UPDATE (July 22): One week after announcing the nominations for the 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, the International Bluegrass Music Association announced the nominees for the 2026 IBMA Industry Awards and the 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards.

The IBMA Industry Awards recognize outstanding work in non-performing industry categories and honor the individuals who help advance bluegrass music and support its artists. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The IBMA Momentum Awards recognize artists and industry professionals in the early stages of their bluegrass music careers. In addition to honoring emerging talent, the awards also include recognition for a mentor whose guidance has had a significant and positive impact on upcoming artists and industry professionals. The Momentum Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 21, also at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

These award ceremonies are part of IBMA World of Bluegrass, which runs Oct. 20-24. The week encompasses four events: the IBMA Business Conference, Oct. 20-22 at the Chattanooga Convention Center; the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, Oct. 20-21 in downtown Chattanooga venues; the 37th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, Oct. 22 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium; and IBMA Bluegrass Live!, Oct. 23-24, a two-day festival of live performances and fan experiences. Tickets are now on sale for all IBMA World of Bluegrass events; visit their website for details.

PREVIOUSLY (July 15): This year’s nominees for the International Bluegrass Music Association Bluegrass Music Awards were announced on Wednesday (July 15), with Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sister Sadie and East Nash Grass among the year’s top nominees.

All three acts are up for entertainer of the year, alongside Billy Strings and The Del McCoury Band.

The 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be held Oct. 22 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tenn., and will be presented by Get It Played. The awards are part of the annual World of Bluegrass, including Bluegrass Live! which runs Oct. 23-24 and will be spearheaded by performances from Sierra Ferrell, Leftover Salmon, Larry Sparks and more.

Last year’s top IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards winners included Billy Strings, Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Authentic Unlimited and The Travelin’ McCourys.

In addition to this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees, the 2026 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees were revealed, including multi-instrumentalist Byron Berline, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Lost and Found, and Sugar Hill cofounder Barry Lyle Poss.

The 2026 IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award recipients are Gallagher Guitars, pioneering fiddle player Matt Glaser, The Marshall Family, Gary Reid, and journalist/editor/biographer Derek Halsey.

See the full list of this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees, followed by 2026 IBMA Industry Award nominees and 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards nominees.

2026 IBMA Music Award Nominees

Entertainer of the year

Billy Strings

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Sister Sadie

East Nash Grass

The Del McCoury Band

Vocal group of the year

Alison Krauss & Union Station

Authentic Unlimited

Sister Sadie

Blue Highway

Red Camel Collective

Instrumental group of the year

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Billy Strings

The Travelin’ McCourys

East Nash Grass

Appalachian Road Show

Song of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson, Producer: Kent Wells, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Can’t Outrun the Blues,” Trey Hensley (songwriters: Trey Hensley/Bobby Starnes, Producer: Brent Maher, Label: Pinecastle Records)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (Feat. Della Mae) (Arrangement: Steve Martin/Alison Brown, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“Cost of Living,” Authentic Unlimited (Songwriter: Jerry Cole, Producer: Authentic Unlimited, Label: Edisonic Records)

“Finding Your Way Home,” Red Camel Collective (Songwriters: Heather Berry Mabe/Joseph Scott Patrick, Producer: Red Camel Collective/Stephen Burwell, Label: Pinecastle Records)

Album of the year

Can’t Outrun the Blues, Trey Hensley (Producer: Brent Maher, Label: Pinecastle Records)

All Will Be Well, Sister Sadie (Producer: Deanie Richardson, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

All God’s Children, East Nash Grass (Producers: Jake Stargel/East Nash Grass, Label: Mountain Fever Records)

Della Jane’s Heart, Appalachian Road Show (Producer: Appalachian Road Show, Label: Billy Blue Records)

Songs That Sing Me, Becky Buller (Producer: Stephen Mougin, Label: Dark Shadow Recording)

Gospel recording of the year

“I Will Someday,” NewFound Road (Songwriters: Ronnie Bowman/Garnet Bowman/Chris Stapleton/Morgane Stapleton, Producer: Tim Shelton, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Where the Soul Never Dies,” Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (Songwriter: William M. Golden, Producer: C.J. Lewandowski, Label: Turnberry Records)

“Some Day,” Blue Highway (Songwriters: Olive Stockton/Tim Stafford, Producer: Blue Highway/Dan Boner, Label: Rounder Records)

“You Don’t Knock,” Darin & Brooke Aldridge with John Cowan (Songwriters: Cedar Walton/Wesley Westbrooks, Producer: Mark Fain/Darin Aldridge, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Two Old Church Pews,” Danny Paisley (Songwriters: Mark "Brink" Brinkman/Daryl Mosley, Producer: Greg Cole, Label: Pinecastle Records)

Instrumental recording of the year

“Grandfather’s Clock,” Bryan Sutton and Sierra Hull (Songwriter: Henry Clay Work arr. Bryan Sutton/Sierra Hull, Producer: Bryan Sutton, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Big Daddy Rabbit,” Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (feat. Nathan Livers) (Songwriter: Nathan Livers, Producer: Michael Cleveland, Label: Yeah, Man Records

“Cacklin’ Hen,” Deanie Richardson and Kimber Ludiker (Songwriter: Traditional, Producer: Deanie Richardson, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Let’s Get Out of Here,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (Songwriters: Alison Brown/Steve Martin, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“Tom & Jerry,” Andy Leftwich (Songwriter: Traditional, Producer: Andy Leftwich, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

