Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sister Sadie Among Top 2026 IBMA Awards Nominees: Full List

Trending on Billboard UPDATE (Sept. 11): Mandolin maestros Sam Bush and Sierra Hull will co-host and perform at the 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, set for Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga Tenn. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The Del McCoury Band, Sister Sadie, Authentic Unlimited, The Grascals and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper are also set to perform. The 2026 class of inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame consists of Byron Berline, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Barry Poss and The Lost & Found. Musical tributes for each inductee are planned. The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be livestreamed; details coming soon. 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