The Beatles receive three Ivor Novello awards – 12 July 1966

Q: How many Ivor Novello awards did The Beatles win?

Three, on 12 July 1966: Most Outstanding Song ('Yesterday'), Top-Selling Single ('We Can Work It Out'), and Second Best-Selling Single ('Help!') — all for their 1965 achievements.

July 11, 2026

Tuesday 12 July 1966 | London, England

The Beatles were presented with three Ivor Novello awards on 12 July 1966, in recognition of their outstanding achievements during 1965 — one of the most celebrated years in their recording career.

The Three Awards

The Ivor Novello Awards are presented annually by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) and are among the most prestigious honours in British music. The Beatles' three awards recognised different aspects of their 1965 success:

'Yesterday' — Most Outstanding Song of the Year
'We Can Work It Out' — Top-Selling Single of 1965
'Help!' — Second Best-Selling Single of 1965

'Yesterday' was written solely by Paul McCartney and recorded on 14 June 1965 at Abbey Road, with McCartney accompanied only by a string quartet. It remains one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded music. 'We Can Work It Out' and 'Help!' were both released as double A-side and standalone singles respectively, topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Beatles in 1965

1965 was an extraordinary year for The Beatles. They released two studio albums — Help! in August and Rubber Soul in December — starred in their second feature film, Help!, performed at Shea Stadium in New York before 55,600 fans, and were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty The Queen.

By the time the Ivor Novello awards were presented in July 1966, The Beatles had already completed their final studio album to be released before they stopped touring — Revolver — and were in the midst of what would prove to be their last-ever concert tour.

Key Facts: 12 July 1966

Date	Tuesday 12 July 1966
Awards received	3 Ivor Novello Awards
Most Outstanding Song	'Yesterday' (McCartney)
Top-Selling Single 1965	'We Can Work It Out' (Lennon-McCartney)
2nd Best-Selling Single 1965	'Help!' (Lennon-McCartney)
Presented by	British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA)

The Beatles Help! Album Cover T-Shirt Black

The Beatles: Help! Era

'Help!' and 'Yesterday' — two of the three Ivor Novello-winning songs — came from this landmark 1965 album. Officially licensed Beatles merch.

The Beatles Help! Album Cover T-Shirt →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Ivor Novello awards did The Beatles win?

On 12 July 1966, The Beatles received three Ivor Novello awards for their achievements in 1965: Most Outstanding Song for 'Yesterday', Top-Selling Single for 'We Can Work It Out', and Second Best-Selling Single for 'Help!'.

What is the Ivor Novello Award?

The Ivor Novello Awards are presented annually by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) and are among the most prestigious honours in British music, recognising outstanding achievement in songwriting and composing.

Who wrote 'Yesterday'?

'Yesterday' was written solely by Paul McCartney and recorded on 14 June 1965 at Abbey Road, with McCartney accompanied only by a string quartet. It is one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded music.

What were The Beatles' biggest achievements in 1965?

In 1965 The Beatles released the Help! and Rubber Soul albums, starred in the film Help!, performed at Shea Stadium before 55,600 fans, and were appointed MBEs by The Queen. Their singles 'Help!', 'We Can Work It Out', and 'Yesterday' all topped the charts.

What were The Beatles doing in July 1966?

By July 1966 The Beatles had completed recording Revolver and were on what would prove to be their final concert tour. They received the Ivor Novello awards on 12 July 1966, recognising their outstanding 1965 achievements.