The Canadian Folk Music Awards were established in 2005 to bring greater exposure to the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music, celebrating and promoting it in all its forms. The annual awards in 21 categories were presented during four concerts showcasing many of the talented nominees. More than 100 jurors — located across Canada and representing all of its official provinces, territories and languages — determined the recipients in each category.

A complete list of winners in the 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominees follows, while recorded livestreams of the concerts and awards presentations may be found, along with more information, online at www.folkawards.ca.

Stan Rogers Traditional Singer Award: Matthew Byrne – Stealing Time

Contemporary Singer of the Year: Julian Taylor – Pathways

Vocal Group of the Year: PIQSIQ – Legends

New Artist of the Year: Claire Morrison – Where Do You Go at Night?

French Songwriter of the Year: Guillaume Arsenault – Les plantes continuent de pousser même quand tu dors – Face B

English Songwriter of the Year: Terra Spencer – Sunset

Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year: Rachel Therrien – Mi Hogar II

Solo Artist of the Year: Lennie Gallant – Shelter From the Storms

Indigenous Songwriter of the Year:  TIE — Aysanabee – Edge Of The Earth and Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Ayalik (PIQSIQ) – Legends

Album Artwork of the Year: Ru Rose – Revival

Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award: Oktoecho – Saimaniq Sivumut

Single of the Year: AHI – Human Kind

Contemporary Album of the Year: AHI – The Light Behind The Sun

Instrumental Composer of the Year: Eric Abramovitz, Rebekah Wolkstein and Drew Jurecka – Schmaltz and Pepper

Producer of the Year: Ben Plotnick for “Every Colour Left” by Loud in the Pines

Instrumental Group of the Year: The Fretless – Glasswing

Ensemble of the Year: Cassie and Maggie – Gold and Coal

Traditional Album of the Year: Matthew Byrne – Stealing Time

Global Roots Album of the Year: Kazdoura – Ghoyoum 

Children’s Album of the Year: Ginalina – All the Earth Speaks

Young Performer of the Year: Max Francis – Home

More information on Prince may be found online at williamprincemusic.com. Here’s a link for the official video for “When You Miss Someone,” one of the songs on William Prince’s Stand in the Joy album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxVzg0F4fcU.

Mia Kelly, a singer-songwriter from Gatineau, Quebec who writes and performs in both French and English, was the recipient of two Canadian Folk Music Awards. Kelly, who released her debut album, Garden Through the War, in August 2022, was honored as both New/Emerging Artist of the Year and Young Performer of the Year. She was previously named Emerging Artist of the Year by Culture Outaouais and represented Canada as a finalist at the 2023 Jeux De La Francophonie. Visit her website (miakellymusic.com) to learn more about this young artist and to view a few videos.

The Canadian Folk Music Awards were established in 2005 to bring greater exposure to the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music, celebrating and promoting it in all its forms. The annual awards presentation caps a few days of artist showcases. More than 100 jurors — located across Canada and representing all of its official provinces, territories and languages — determine the recipients in each category.

A complete list of winners in the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards follows, while
more information may be found online at folkawards.ca.

Children’s Album of the Year:
Ginalina for Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs

Contemporary Album of the Year:
William Prince for Stand in the Joy

Contemporary Singer of the Year:
Suzie Vinnick for Fall Back Home

English Songwriter of the Year:
Jacob Brodovsky for I Love You and I’m Sorry

Ensemble of the Year:
Genticorum for Au Couer de l’aube

French Songwriter of the Year:
Aleksi Campagne & Michelle Campagne (of Aleksi Campagne) for For The Giving/ Sans rien donner

Global Roots Album of the Year:
Sophie Lukacs for Bamako

Indigenous Songwriter of the Year:
Kaeley Jade Wiebe (of Kaeley Jade) for Turpentine

Instrumental Composer of the Year:
Vinta for Beacons

Instrumental Group of the Year:
Queen Kong for Fray

Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year:
Aaron Colis for Before Daylight in the Morning

New/Emerging Artist of the Year:
Mia Kelly for Garden Through the War

Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award:
Kune for Universal Echos

Producer(s) of the Year: (Tie)
Drew Jurecka and Dan Rosenberg for Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango (Payadora Tango Ensemble)

Jill Barber and Erik P.H. Nielsen for Homemaker (Jill Barber)

Single of the Year:
“When You Miss Someone” (William Prince)

Solo Artist of the Year:
William Prince for Stand in the Joy

Traditional Album of the Year:
Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira for All It Brings

Traditional Singer of the Year:
Mary Beth Carty for Crossing the Causeway

Unsung Hero:
John Clarke

Vocal Group of the Year:
The Bombadills for Dear Friend

Young Performer of the Year:
Mia Kelly for Garden Through the War

To mark its 20th anniversary, the Canadian Folk Music Awards return next year to Ottawa, Ontario — where it all began in 2005.