Nominees for the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards were recently announced and a few local acts were part of that prestigious list. The award ceremony will take place April 9-12, 2026 in Calgary.
You can see the nominee announcement below.
Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories, Video above courtesy of prixfolkawards
Below is a complete list of nominees. Local artists are bolded
Contemporary Album of the Year
- Boreal (ft Tannis Slimmon from Guelph) - Winterbirds
Links: Boreal, More Boreal Stories, Video above courtesy of Boreal Oficial - AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
- Claire Morrison - Where Do You Go at Night?
- Sacred Wolf Singers X Simon Walls - L'nu'k Mawiejik
- The Fretless (featuring Madeleine Roger) - Glasswing
Contemporary Singer of the Year
- Stephen Fearing (Guelph)- The Empathist
Links: Stephen Fearing, More Stephen Fearing Stories, Video above courtesy of Stephen Fearing - AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
- Julian Taylor - Pathways
- Kyle McKearney - To The River
- Mia Kelly - To Be Clear
Ensemble of the Year
Single of the Year
- Lost and Found - Sultans of String (Burlington) feat. Shannon Thunderbird
Links: Sultans of String, More Sultans of String Stories, Video above courtesy of Sultans of String - Human Kind - AHI
- Edge Of The Earth - Aysanabee
- You Were There - Irish Millie
- To Fail - Rachel Cousins
Stan Rogers Traditional Singer of the Year
Album Artwork of the Year
- Kevin Hutchings - Halcyon Days (Lisa Dickson - artist, Richard Boudreau - designer)
- Nastasia Y - Kyiv Soul (BRATY Art )
- Oktoecho - Saimaniq Sivumut (Ulaayu Pilurtuut - artist, Caroline Marcant designer)
- Ru Rose - Revival (Ru Rose)
- The Arrogant Worms - Canadian Famous (Jeff May)
Children’s Album of the Year
- Ginalina - All the Earth Speaks
- Heather Feather - Together
- James Culleton - Superfolk
- Marky Weinstock & Friends (a.k.a. Dr. Marky) - Here for you!
- Oh Clementine - One Thousand Mornings
English Songwriter(s) of the Year
- AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
- Mia Kelly - To Be Clear
- Shane Pendergast - Winter Grace
- Suzie Ungerleider - Among the Evergreens
- Terra Spencer - Sunset
French Songwriter(s) of the Year
- Sandie Valiquette - Forêt Marine
- Fred Dionne - Eldorado
- Guillaume Arsenault - Les plantes continuent de pousser même quand tu dors - Face B
- Maude Carrier - Les journées grises
- Yves Marchand - Tellement naturel
Global Roots Album of the Year
- Ahmed Moneka - Kanzafula
- Amir Amiri Ensemble - Ajdad - Ancestors, Echoes of Persia
- Joaquin Nunez & Habana Safari - Ruta de la Clave
- Kazdoura - Ghoyoum (Clouds)
- Selcuk Suna - The Space Between
Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year
- Amanda Rheaume - The Truth We Hold
- Asiah Holm - The Mask That You Made
- Aysanabee - Edge Of The Earth
- PIQSIQ - Legends
- Wyatt C. Louis - Chandler
Instrumental Composer(s) of the Year
- Anne Lindsay - SOLOWORKS 2
- Dane George - Spring Buds
- Max Francis - Home
- Schmaltz & Pepper- Schmaltz & Pepper
- The Fretless (featuring Madeleine Roger) - Glasswing
- Amir Amiri Ensemble - Ajdad - Ancestors, Echoes of Persia
- Amir Eslami - Multicultural Wind Ensemble
- Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira - Here To Stay
- Ladom Ensemble - Sofreh Tisch
- The Fretless (featuring Madeleine Roger) - Glasswing
Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year
- Max Francis - Home
- Olivia Barrett - Elsewhere
- Rachel Therrien - Mi Hogar II
- Scott Duncan - Grandpa & Me
- Yves Cloutier - Fleuve
New Artist(s) of the Year
- Claire Morrison - Where Do You Go at Night?
- Jessica Pearson and the East Wind - LIVE from Motel Chelsea
- Kazdoura - Ghoyoum (Clouds)
- Robert Thomas and the sessionmen - The Way We Roll
- Wyatt C. Louis - Chandler
Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries
- AHI - The Light Behind The Sun
- Calgaréal - Vanishing Points
- Cassie and Maggie - Gold and Coal
- Oktoecho - Saimaniq Sivumut
- Payadora - Legend of Carau
Producer(s) of the Year
- Liam Duncan (Boy Golden - For Eden)
- Jim Bowskill (Brooks & Bowskill - Blissful State of Mind)
- Rayannah (Claire Morrison - Where Do You Go at Night?)
- Colin Buchanan, Davy Gallant, Lennie Gallant (Lennie Gallant - Shelter From the Storms)
- Ben Plotnick (Loud in the Pines - Every Colour Left)
Solo Artist of the Year
- Duane Andrews - Duane Andrews And The Hot Club Of Conception Bay
- Heather MacIsaac - The Moon’s Daughter
- Lennie Gallant - Shelter From the Storms
- Mallory Chipman - Songs to a Wild God
- Terra Spencer - Sunset
Traditional Album of the Year
- Cassie and Maggie - Gold and Coal
- Matthew Byrne - Stealing Time
- Max Francis - Home
- Richard Wood - Richard Wood Live! An Evening of Celtic Music
- The Barrel Boys - Chicken In The Window
Young Performer(s) of the Year
- Ella Gunning Parker - Look Alive
- Irish Millie - Between Then and Now
- Luka Hall - To Be Honest
- Max Francis - Home
- Salt Beef Junkies - Untitled Demo
Previous (Robert Sears Passes)
