Winners of 2026 World Soundtrack Awards include ‘Project Hail Mary’ composer and ‘Golden’ lead announced
Northern Irish composer Hannah Peel picked up the discovery of the year award.
Source: Screen Daily · October 11, 2026 at 4:01 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 11 OCTOBER 2026 —
The 26th World Soundtrack Awards (WSA) crowned British composer Daniel Pemberton as Film Composer of the Year on October 10, 2026, during the closing night of Film Fest Gent in Belgium, for his scores in Project Hail Mary, The Drama, The Bad Guys 2, and Masters of the Universe—marking his second consecutive win after his 2021 victory.
Market Impact
The awards, held at Belgium’s largest international film festival, underscore the growing global influence of film and television music, with winners spanning Hollywood blockbusters, indie dramas, and K-pop phenomenon. Pemberton’s victory follows his two Oscar nominations—Best Original Song for Hear My Voice (2021) and Best Original Score for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)—solidifying his status as one of the industry’s most prolific composers.
Meanwhile, the recognition of Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters as Best Original Song highlights the crossover appeal of East Asian pop culture, after the track’s sweep of the Golden Globe, Grammy, and Oscar earlier this year.
The ceremony, attended by international film and music professionals over three days of talks and masterclasses in Ghent, also saw Northern Irish composer Hannah Peel win Discovery of the Year for her score in Midwinter Break, a critically acclaimed drama starring Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds. Peel’s award reflects a broader trend of emerging talent gaining visibility through niche but impactful projects.
Jeff Russo, a two-time nominee, secured Television Composer of the Year for his work on Cape Fear, Alien: Earth, and Citadel Season 2, while Trevor Jones, legendary for scores like The Last of the Mohicans and Notting Hill, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The public’s choice fell on Kevin Smithers for his Soy Frankelda soundtrack, a quirky indie project that resonated with audiences. Meanwhile, the Best Original Song win for Golden—composed by Kim Eun-jae, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park, and performed by HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI—further cemented its status as a global phenomenon.
The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks last summer, demonstrating the commercial and cultural reach of K-pop beyond its traditional fanbase.
For Malaysia and Southeast Asia, the awards serve as a reminder of the region’s expanding role in global entertainment. While no Malaysian composers or projects were nominated this year, the success of Golden—which has already achieved multi-award recognition—could inspire local artists to explore cross-cultural collaborations. The film industry’s growing emphasis on soundtracks, as seen in the WSA’s prominence, may also encourage Malaysian studios to invest more in original music for local and international productions.
The ceremony’s focus on emerging talent, such as Peel’s win, could also prompt Malaysian composers to seek greater exposure through international festivals and awards. With Film Fest Gent serving as a platform for networking and industry discussions, Malaysian filmmakers and musicians may find new opportunities to showcase their work.
The awards also highlight the importance of music in driving box office success, a trend that could influence Malaysian filmmakers to prioritize high-quality soundtracks in future projects.
The WSA’s 2026 edition concluded with a live concert, reinforcing the awards’ celebration of both artistic achievement and commercial success. As the film and music industries continue to intersect, the recognition of composers like Pemberton and the global impact of tracks like Golden signal a shift toward music as a key driver of cultural and financial value in entertainment.
The next steps for winners will likely include further collaborations, potential nominations at next year’s Oscars, and continued exploration of new creative frontiers in film and television scoring.