Snow Patrol have been announced as the inaugural recipients of the Official Charts Hall of Fame Award, a newly established honor introduced by the Official Charts Company as part of the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Official Albums Chart. The annual award recognizes the artists behind the UK's biggest official single and album of the year, based on a combination of sales and streaming figures.
The band's recognition comes as Eyes Open celebrates its 20th anniversary. Released in May 2006, the album became Snow Patrol's first number one on the Official Albums Chart, spending three weeks at the summit before finishing as the UK's best selling album of the year. The record marked a defining moment in the Northern Irish band's career, helping them transition from respected alternative rock musicians into one of the biggest mainstream acts of the 2000s.
Frontman Gary Lightbody accepted the first ever Official Charts Hall of Fame Award ahead of Snow Patrol's headline performance at London's Crystal Palace Park on Friday, 3 July 2026. Looking back on the achievement, Lightbody said the success of Eyes Open opened doors the band never imagined possible after spending more than a decade building their career following their formation in 1994.
Official figures show that Eyes Open has sold more than 2.6 million copies in the UK, powered by enduring hits including "Chasing Cars," "You’re All I Have," and "Open Your Eyes." The album has spent 35 weeks inside the Official Albums Chart Top 10 and almost three years in the Top 100, while worldwide sales are expected to surpass 10 million later this year. To celebrate the milestone, a special 20th anniversary edition of Eyes Open will be released on 24 July, arriving during the same week the Official Albums Chart marks its 70th anniversary on 22 July.
