{"data":{"id":"52e22ea4-28d6-458a-a606-150f4a50b5c1","originKind":"SYNDICATED","title":"Alberta Artists and Industry Take Home Western Canadian Music Awards","summary":"Alberta artists had plenty to celebrate at the 2026 Western Canadian Music Awards, taking home five awards during this year’s BreakOut West in Victoria, BC.\n\nThe wins spanned genres from Afrobeats and hip hop to classical, songwriting and spiritual music, showcasing the incredible range of music being created across Alberta.\n\nThe Mbira Renaissance Band took home Afrobeats Artist of the Year, while Emilie Cecilia LeBel was named Classical Composer of Year for The Sediments.\n\nARDN added Rap & Hip Hop Artist to his growing list accolades, and Mariel Buckley earned Songwriter(s) of the Year for “Vending Machines” from her album Strange Trip ahead. Cikwes rounded out Alberta’s wins, taking home Spiritual Artist of the Year.\n\nAlberta had even more reason to celebrate on Saturday evening, when Calgary artist Jairus Sharif was announced as the winner of the inaugural Meridian Prize for his album. The new prize recognizes an album of exceptional artistic achievement from Western and Northern Canada.\n\nBeyond the five wins, Alberta had a strong presence throughout the Western Canadian Music Awards, with artists and music industry professionals nominated across a wide range of categories.\n\nThe awards were part of BreakOut West 2026, held September 30 to October 4 in Victoria, bringing together artists and music industry professionals from across Western and Northern Canada for showcases, professional development, networking and celebration.\n\nCongratulations to all of Alberta’s 2026 Western Canadian Music Award winners and nominees!\n\n2026 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARD WINNERS\nArtistic Awards\nAfrobeats Artist of the Year\n\nThe Mbira Renaissance Band – AB\n\nBlues Artist of the Year\n\nBlue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree – BC\n\nBreakOut Artist of the Year – Sponsored by FACTOR\n\nJake Vaadeland – SK\n\nChildren’s Artist of the Year\n\nNorman Foote – BC\n\nClassical Artist or Ensemble of the Year\n\nStanding Wave – BC\n\nClassical Composer of the Year\n\nEmilie Cecilia LeBel – The Sediments “The Miraculous Mandarin, Concerto for Orchestra – Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Gustavo Gimeno” – AB\n\nCountry Artist of the Year\n\nJess Moskaluke – SK\n\nElectronic & Dance Artist of the Year\n\nWHIPPED CREAM – BC\n\nFrancophone Artist of the Year – Sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)\n\nJocelyne Baribeau – MB\n\nGlobal Artist of the Year\n\nEmpanadas Ilegales – BC\n\nIndigenous Artist of the Year\n\nFONTINE – MB\n\nInstrumental Artist of the Year\n\nOlivia Barrett – BC\n\nJazz Artist of the Year\n\nWinnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB\n\nMetal & Hard Music Artist of the Year\n\nFreeze the Fall – BC\n\nPop Artist of the Year\n\nBegonia – MB\n\nProducer of the Year\n\nAndy Schichter – Park Sound Studio – BC\n\nR&B Artist of the Year\n\nKatie Tupper – SK\n\nRap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year\n\nARDN – AB\n\nRecording of the Year\n\nFoxwarren – SK\n\nRock Artist of the Year\n\nFONTINE – MB\n\nRoots Artist of the Year\n\nThe Southern Residents – BC\n\nSongwriter(s) of the Year – Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)\n\nMariel Buckley – Vending Machines “Mariel Buckley – Strange Trip Ahead” – AB\n\nSpiritual Artist of the Year\n\nCikwes – AB\n\nVideo Director of the Year – Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music\n\nTaylor Brown – Cowboy Dreams (feat. Cat Clyde) “Boy Golden – Best of Our Possible Lives” – MB\n\nIndustry Awards\nExcellence in Visual Design\n\nRoberta Landreth – Roberta Landreth Design\n\nImpact in Artist Development\n\nBirthday Cake Records\n\nImpact in Live Music Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association\n\nPaquin Artists Agency\n\nImpact in Music Marketing\n\nBirthday Cake Records\n\nFind out more about this year’s event at  breakoutwest.ca.\n\nThe post Alberta Artists and Industry Take Home Western Canadian Music Awards appeared first on Alberta Music.","url":"https://www.albertamusic.org/2026/10/alberta-artists-and-industry-take-home-western-canadian-music-awards/","imageUrl":"https://www.albertamusic.org/wp-content/uploads/BOW2026-WINNER-29-225x300.jpg","publishedAt":"2026-10-07T18:16:16.000Z","sourceLabel":"Alberta Music","tags":["Uncategorized"],"authorName":"Carly Klassen","contentHtml":"

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Alberta artists had plenty to celebrate at the 2026 Western Canadian Music Awards, taking home five awards during this year’s BreakOut West in Victoria, BC.

