The 26th World Soundtrack Awards threw the spotlight on some new names in screen music at Film Fest Gent in Ghent on October 10, 2026—and Daniel Pemberton, Jeff Russo, and “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters were the night’s biggest winners.
The big soundtrack winners
British composer Daniel Pemberton took home Film Composer of the Year, thanks to his inventive work on Project Hail Mary, The Drama, The Bad Guys 2, and Masters of the Universe. It’s his second time winning the category, after first taking the prize back in 2021.
Jeff Russo finally got his moment in the spotlight, winning Television Composer of the Year for Cape Fear, Alien: Earth, and Citadel season two. After two earlier nominations, the Emmy-winning composer earned the recognition for his genre-hopping work across TV, film, and games.
Northern Irish composer Hannah Peel won Discovery of the Year for Midwinter Break, thanks to a beautifully atmospheric score that mixes analogue synths, orchestral writing, and vocals.
“Golden” keeps winning
It was another big night for the runaway success KPop Demon Hunters: as “Golden,” performed by HUNTR/X, won Best Original Song. Written by Kim Eun-jae (EJAE) and Mark Sonnenblick, the track has already enjoyed a huge awards run—and this latest win adds yet another trophy to its collection.
Fans also had their say: Kevin Smithers won the Public Choice Award for his rich, eerie score for the Mexican stop-motion film Soy Frankelda, while French composer Nicolas Garcia took the Game Music Award for Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss. Garcia’s Lovecraft-inspired music blends a live orchestra with electric cello, synths, and unusual instruments for maximum cosmic horror.
Homegrown and rising stars
Brussels-based composer Margaret Hermant was named Belgian Film Composer of the Year. Known for blending acoustic instruments with electronic textures, Hermant is also a violinist, harpist, and founding member of Echo Collective.
In the young-composer competition, Spain’s Xabier Doural García won for his original score to an excerpt from Ratched—and got to hear the Brussels Philharmonic perform it live at the ceremony.
A legend honoured
The evening also celebrated Trevor Jones, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award after more than five decades in film music. Best known for scores including The Last of the Mohicans, Mississippi Burning, and Notting Hill, Jones was honoured with a live performance of his music by the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé.
The complete line-up 2026
| Film Composer of the Year Daniel Pemberton – Project Hail Mary; The Drama; The Bad Guys 2; Masters of the Universe Television Composer of the Year Jeff Russo – Alien: Earth; Cape Fear; Citadel (Season 2) Best Original Song “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters – written by Kim Eun-jae, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, Teddy Park | performed by Huntrix Discovery of the Year Hannah Peel – Midwinter Break Public Choice Award Soy Frankelda – Kevin Smithers Game Music Award Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss – Nicolas Garcia Belgian Film Composer of the Year (powered by Sabam) Margaret Hermant – A la cara (Nothing Personal); Mallorca Confidencial Award for the Best Original Composition by a Young Composer (powered by Vienna Synchron Stage) Xabier Doural García Lifetime Achievement Award Trevor Jones |