IBMA Announces 2026 Momentum Award Honorees
The awards recognized five categories of emerging bluegrass talent at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Country
Live Poll
Do you feel local music festivals provide sufficient value to your community?
The International Bluegrass Music Association announced its 2026 Momentum Award honorees during the IBMA Business Conference in Chattanooga. The honors celebrate emerging trailblazers across five distinct categories of the genre.
Why it matters
These awards highlight the next generation of professional talent, providing a significant platform for rising stars in the bluegrass industry. Recognizing these artists encourages continued innovation and growth within the musical community.
The association recognized recipients across 5 specific categories, including Band of the Year and Vocalist of the Year, during the professional business gathering.
The players
IBMA
The International Bluegrass Music Association is the professional trade organization that connects and supports the global bluegrass music community.
The Creekers
This group is an emerging musical act that received the Band of the Year award at the 2026 Momentum ceremony.
Lydia Hamby
A rising talent in the bluegrass circuit who was honored as the Vocalist of the Year.
Fletcher Bright Realty
This local real estate firm served as the official presenter for the 2026 Momentum Awards.
Bronwyn
The artist served as the official host for the awards announcement event held in Chattanooga.
The details
Honorees included The Creekers for Band of the Year and Lydia Hamby for Vocalist of the Year, with accolades presented by Fletcher Bright Realty. Additional winners included instrumentalists Luciya Sullivan and Jean-Baptiste Cardineau, mentor Pammy Davis Lassiter, and industry contributor Helen Ludé.
Timeline
The 2026 IBMA Momentum Awards were announced on October 21, 2026.
The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards take place on October 22, 2026.
An IBMA Pickin' in the Park event is scheduled for October 24, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The Momentum Awards serve as a vital mechanism within the IBMA Business Conference to formalize industry recognition for emerging artists. This process mirrors broader trends in the music industry where professional trade organizations prioritize scouted talent to ensure long-term genre vitality.
Fans and industry professionals can attend upcoming performances throughout the week in Chattanooga at various venues. Tickets for the Bluegrass Music Awards are currently available for purchase for those wishing to participate in the week of events.
The takeaway
These awards provide a clear roadmap for listeners to discover rising stars who are currently shaping the future of bluegrass music. Attendees are encouraged to check local venue schedules to catch these emerging artists during the remainder of the week-long event series.
What happens next
The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards take place Thursday evening, October 22, 2026, at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the genre on the Country section page.
More information
To purchase tickets for the upcoming ceremony, visit the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards tickets portal.
Live Poll
Do you feel local music festivals provide sufficient value to your community?
