The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced the nominees for the 2026 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards. The winners will be announced on October 22 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga.

The Entertainer of the Year category offers a stellar representation of artists, as ever, with Billy Strings, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sister Sadie, East Nash Grass and The Del McCoury Band vying for top honors.

There is extraordinary talent in the world of bluegrass at this time, as reflected in every category, including Mandolin Player Of The Year, which spotlights Sierra Hull, Ronnie McCoury, Jesse Brock, Sam Bush and Alan Bibey.

The 2026 class of inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame are Byron Berline, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Barry Lyle Poss and The Lost & Found. The 2026 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees are: Byron Berline, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Barry Lyle Poss And The Lost & Found.

The complete list of nominees appears below:

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
Artist: The Grascals and Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson
Producer: Kent Wells
Label: Billy Blue Records

Can’t Outrun the Blues
Artist: Trey Hensley
Songwriters: Trey Hensley/Bobby Starnes
Producer: Brent Maher
Label: Pinecastle Records

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

Cost of Living
Artist: Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Edisonic Records

Finding Your Way Home
Artist: 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
Artist: Trey Hensley
Producer: Brent Maher
Label: Pinecastle Records

All Will Be Well
Artist: Sister Sadie
Producer: Deanie Richardson
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

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

Della Jane’s Heart
Artist: Appalachian Road Show
Producer: Appalachian Road Show
Label: Billy Blue Records

Songs That Sing Me
Artist: Becky Buller
Producer: Stephen Mougin
Label: Dark Shadow Recording

GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR 
I Will Someday
Artist: NewFound Road
Songwriters: Ronnie Bowman/Garnet Bowman/Chris Stapleton/Morgane Stapleton
Producer: Tim Shelton
Label: Billy Blue Records

Where the Soul Never Dies
Artist: Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski
Songwriter: William M. Golden
Producer: C.J. Lewandowski
Label: Turnberry Records

Some Day
Artist: Blue Highway
Songwriters: Olive Stockton/Tim Stafford
Producer: Blue Highway/Dan Boner
Label: Rounder Records

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

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

INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR 
Grandfather’s Clock
Artist: 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
Artist: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Feat. Nathan Livers)
Songwriter: Nathan Livers
Producer: Michael Cleveland
Label: Yeah, Man Records

Cacklin’ Hen
Artist: Deanie Richardson and Kimber Ludiker
Songwriter: Traditional
Producer: Deanie Richardson
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

Let’s Get Out of Here
Artist: Steve Martin and Alison Brown
Songwriters: Alison Brown/Steve Martin
Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records

Tom & Jerry
Artist: 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
Artist: The Grascals and Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Dolly Parton/Jamie Johnson
Producer: Kent Wells
Label: Billy Blue Records

Gentle on My Mind
Artist: Tony Trischka and Billy Strings
Songwriter: John Hartford
Producer: Tony Trischka/Lawson White
Label: Down the Road Records

New Cluck Old Hen
Artist: 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
Artist: 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
Artist: 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
Artist: The Grascals and Dolly Parton
Videographer: Natalie Simmons
Producer: Olly Rowland

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

Ralph’s Banjo Special
Artist: Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt, & Alison Brown
Videographer: Joseph Spence
Producer: Alison Brown

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

Let the Circle Be Broken
Artist: Sister Sadie
Videographer: David Rossow
Producer: Joshua Britt/Neilson Hubbard