21st Canadian Folk Music Awards

21st Canadian Folk Music Awards
DateApril 9-12, 2026
LocationCalgary, Alberta
CountryCanada
Websitefolkawards.ca

The 21st Canadian Folk Music Awards were presented from April 9 to 12, 2026, in Calgary, Alberta, at venues including the Bella Concert Hall, the Westin Calgary Ballroom and the National Music Centre.[1]

Nominations were announced in October 2025.[2]

Nominees and recipients

Traditional Album Contemporary Album
  • Blue ribbon Matthew Byrne, Stealing Time
  • The Barrel Boys, Chicken in the Window
  • Cassie and Maggie, Gold and Coal
  • Max Francis, Home
  • Richard Wood, Richard Wood Live! An Evening of Celtic Music
  • Blue ribbon AHI, The Light Behind the Sun
  • Boreal, Winterbirds
  • The Fretless, Glasswing
  • Claire Morrison, Where Do You Go at Night?
  • Sacred Wolf Singers and Simon Walls, L’nu’k Mawiejik
Children's Album Traditional Singer
  • Blue ribbon Ginalina, All the Earth Speaks
  • James Culleton, Superfolk
  • Heather Feather, Together
  • Oh Clementine, One Thousand Mornings
  • Marky Weinstock and Friends, Here for You!
  • Blue ribbon Matthew Byrne, Stealing Time
  • Sam Allison, Original Works for Voice and Banjo
  • Mathieu Baillargeon, Âmes des bois
  • Michael Darcy, Homemade
  • Maggie MacDonald, Gold and Coal
Contemporary Singer Instrumental Solo Artist
  • Blue ribbon Rachel Therrien, Mi Hogar II
  • Olivia Barrett, Elsewhere
  • Yves Cloutier, Fleuve
  • Scott Duncan, Grandpa and Me
  • Max Francis, Home
Instrumental Group English Songwriter
  • Blue ribbon The Fretless, Glasswing
  • Amir Amiri Ensemble, Adjad/Ancestors: Echoes of Persia
  • Amir Eslami, Multicultural Wind Ensemble
  • Ladom Ensemble, Sofreh Tisch
  • Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira, Here to Stay
  • Blue ribbon Terra Spencer, Sunset
  • AHI, The Light Behind the Sun
  • Mia Kelly, To Be Clear
  • Shane Pendergast, Winter Grace
  • Suzie Ungerleider, Among the Evergreens
French Songwriter Indigenous Songwriter
  • Blue ribbon Guillaume Arsenault, Les plantes continuent de pousser même quand tu dors – Face B
  • Maude Carrier, Les journées grises
  • Fred Dionne, Eldorado
  • Yves Marchand, Tellement naturel
  • Sandie Valiquette, Forêt Marine
Vocal Group Ensemble
  • Blue ribbon PIQSIQ, Legends
  • The Barrel Boys, Chicken in the Window
  • Boreal, Winterbirds
  • Cassie and Maggie, Gold and Coal
  • Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, Live from Motel Chelsea
  • Blue ribbon Cassie and Maggie, Gold and Coal
  • Boreal, Winterbirds
  • Garçons à Marier, La Dot
  • Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, Live from Motel Chelsea
  • The Southern Residents, Folk Signals
Solo Artist Global Roots Album
  • Blue ribbon Lennie Gallant, Shelter from the Storms
  • Duane Andrews, Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay
  • Mallory Chipman, Songs to a Wild
  • Heather MacIsaac, The Moon's Daughter
  • Terra Spencer, Sunset
  • Blue ribbon Kazdoura, Ghoyoum
  • Amir Amiri Ensemble, Ajdad/Ancestors, Echoes of Persia
  • Ahmed Moneka, Kanzafula
  • Joaquin Nunez & Habana Safari, Ruta de la Clave
  • Selcuk Suna, The Space Between
Single of the Year New/Emerging Artist
  • Blue ribbon Claire Morrison, Where Do You Go at Night?
  • Kazdoura, Ghoyoum
  • Wyatt C. Louis, Chandler
  • Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, Live from Motel Chelsea
  • Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen, The Way We Roll
Producer Pushing the Boundaries
  • Blue ribbon Ben Plotnick — Every Colour Left (Loud in the Pines)
  • Colin Buchanan and Davy Gallant – Shelter From the Storms (Lennie Gallant)
  • Jim Bowskill – Blissful State of Mind (Brooks & Bowskill)
  • Liam Duncan – For Eden (Boy Golden)
  • Rayannah – Where Do You Go at Night? (Claire Morrison
  • Blue ribbon Oktoécho, Saimaniq Sivumut
  • AHI, The Light Behind the Sun
  • Calgaréal, Vanishing Points
  • Cassie and Maggie, Gold and Coal
  • Payadora, Legend of Carau
Instrumental Composer Young Performer
  • Blue ribbon Schmaltz and Pepper (Eric Abramovitz, Rebekah Wolkstein, Drew Jurecka), Schmaltz and Pepper
  • Max Francis, Home
  • The Fretless, Glasswing
  • Dane George, Spring Buds
  • Anne Lindsay, Soloworks 2
  • Blue ribbon Max Francis, Home
  • Luka Hall, To Be Honest
  • Irish Millie, Between Then and Now
  • Ella Gunning Parker, Look Alive
  • Salt Beef Junkies, Unnamed Demo
Album Artwork

References