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15th Annual
Country Music Alberta Awards Weekend
Edmonton Convention Centre
March 21-22, 2026
Full Weekend Schedule​
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Edmonton Convention Centre
10:30-11:15 AM:
Vocal Warm Up and Grounding Session
with Emma Harding
11:30 AM-12:30 PM:
Keynote:
Sync & Strategy: Turning Great Songs Into Real Opportunities
with Michelle Allman-Esdaille
Presented by Alberta Music
1:00-3:30 PM:
Ask an Expert Roundtables
with Pat McGannon, Carla Hackman, Jess Marsh, Catherine Robertson, Michelle Allman-Esdaille, Hayden McHugh, Ryan Langlois, Carmen Choney, Scott Mitchell, Samantha Pickard, Ted Stovin, Stew Kirkwood
Presented by Alberta Music
7:00 PM:
Industry Awards and Kick-Off Party Doors
7:30 PM
Industry Awards and Kick-Off Party
Hosted by Brayden King
Performances by Brother Bicker Band, Cruz Vallis, Delta Sweet, Jaiden Riley, and Taylor-Rae
Presented by Giggidy
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Awards Presented:
Live Country Venue of the Year
Live Event of the Year or Presenting Series of the Year (Small/Medium Market)
Live Event of the Year or Presenting Series of the Year (Large Market)
Industry Person of the Year
Radio Station of the Year (Large Market)
Radio Station of the Year (S/M Market)
Talent Buyer of the Year
Visual Creative of the Year
Late
Open Mic
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Sunday, March 22, 2026
Edmonton Convention Centre
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10:00-11:00 AM:
Annual General Meeting
Members Only
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12:00-3:00 PM:
Storytellers: Songwriter Showcase
Round One:
Hosted by Devin Cooper, performances by Berlyn, Keira Myer, and Justin Sutton.
Round Two:
Hosted by Trevor Panczak, performances by Megan Paige, Travis Dolter, and Jessie Bird.
4:30 PM:
Cocktail Hour
4:30 PM:
Red Carpet Stage
Performances by Meeks, Nolan Compton, Samantha Lee, Take the Sonset
Presented by Universal Music Canada
6:00 PM:
Gala Dinner
6:30 PM:
Opening Honours
Hosted by Foxx Worthee
Presented by W. Brett Wilson
Awards Presented:
Bass Player of the Year
Drummer of the Year
Guitar Player of the Year
Interactive Artist of the Year
Specialty Instrument Player of the Year
Video of the Year
7:30 PM:
15th Annual Country Music Alberta Awards
Presented by Craig Senyk Initiatives
Hosted by Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Dan Davidson
Featuring Performances By Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Dan Davidson, Aaron Goodvin, Hailey Benedict, Kyle McKearney, Noeline Hofmann, Shawnee Kish, The Prairie States, Alex Hughes, Brayden King, Brettyn Rose, Chevy Beaulieu, Drew Gregory, Foxx Worthee, Garrett Gregory, Kalsey Kulyk, Mallory Chipman, Mariya Stokes
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Featuring the Hall of Fame Induction of Wendy Daniel and Terri Clark
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Awards Presented:
Community Spirit Award
Fans' Choice Award
Female Artist of the Year
Group or Duo of the Year
Hall of Fame Induction: Terri Clark
Hall of Fame Induction: Wendy Daniel
Horizon Album of the Year
Horizon Female Artist of the Year
Horizon Group or Duo of the Year
Horizon Male Artist of the Year
Horizon Single of the Year
Horizon Youth Award
Male Artist of the Year
Roots Artist of the Year
Single of the Year
Songwriter(s) of the Year
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10:00 PM:
Official After Party
Featuring: DJ Hef
Presented by Spartan Controls
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15th Annual Country Music Alberta Awards
Co-Host Announcement
We’re excited to announce that Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Dan Davidson will co-host the 15th Annual Country Music Alberta Awards at the Edmonton Convention Centre. Both artists are longtime champions of Alberta’s country music community and will bring energy, personality, and heart to this milestone year.
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Performers Announced
The Featured Performers for the 15th Annual Country Music Alberta Awards are:
Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Dan Davidson
Aaron Goodvin, Hailey Benedict, Kyle McKearney, Noeline Hofmann,
Shawnee Kish, The Prairie States
Alex Hughes, Brayden King, Brettyn Rose, Chevy Beaulieu, Drew Gregory,
Foxx Worthee, Garrett Gregory, Kalsey Kulyk, Mallory Chipman, Mariya Stokes
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Tickets Are On Sale Now
Secure your spot for this unforgettable weekend! Tickets include:
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Full Weekend Passes
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Individual Event Tickets
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Lammle’s Western Wear FanZone tickets – Celebrate the past, present, and future of country music in a high-energy, fan-focused atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.
