sponsored by singer-songwriter and producer Chuck Leah, who joined the ceremony for the announcement.

The 2026 winners were selected with the participation of an international panel of music-industry professionals whose backgrounds include GRAMMY^® and Emmy^® recognition, Recording Academy voting membership, Billboard-charting work, major film and television credits, and collaborations with internationally recognized artists.

From emerging musicians to established artists and from traditional cultural sounds to contemporary forms of musical expression, the 2026 ceremony continued the mission at the heart of ICMA: Harmony Across Continents — using music to create connection beyond borders.

About the InterContinental Music Awards

The InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) is a Los Angeles-based international music competition and community recognizing musical talent from around the world while promoting cultural diversity, artistic development and connection through music. Evolving from the InterContinental Concerts initiative founded in 2011, ICMA celebrates artists across continents, genres and generations and has received recognition from the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.


Submissions for the 2027 InterContinental Music Awards are now open, inviting musicians, songwriters, composers, producers and performers worldwide to share their work with an international audience.

The complete list of 2026 ICMA winners is available on the official ICMA website.

Shahed Mohseni
InterContinental Music Awards
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