The 27th annual NRJ Music Awards, held on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, served as a major platform for celebrating artistic achievements in both French and international music. The ceremony clearly reflected the growing influence of emerging talents, particularly those emerging from structured development programs, on the popular music landscape.
Lady Gaga won International Female Artist of the Year at the NRJ Music Awards.
Talent nurtured by the Star Academy franchise saw significant recognition throughout the evening. Helena, a former semi-finalist from the eleventh season, achieved a notable double victory, claiming Female Artist of the Year (French-language) and French-Language Song of the Year. This success mirrored that of Pierre Garnier, the eleventh season's overall winner, who was named French-Language Male Artist of the Year. Furthermore, Julien Lieb, a finalist from the same cohort, shared the award for French-Language Revelation of the Year with Marine, the victor of the subsequent twelfth season. This concentration of wins underscores the effectiveness of these platforms as career launchpads.
Ed on the red carpet of the nrj music awards tonight in Cannes
The event also recognized major international figures. Lady Gaga received the award for Female Artist of the Year on the global stage. Ed Sheeran, who served as the patron for the thirteenth season of Star Academy, secured two international honors: International Male Artist of the Year and International Hit of the Year for his song "Azizam." Industry observers noted that the success of tracks like "Azizam" signals a strong international market appetite for music that incorporates cross-cultural elements.
Helena at the NRJ Music Awards 2025
Historical analysis of the awards indicates that the 2025 ceremony marked the first time since 2018 that an artist connected to the Star Academy franchise secured both the Male and Female Revelation awards in the same year. The ceremony maintained its significant cultural standing, with reports confirming that the live broadcast reached an estimated 15 million viewers across its main broadcasting channels.