2026 ECMA Music Award & Industry Award Winners

Here are all the winners from this year's ECMA's in Sydney.

Music Award Winners

Album of the Year
Presented by Rogers
Goldie Boutilier — Goldie Boutilier (CB)

African Canadian Artist of the Year
Presented by the African Nova Scotian Music Association
Blessing Tangban (NS)

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Presented by FACTOR
Goldie Boutilier (CB)

Entertainer of the Year — Fans’ Choice
Presented by TD
Andree Pettipas (NS)

Video of the Year — Fans’ Choice
Presented by TD
Aaron MacDonald — “Beaches & Bands” (CB)

Folk Release of the Year
Presented by Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia
Lennie Gallant (PEI)

Francophone Artist of the Year
La Famille LeBlanc (NB)

Group of the Year
Presented by Atlantic Lottery
Cassie & Maggie (NS)

Indigenous Artist of the Year
Presented by Membertou First Nation and Eskasoni First Nation
Morgan Toney (CB)

Pop Release of the Year
Presented by Stingray
Maggie Andrew (NS)

Release of the Year
Presented by Craft Beer Collective
Elyse Aeryn (CB)

Songwriter of the Year
Presented by SOCAN
Kellie Loder (NL)

Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award
The Barra MacNeils (CB)

Loud Release of the Year
Presented by Atlantic Music & Merch
The Order of the Precious Blood (NL)

Blues Release of the Year
Presented by East Coast Blues Society
JP LeBlanc — All In My Blood / Je l’ai dans l’sang (NB)

Children’s Artist of the Year
Presented by Downtown Sydney
Donna & Andy (NS)

Classical Release of the Year
Presented by Canadian Music Centre / Debut Atlantic
Duo Concertante — Maier, Franck, Schumann: Sonatas for Violin & Piano (NL)

Classical Composer of the Year
Presented by Canadian Music Centre / Debut Atlantic
Amy Brandon (NS)

Country Release of the Year
Presented by City of Moncton
The Martin Boys — Burn the Boats (NB)

Dance Release of the Year
Presented by Mayflower Mall
PINEO & LOEB — Love Yourself (NS)

Electronic Release of the Year
Presented by Nova Scotia Power
Rich Aucoin — Frequency Modulation (NS)

Fusion Release of the Year
Presented by Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
Morgan Toney — Golden Regalia (CB)

Global Music Release of the Year
Presented by J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport
XIA-3 — Interworlds (NL)

Instrumental Release of the Year
Presented by Lightfoot & Wolfville
Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan — Lyrique (NB)

Jazz Release of the Year
Presented by the Canadian Federation of Musicians
Joe Bowden — Music Is Life (NS)

Producer of the Year
Presented by Atlantic Lottery
Colin Buchanan (PEI)

R&B / Soul Release of the Year
Presented by Rogers
Lindsay Misiner — I Saw An Angel (NS)

Rap / Hip-Hop Release of the Year
Presented by Nova Scotia Spirit Co.
HINCH — Poetry Is The Art Of Death (NB)

Rock / Alternative Release of the Year
Presented by Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Goldie Boutilier — Goldie Boutilier Presents... Goldie Montana (CB)

Roots Release of the Year
Presented by FACTOR
Cassie and Maggie — Gold and Coal (NS)

Solo Artist of the Year
Presented by Needs
Logan Richard (PEI)

Songwriter of the Year
Presented by SOCAN
Kellie Loder (NL)

Traditional Release of the Year
Presented by Cape Breton Beverages
Cassie and Maggie — Gold and Coal (NS)

Industry Award Winners

Artist Management of the Year
Presented by Stingray
Nik MacDonald (NS)

Event of the Year
Presented by Canadian Live Music Association
Celtic Colours International Festival (CB)

Innovator of the Year
Presented by Midland
Katrina Lopes (NS)

Media Excellence Award
Presented by Pattison Outdoor
Greg Smith (NL)

Recording Engineer of the Year
Presented by Destination Cape Smokey
John Mullane (NS)

Technical Excellence Award
Presented by Atlantic Music & Merch
Donnie MacNeil (CB)

Venue of the Year
Presented by TIXR
The Majestic Theatre (NL)

Visual Artist of the Year
Presented by Nova Scotia Loyal
Sandra-Lee Layden (NL)

The ECMA also honoured the 2026 Honorary Award recipients, recognizing individuals whose work has made a lasting contribution to Atlantic Canadian music, culture, and community. These awards celebrate legacy, leadership, musicianship, and the people whose influence continues to strengthen the East Coast music sector.

2026 ECMA Honorary Award Recipients

Bucky Adams Memorial Award
Joseph Parris

Industry Builder Award
Katrina Lopes

Musician’s Achievement Award
Emily Dingwall

Stompin’ Tom Award — Cape Breton
Laura Mercer

Stompin’ Tom Award — New Brunswick
Theresa Malenfant

Stompin’ Tom Award — Newfoundland and Labrador
John Hutton

Stompin’ Tom Award — Nova Scotia
Wayne O’Connor

Stompin’ Tom Award — Prince Edward Island
Rhéal Arsenault