Calgary Prepares to Welcome Nation's Premier Folk Music Celebration
The vibrant sounds of Canadian folk music will resonate through Calgary this spring as the city prepares to host the prestigious 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards. This marks the third time Calgary has welcomed the national celebration, having previously hosted the event in 2013 and 2018, demonstrating the city's enduring connection to the folk music community.
Four-Day Celebration Across Multiple Venues
Scheduled for April 9-12, 2026, the awards will transform Calgary into what organizers are calling "folk central" with events spanning multiple iconic locations. The Bella Centre, National Music Centre, and Westin Calgary will serve as primary venues, with convenient shuttle services connecting participants between locations. Graham Lindsay, president of the Canadian Folk Music Awards, emphasized the city's ideal infrastructure for such an event, noting the concentration of venues creates an immersive experience for attendees.
The comprehensive program includes four gala concerts, public programming sessions, private industry showcases, and dedicated initiatives to support emerging artists seeking both national and international exposure. A particularly innovative addition this year is a new category recognizing excellence in album cover art, acknowledging the vital role visual storytelling plays in enhancing the musical experience for listeners.
Diverse Programming and Alberta Talent Recognition
While the full schedule continues to develop, organizers have confirmed several special events including a Celtic Music Jam Session on April 11 from 2-5 p.m. at Imperial Tap near the Westin. The programming will prominently feature Indigenous and Francophone performers, reflecting Canada's rich cultural tapestry. Organizers are also considering opening select afterparties to the public, creating additional opportunities for community engagement.
"It will be fabulous for anyone attending one of the concerts. And it will be stumbling distance back to the hotel," Lindsay joked about the convenient venue arrangements.
The awards encompass 21 distinct categories celebrating every facet of folk music, from Contemporary Album of the Year and Global Roots Album of the Year to the Stan Rogers Traditional Singer of the Year and Young Performer of the Year. Alberta artists feature prominently among this year's nominees, including:
- Kyle McKearney nominated for Contemporary Singer of the Year
- Wyatt C. Louis nominated for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year
- Calgareal, a Calgary/Montreal collaborative group, nominated for Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries
Building on a Legacy of Folk Music Excellence
Now in its 21st year, the Canadian Folk Music Awards continues to evolve while maintaining its commitment to celebrating artistic excellence. Lindsay highlighted Calgary's unique advantages as a host city, noting: "We had such a great time here last time. There's such strong local community support here because you have countless folk clubs, folk festivals. Essentially, you could have a gig one night here and then another gig the next night somewhere else in the city. It's all really productive for one's career."
The return to Calgary represents more than just another awards ceremony—it signifies a homecoming to a city with deep roots in Canada's folk music tradition and a vibrant community ready to celebrate the nation's most talented performers.
