Western Canadian Music
Award Nominees
2026 Artistic Award Nominees
Afrobeats Artist of the Year
- Rooky Kamiz – SK
- S.C.U.D. – MB
- The Mbira Renaissance Band – AB
- Yvng Chriis – MB
- ZOCHI – SK
Blues Artist of the Year
- Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree – BC
- Honeybear, The Band – BC
- Ollee Owens – AB
- Secondhand Dreamcar – AB
- The Harpoonist – BC
BreakOut Artist of the Year
Sponsored by FACTOR
- ARDN – AB
- Calling All Captains – AB
- Jake Vaadeland – SK
- Leith Ross – MB
- Pony Gold – BC
Children’s Artist of the Year
- James Culleton – MB
- Mandy Faye – AB
- Mr. Matt – AB
- Norman Foote – BC
- Will’s Jams – BC
Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year
- Blueridge Chamber Players – BC
- Duo Majoya – AB
- Standing Wave – BC
- Tacamis Trio – MB
- Trio Garibaldi – BC
Classical Composer of the Year
- Christopher Tyler Nickel – BC
Concerto for Piccolo “Christopher Tyler Nickel – Concerto for Piccolo” - Emilie Cecilia LeBel – AB
The Sediments “The Miraculous Mandarin, Concerto for Orchestra – Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Gustavo Gimeno” - Jordan Nobles – BC
Kanata “Chœur de l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Andrew Megill – Azrieli Music Prizes” - Luis Ramirez – MB
Leaven “Luis Ramirez – Leaven, feat. Atlys” - Vincent Ho – AB
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Book 2: Preludes and Fugues “Vincent Ho – The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Books 1 & 2”
Country Artist of the Year
- Hunter Brothers – SK
- Jess Moskaluke – SK
- Josh Stumpf – SK
- Mitch Zorn – BC
The Washboard Union – BC
Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
- Handsome Tiger – BC
- ka lok – SK
- Persha – BC
- SABAI – BC
WHIPPED CREAM – BC
Francophone Artist of the Year
Sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
- Burnstick – MB
- Élodie Orsei – BC
- Jocelyne Baribeau – MB
- Loig Morin – BC
- Marc Beaudin – AB
Global Artist of the Year
- Empanadas Ilegales – BC
- Farnaz Ohadi – BC
- La Parranda Venezolana – AB
- Montuno West – AB
- The Mbira Renaissance Band – AB
Indigenous Artist of the Year
- Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree – BC
- Burnstick – MB
- FONTINE – MB
- Garret T. Willie – BC
- Kyle McKearney – AB
Instrumental Artist of the Year
- Empanadas Ilegales – BC
- Factor Eight – SK
- Five Alarm Funk – BC
- Olivia Barrett – BC
The Daniel Pelton Collective – AB
Jazz Artist of the Year
- Aretha Tillotson – AB
- Caity Gyorgy and Mark Limacher – AB
- Elisa Thorn – BC
- Ostara Project – BC
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB
Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
- Archspire – BC
- Blue Youth – SK
- Freeze the Fall – BC
- Gnarwhal – NT
Valley of Despair – AB
Pop Artist of the Year
- Alicia Lov – AB
- Begonia – MB
- Electric Religious – AB
- Leith Ross – MB
Nuela Charles – AB
Producer of the Year
- Andy Schichter – Park Sound Studio – BC
- David Ziehr – BC
- Liam Duncan – MB
- Mike Schlosser – AB
Rayannah – MB
R&B Artist of the Year
- Jana Jacobs – MB
- Katie Tupper – SK
- Mikey Jose – BC
- Rebecca Sichon – BC
Sargeant X Comrade – AB
Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
- ARDN – AB
- Bijaan – AB
- Jr. Rhodes – AB
- Merkules – BC
Mouraine – AB
Recording of the Year
- Begonia – MB
- Boy Golden – MB
- Foxwarren – SK
- Katie Tupper – SK
William Prince – MB
Rock Artist of the Year
- 54•40 – BC
- Calling All Captains – AB
- FONTINE – MB
- Living Hour – MB
Royal Wood – SK
Roots Artist of the Year
- Boy Golden – MB
- CALICO – BC
- Mariel Buckley – AB
- The Southern Residents – BC
William Prince – MB
Songwriter(s) of the Year
Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
- FONTINE – MB
Home Right Here “FONTINE Good Buddy” - Foxwarren – SK
Listen2me “Foxwarren – 2” - Leith Ross – MB
Grieving “Leith Ross – I Can See The Future” - Mariel Buckley – AB
Vending Machines “Mariel Buckley – Strange Trip Ahead” William Prince – MB
Further From the Country “William Prince – Further From the Country”
Spiritual Artist of the Year
- BLVRS – BC
- Cikwes – AB
- collect.assembly – SK
- Jake Fretz – MB
Ruby Singh and The Future Ancestors – BC
Video Director of the Year
Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music
- Blair Coyle – BC
Get My Baby Back “Paris Pick – Third Time’s a Charm” - Brock Davis Mitchell – AB
LIFE “Nuela Charles – LIFE” - Diyet/Matthew Lien – YT
The Kluane Compositions “Diyet and Matthew Lien; The Kluane Compositions” - Jashan Makan/Bhaveek Makan – AB
Jungle “Bijaan – “Jungle” Taylor Brown- MB
Cowboy Dreams (feat. Cat Clyde) “Boy Golden – Best of Our Possible Lives”
2026 Industry Award Nominees
Audio Engineering Award
- Anthony Dolhai – BC
- Padraig Buttner-Schnirer – AB
- Spencer Bleasdale – 604 Studios – BC
- Stephanie Pockets Rangno – Vibe Cave Studios – BC
Walter Jeworski – Blue Door Recording – S
Community Excellence Award
- Community Arts Mentorship Program – SK
- Folk On The Rocks – NT
- Good + Plenty Arts Collective Inc. – MB
- SHE-Q Audio – AB
The West End Cultural Centre – MB
Excellence in Visual Design
- Bronwin Parks – Feisty Creative – BC
- Mark Mushet – Mark Mushet Photography – BC
- Molly Little and Jill Chipman – AB
- Molly Little – AB
Roberta Landreth – Roberta Landreth Design – MB
Impact in Artist Development
- 604 Records – BC
- Birthday Cake Records – MB
- Justine Giles – AB
- National Music Centre – AB
Paquin Artists Agency – MB
Impact in Live Music
Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association
- Midnight Agency – BC
- Paquin Artists Agency – MB
- Still Dark Society – NT
- The Exchange – SK
Winterruption Festivals – AB/MB/SK
Impact in Music Marketing
- Birthday Cake Records – MB
- Cellar Music Group – BC
- Chronograph Records – AB
- National Music Centre – AB
RANGE Magazine – BC