2026 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards

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  The 2026 IBMA Awards Handbook

The 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards of the International Bluegrass Music Association were presented on October 22, 2026 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, during IBMA World of Bluegrass (October 20–24). The hosts were Sam Bush and Sierra Hull.^{IBMA press release, October 23, 2026}

Note: the eligibility period was from April 1, 2025 to March 1, 2026. Thus, before you ask: Cory Walker's little brother's record was not eligible, and will be eligible next year.

Winners

Award	Winner	Credits
Entertainer of the Year	Billy Strings
Vocal Group of the Year	Authentic Unlimited
Instrumental Group of the Year	East Nash Grass
Song of the Year	"Can't Outrun the Blues" – Trey Hensley	Songwriters: Trey Hensley, Bobby Starnes. Producer: Brent Maher. Label: Pinecastle Records
Album of the Year	All God's Children – East Nash Grass	Producers: Jake Stargel, East Nash Grass. Label: Mountain Fever Records
Gospel Recording of the Year	"Some Day" – Blue Highway	Songwriters: Olive Stockton, Tim Stafford. Producers: Blue Highway, Dan Boner. Label: Down the Road Records (Bluegrass Today gives Rounder Records)
Instrumental Recording of the Year	"Big Daddy Rabbit" – Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (feat. Nathan Livers)	Songwriter: Nathan Livers. Producer: Michael Cleveland. Label: Yeah, Man Records
New Artist of the Year	Mason Via
Collaborative Recording of the Year	"Broken Angels" – The Grascals and Dolly Parton	Songwriters: Dolly Parton, Jamie Johnson. Producer: Kent Wells. Label: Billy Blue Records
Male Vocalist of the Year	Greg Blake
Female Vocalist of the Year	Jaelee Roberts
Banjo Player of the Year	Kristin Scott Benson
Bass Player of the Year	Mike Bub
Fiddle Player of the Year	Andy Leftwich
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year	Justin Moses
Guitar Player of the Year	Cody Kilby
Mandolin Player of the Year	Sierra Hull
Music Video of the Year	"The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap" – Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings	Animators: Pat Bradley, SpringShoe Animation. Producer: Bryan Sutton. Songwriters: John Thomas Crain, Charles Edward Daniels, William Joel DiGregorio, Fred Laroy Edwards, Charles Fred Hayward, James W Marshall

Momentum Awards

The 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards were presented on the afternoon of October 21, 2026 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The MC was Bronwyn.^{2026 IBMA Momentum Award winners, Bluegrass Today, Sandy Hatley, October 21, 2026}

• Band of the Year: The Creekers
• Industry Involvement: Helen Lude
• Instrumentalists of the Year: Jean-Baptiste Cardineau (mandolin) and Luciya Sullivan (banjo)
• Vocalist of the Year: Lydia Hamby
• Mentor of the Year: Pammy Davis Lassiter

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

• Byron Berline
• The Nashville Bluegrass Band
• Barry Poss
• The Lost & Found

Performers

Sister Sadie, The Del McCoury Band, The Grascals, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Sierra Hull, a Sam Bush all-star band, and Patty Loveless with Sister Sadie, Stuart Duncan and Justin Moses.^{Bluegrass Today, John Lawless, October 22, 2026}