2026 IBMA Awards Winners

Entertainer of the Year

Winner: Billy Strings

Vocal Group of the Year

Winner: Authentic Unlimited

Instrumental Group of the Year

Winner: East Nash Grass

Song of the Year

Winner: “Can’t Outrun the Blues” — Trey Hensley

Songwriters: Trey Hensley and Bobby Starnes
Producer: Brent Maher
Label: Pinecastle Records

Hensley’s win arrives as Can’t Outrun the Blues becomes available on vinyl. The album has topped the Bluegrass Unlimited album chart, while its title track and “Tucson” have reached No. 1 on multiple bluegrass charts. Hensley will follow them with “High Cost of Goodbye,” another collaboration with Starnes featuring harmony vocals from John Cowan and Female Vocalist of the Year Jaelee Roberts.

Buy Trey Hensley’s Can’t Outrun the Blues on vinyl through Amazon.

Album of the Year

Winner: All God’s Children — East Nash Grass

Producers: Jake Stargel and East Nash Grass
Label: Mountain Fever Records

Gospel Recording of the Year

Winner: “Some Day” — Blue Highway

Songwriters: Olive Stockton and Tim Stafford
Producers: Blue Highway and Dan Boner
Label: Down the Road Records

Instrumental Recording of the Year

Winner: “Big Daddy Rabbit” — Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper featuring Nathan Livers

Songwriter: Nathan Livers
Producer: Michael Cleveland
Label: Yeah, Man

New Artist of the Year

Winner: Mason Via

Collaborative Recording of the Year

Winner: “Broken Angels” — The Grascals and Dolly Parton

Songwriters: Dolly Parton and Jamie Johnson
Producer: Kent Wells
Label: Billy Blue Records

Male Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Greg Blake

Female Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Jaelee Roberts

2026 IBMA Instrumental Awards

Banjo Player of the Year

Winner: Kristin Scott Benson

Bass Player of the Year

Winner: Mike Bub

Fiddle Player of the Year

Winner: Andy Leftwich

Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year

Winner: Justin Moses

Guitar Player of the Year

Winner: Cody Kilby

Mandolin Player of the Year

Winner: Sierra Hull

Music Video of the Year

Winner: “The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap” — Bryan Sutton with Billy Strings

Animator: Pat Bradley, SpringShoe Animation
Producer: Bryan Sutton

2026 Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees

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