Billy Strings and East Nash Grass Take Top Honors at 2026 IBMA Awards
The International Bluegrass Music Association Awards took place Oct. 22 in Chattanooga, Tenn., with Sam Bush and Sierra Hull hosting. Billy Strings won entertainer of the year for the fifth time, and his video with Bryan Sutton earned music video honors. East Nash Grass took album and instrumental group awards, Trey Hensley won song of the year, and Sierra Hull was named mandolin player of the year.
The Chattanooga ceremony, held Oct. 22 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, was led by hosts Sam Bush and Sierra Hull. Billy Strings collected his fifth entertainer trophy, following wins in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025; his collaboration with Bryan Sutton also took the video prize.
East Nash Grass, a past new-artist winner, earned album honors for All God’s Children and instrumental-group recognition. Trey Hensley’s “Can’t Outrun the Blues” was named song of the year, while Hull received her eighth mandolin-player award. The Hall of Fame welcomed Byron Berline, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, the Lost & Found and Barry Poss.
The results could raise the profiles of the featured acts among bluegrass listeners and festival audiences, potentially drawing more attention to Chattanooga’s World of Bluegrass events. Wins for East Nash Grass and Trey Hensley may introduce those artists to new fans, while Billy Strings’s repeat honor could reinforce his crossover visibility. Hall of Fame inductions may also encourage listeners to explore older recordings and the genre’s institutional history. These effects are likely modest and gradual, shaped by how media, promoters and audiences respond.