New artist of the year

Jaelee Roberts

Mason Via

Carson Peters & Iron Mountain

Vickie Vaughn

Daniel Grindstaff & The Uptown Troubadours

Collaborative recording of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (Songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson, Producer: Kent Wells, Label: Billy Blue Records)

“Gentle on My Mind,” Tony Trischka and Billy Strings (Songwriter: John Hartford, Producer: Tony Trischka/Lawson White, Label: Down the Road Records)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin and Alison Brown (feat. Della Mae) (Songwriters: Arr. Steve Martin/Alison Brown, Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West, Label: Compass Records)

“The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap,” Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings (Songwriters: Tom Crain/Charlie Daniels/Taz DiGregorio/Fred Edwards/Charlie Hayward/James W. Marshall adapted by Bryan Sutton/Billy Strings, Producer: Bryan Sutton, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

“Just a Holler Over,” Sister Sadie and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (Songwriters: Robin Macy/Deanie Richardson, Producer: Sister Sadie/C.J. Lewandowski, Label: Mountain Home Music Company)

Male vocalist of the year

Dan Tyminski

Russell Moore

Greg Blake

Del McCoury

Trey Hensley

Female vocalist of the year

Alison Krauss

Jaelee Roberts

Heather Berry Mabe

Sierra Hull

AJ Lee

Banjo player of the year

Kristin Scott Benson

Gena Britt

Ron Block

Alison Brown

Tony Trischka

Bass player of the year

Mike Bub

Vickie Vaughn

Missy Raines

Barry Bales

Alan Bartram

Fiddle player of the year

Michael Cleveland

Jason Carter

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Deanie Richardson

Andy Leftwich

Resophonic guitar player of the year

Justin Moses

Jerry Douglas

Rob Ickes

Andy Hall

Matt Leadbetter

Guitar player of the year

Trey Hensley

Billy Strings

Bryan Sutton

Cody Kilby

Molly Tuttle

Mandolin player of the year

Sierra Hull

Ronnie McCoury

Jesse Brock

Sam Bush

Alan Bibey

Music video of the year

“Broken Angels,” The Grascals and Dolly Parton (Videographer: Natalie Simmons, Producer: Olly Rowland)

“The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap,” Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings (Animator: Pat Bradley, SpringShoe Animation, Producer: Josh Serrato)

“Ralph’s Banjo Special,” Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, & Alison Brown (Videographer: Joseph Spence, Producer: Alison Brown)

“New Cluck Old Hen,” Steve Martin, Alison Brown (feat. Della Mae) (Videographer: Drew Levin, Producer: Alison Rose Gregory/Scott Roberts)

“Let the Circle Be Broken,” Sister Sadie (Videographer: David Rossow, Producer: Joshua Britt/Neilson Hubbard)

2026 IBMA Industry Award Nominees

Writer of the year

Paul Burch

John Curtis Goad

Derek Halsey

Garret K. Woodward

Gary Reid

Songwriter of the year

Mark "Brink" Brinkman

Chris Jones

Rick Lang

Tim Stafford

Photographer of the year

Ashli Linkous

Laci Mack

Scott Simontacchi

Jay Strausser

Madison Thorn

Broadcaster of the year

Orin Friesen, Truckers Radio USA

Barb Heller, NCPR

Matt Hutchinson, Bluegrass Jam Along podcast

Michelle Lee, Michelle Lee On Air

Peter Thompson, KALW and Bluegrass Country Radio

Graphic designer of the year

Audrey Fletcher

Robert Hakalski

Grace van't Hof

Carla Wehby

Remy Zimmerman

Sound engineer of the year

Scott Barnett

Elliot Beckley

Key Chang

Matt Coles

Cameron Reichert

Event of the year

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, Annapolis, Maryland

Bluegrass in La Roche at 20, La Roche-sur-Foron, France

Bluegrass Spartanburg, Spartanburg, S.C.

CBA 50th Anniversary Father's Day Bluegrass Festival, Grass Valley, Calif.

Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series, Marysville, Ohio

Liner notes of the year

Safe Sensible & Sane – Alison Brown and Steve Martin; Liner notes by: Alison Brown and Steve Martin

Kentucky Troubadour – The Rebel Collection – Don Rigsby; Liner notes by: Daniel Mullins

Keep On Keepin' On – Bobby Osborne, C.J. Lewandowski & Friends; Liner notes by: Daniel Mullins and C.J. Lewandowski

The Rich-R-Tone/Folk Star Story – Appalachia on Record 1946-1954; Liner notes by: Ted Olson and Matteo Ringressi

Carroll Best – The Best of the Best – Carroll Best; Liner notes by: Ted Olson

2026 IBMA Momentum Awards Nominees

Band of the year

The Creekers

ShadowGrass

Remedy Tree

The Cody Sisters

Under the Rocks

Industry involvement

Sarah Larsen

Melanie Wilson

Payton Burdette

Helen Ludé

Rebekah Speer

Instrumentalist of the year (2 awards)

Steven Moore

Lilly Anne Svrlinga

G Rockwell

Luciya Sullivan

Jean-Baptiste (JB) Cardineau

Noah Gobel

Nathan Beaumont

Vocalist of the year

Adam Miller

Lydia Hamby

Morgan Brake

Akulina Shamanov

Ellie Hakanson

Mentor of the year

Louisa Branscomb

Becky Buller

Pammy Davis Lassiter

Deanie Richardson

Jim Pankey