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The wins spanned genres from Afrobeats and hip hop to classical, songwriting and spiritual music, showcasing the incredible range of music being created across Alberta.

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The Mbira Renaissance Band took home Afrobeats Artist of the Year, while Emilie Cecilia LeBel was named Classical Composer of Year for The Sediments.

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ARDN added Rap & Hip Hop Artist to his growing list accolades, and Mariel Buckley earned Songwriter(s) of the Year for “Vending Machines” from her album Strange Trip ahead. Cikwes rounded out Alberta’s wins, taking home Spiritual Artist of the Year.

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Alberta had even more reason to celebrate on Saturday evening, when Calgary artist Jairus Sharif was announced as the winner of the inaugural Meridian Prize for his album

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. The new prize recognizes an album of exceptional artistic achievement from Western and Northern Canada.

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Beyond the five wins, Alberta had a strong presence throughout the Western Canadian Music Awards, with artists and music industry professionals nominated across a wide range of categories.

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The awards were part of BreakOut West 2026, held September 30 to October 4 in Victoria, bringing together artists and music industry professionals from across Western and Northern Canada for showcases, professional development, networking and celebration.

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Congratulations to all of Alberta’s 2026 Western Canadian Music Award winners and nominees!

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2026 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARD WINNERS

\nArtistic Awards\n

Afrobeats Artist of the Year
\nThe Mbira Renaissance Band – AB

\n

Blues Artist of the Year
\nBlue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree – BC

\n

BreakOut Artist of the Year – Sponsored by FACTOR
\nJake Vaadeland – SK

\n

Children’s Artist of the Year
\nNorman Foote – BC

\n

Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year
\nStanding Wave – BC

\n

Classical Composer of the Year
\nEmilie Cecilia LeBel – The Sediments “The Miraculous Mandarin, Concerto for Orchestra – Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Gustavo Gimeno” – AB

\n

Country Artist of the Year
\nJess Moskaluke – SK

\n

Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
\nWHIPPED CREAM – BC

\n

Francophone Artist of the Year – Sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
\nJocelyne Baribeau – MB

\n

Global Artist of the Year
\nEmpanadas Ilegales – BC

\n

Indigenous Artist of the Year
\nFONTINE – MB

\n

Instrumental Artist of the Year
\nOlivia Barrett – BC

\n

Jazz Artist of the Year
\nWinnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB

\n

Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
\nFreeze the Fall – BC

\n

Pop Artist of the Year
\nBegonia – MB

\n

Producer of the Year
\nAndy Schichter – Park Sound Studio – BC

\n

R&B Artist of the Year
\nKatie Tupper – SK

\n

Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
\nARDN – AB

\n

Recording of the Year
\nFoxwarren – SK

\n

Rock Artist of the Year
\nFONTINE – MB

\n

Roots Artist of the Year
\nThe Southern Residents – BC

\n

Songwriter(s) of the Year – Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
\nMariel Buckley – Vending Machines “Mariel Buckley – Strange Trip Ahead” – AB

\n

Spiritual Artist of the Year
\nCikwes – AB

\n

Video Director of the Year – Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music
\nTaylor Brown – Cowboy Dreams (feat. Cat Clyde) “Boy Golden – Best of Our Possible Lives” – MB

\nIndustry Awards\n

Excellence in Visual Design
\nRoberta Landreth – Roberta Landreth Design

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Impact in Artist Development
\nBirthday Cake Records

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Impact in Live Music Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association
\nPaquin Artists Agency

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Impact in Music Marketing
\nBirthday Cake Records

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\nFind out more about this year’s event at breakoutwest.ca.

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The post Alberta Artists and Industry Take Home Western Canadian Music Awards appeared first on Alberta Music.

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