Saturday night, the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) celebrated a memorable year, handing out 31 awards at the 2026 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards, and kicking off the first of two evenings celebrating the best and brightest in the Canadian country music community.
Hosted by Jackie Rae Greening, the 2026 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards was full of special moments, including the 2026 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame® inductions of The Wilkinsons and Ron Kitchener; Brett Kissel and W. Brett Wilson honoured as the 2026 Gary Slaight Humanitarian Award co-recipients, and Natalie Waller recognized with the 2026 Leonard T. Rambeau International Award.
Tonight’s gala also featured unforgettable performances from Dean Brody, Morgan Griffiths, Brett Kissel, Madeline Merlo, Tyler Joe Miller, and The Wilkinsons.
This year marked the inaugural presentation of the International Industry Person of the Year Award, with Big Loud’s Seth England earning the honour. iHeartRadio/PURE Country’s own Shannon Ella was named Country Personality(ies) of the Year, and Karen Kosowski made history as the first solo female to win for Record Producer(s) of the Year. Keyboard Player of the Year went to Amber Bauer, and Thelma & James took home the trophy for Alternative Country Album of the Year presented by the National Music Centre. Michael August, Nate Hall, James Adam Shelley, and Tenille Townes won Songwriter(s) of the Year presented by SOCAN, and Francophone Artist of the Year presented by Spotify went to Fred Dionne.
2026 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards
Francophone Artist of the Year presented by Spotify
Fred Dionne
Innovative Campaign of the Year
Hailey Benedict, Big Loud, Local Hay – “Carl Dean” Campaign
Creative Team or Designer of the Year
Design Team: Logan Dane Morrison, Shaina Stein
Album “The Hard Way” Artwork (Artist: Cameron Whitcomb)
Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Matt McKay
Specialty Instrument Player of the Year
Tyler Vollrath
Fiddle Player of the Year
Tyler Beckett
Keyboard Player of the Year
Amber Bauer
Bass Player of the Year (Tie)
Lisa Jacobs
Ben Miller
Drummer of the Year
Rich DaSilva
Guitar Player of the Year
Chris Bray
Country Music Program, Special, or Digital Feature of the Year
Pure Country Top 50 Countdown with Lainey Wilson, Russell Dickerson, And Shannon Ella (iHeartRadio Canada)
Country Club of the Year
Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, ON)
Country Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year
Boots and Hearts Music Festival (Oro-Medonte, ON)
Alternative Country Album of the Year presented by National Music Centre
Starting Over – Thelma & James
Top Selling Album of the Year presented by Luminate
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year
Hate How You Look – Josh Ross
Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year
The Hard Way – Cameron Whitcomb
Recording Studio of the Year
80A Studios (Toronto, ON)
Record Producer(s) of the Year
Karen Kosowski – Single: Iron Man (Acoustic), Single: Safe Place To Break, Single: Jessica Jezebel (Artist: Meghan Patrick)
Record Company of the Year
Big Loud Records
Country Personality(ies) of the Year
Shannon Ella (Pure Country Radio National Midday)
Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market)
CHCQ-FM (Belleville, ON)
Radio Station of the Year (Large Market)
CFCW (Edmonton, AB)
Retailer or Commercial Platform of the Year
Apple Music
Songwriter(s) of the Year presented by SOCAN
Backfire – Michael August, Nate Hall, James Adam Shelley, Tenille Townes, Stuart Walker (Artist: Nate Haller x Tenille Townes)
Music Publishing Company of the Year presented by CMRRA
Big Loud Publishing
Booking Agency of the Year presented by Dolly’s
The Feldman Agency
Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year
Denise Ross (Live Nation Entertainment)
Management Company of the Year
The Core Entertainment
International Industry Person of the Year
Seth England
Industry Person of the Year
Lindsay Hyslop (BMG Canada)