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Industry Awards and Kick-Off Party
Presented by Giggidy
The weekend kicks off with the Industry Awards & Kick-Off Party! Hosted by Brayden King, the evening features performances from Brother Bicker Band, Cruz Vallis, Delta Sweet, Jaiden Riley, and Taylor-Rae. We’ll also present the first awards of the weekend, shining a spotlight on the dedicated industry professionals who power our music community year-round.
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When the formal program wraps, the stage opens up for our crowd-favourite Open Mic, where the celebration continues and anything can happen.
This event is open to the public. Entry is included with the Weekend Pass or Industry Awards and Kick-Off Party tickets
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Storytellers: Songwriter Showcase
Storytellers: Songwriter Showcase is an intimate, in-the-round experience that puts the songs, and the stories behind them, front and centre. Across two curated rounds, eight writers take the stage to share the moments, meaning, and craft behind their music.
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Round One is hosted by Devin Cooper, joined by Berlyn, Keira Myer, and Justin Sutton.
Round Two is hosted by Trevor Panczak, alongside Megan Paige, Travis Dolter, and Jessie Bird.
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Expect stripped-back performances, candid conversations, and the kind of creative chemistry that only happens when great writers share a stage. It’s a rare chance to hear the songs you love, and the ones you’re about to, exactly as they were written.
This event is open to the public. Entry is included with the Weekend Pass or Songwriter Showcase tickets
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The Learning Lounge
The Learning Lounge brings our community together to grow, share, and sharpen our craft. From a collaborative vocal warmup to a thought-provoking keynote and dynamic roundtable conversations, each component is designed to spark inspiration and real-world learning.
This event is open to the public. Entry is included with the Weekend Pass or Individual Tickets to Each Component. The Keynote Address and Round Table Sessions are also open to Alberta Music Members.
Edmonton Convention Centre - Riverside Room
Saturday, March 22, 2026
Various Times
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10:30-11:15 AM
Vocal Warm-Up And Grounding Session with Emma Harding
This Vocal Warm-Up & Grounding Session with Emma Harding (Rockit Vocal Studios) is designed to get you ready to take on the day - physically, mentally, and creatively. We’ll move through guided vocal exercises to wake up your voice, build stamina, and boost confidence, followed by a performance-focused reset to help you step into the room with intention and presence.
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Keynote
Sync & Strategy: Turning Great Songs Into Real Opportunities with Michelle Allman-Esdaille
Presented by Alberta Music
Sync isn’t luck. It’s strategy.
In this dynamic keynote, Michelle Allman-Esdaille, Founder of Hook & Co. and The HOOK Sync Group, breaks down how the sync world actually works, who the decision makers are, how deals get made, and what supervisors are really listening for.
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Michelle will unpack the difference between a sync agent and a music supervisor, where publishers fit into the equation, and how opportunities move from brief to placement. She will share practical guidance on how to properly describe your songs, how to submit them professionally, and what it truly means to write to a brief.
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From pitch strategy and catalog positioning to branding, metadata, and relationship building, this session connects creative excellence with business clarity. Artists will leave with a clearer understanding of the ecosystem and tangible tools they can apply immediately while building toward long-term sustainability.
1:00-3:30 PM
Ask an Expert: Round Tables
Presented by Alberta Music
Round tables are small-group conversations led by a mentor. Join the table, ask questions, and share ideas in a more personal setting. After a set time, you will rotate to a new table to learn from a different mentor. You will have the opportunity to sit at all twelve tables.
The Mentorship Lounge
Edmonton Convention Centre (Riverside Room)
3:30-4:30 PM
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The Country Music Alberta Mentorship Lounge gives artists the opportunity for one-on-one guidance from experienced industry professionals. Participants will be matched with mentors for 7-minute sessions designed to provide practical feedback, career advice, and strategies to help navigate the music business.
Approved applicants will be partnered with up to three mentors based on their answers to the below questions. This is a unique chance to ask questions, gain insight, and connect
Space is limited, and spots will be filled by application only. Bring your questions, your goals, and your curiosity; this is your moment to connect, learn, and level up.
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Red Carpet Stage
Presented by Universal Music Canada
Fresh voices. Big energy. Real momentum. The Red Carpet Stage presented by Universal Music Canad is dedicated to showcasing what’s next in country music by featuring artists who are carving their own lanes and defining the next chapter of Alberta’s country scene. Featuring performances by Meeks, Nolan Compton, Samantha Lee, and Take the Sonset. ​
This event is open to the public. Entry is included with the Weekend Pass or a Gala Dinner and Award ticket.
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