MusicNL has announced 117 nominees for its 2026 awards, scheduled for the first week of October.

Port-Aux-Poutines and Rachel Cousins lead the nominations with five each, followed by Mallory Johnson and With Violent with four each.

The awards will be presented during MusicNL Week, scheduled for October 1st to the 4th in downtown St. John’s.

Tickets for the October 1st gala event which will feature performances by The Irish Descendants, Mallory Johnson, Mark Bragg and The Butchers and Rachel Cousins go on sale tomorrow at noon.

A full list of nominees can be found below.

Alternative Artist of the Year
Claire Porter
Liz Fagan Band
Mark Bragg
Rev Dave and the Sin Eaters
The Proper Things
WEKU

Artist Manager of the Year
Jeff Sheppard
Linda Hickey
Matt Dines

Classical Artist of the Year
Alan Klaus
Rob Power
Robert Humber

Country Artist of the Year
Carolina East
James Cutler
Jason Benoit
Josh Janes
Justin Fancy
Paige Penney

Electronic Artist of the Year
DOEUX
Feminotica
Jay Mach
Medians
potem
Shieldeater

Event of the Year
Bloom United in Music
Newfound Music Festival
Opera on the Avalon’s Fall Festival
Showcase on Da Rock
Theatre Hill Jazz Jam

Folk Artist of the Year
Becca Bartlett
Colleen Power
Evan AuCoin
Mallory Johnson
Matthew Byrne
Rachel Cousins
Silver Wolf Band

Global Music Artist of the Year
Ana Luisa Ramos
Nana Kwame Obese
WEKU
Zay Nova

Graphic Artist of the Year
Halfcase
Scott Sheppard
Tara Thompson

Group of the Year
Liz Fagan Band
Port-Aux-Poutines
Silver Wolf Band
The Irish Descendants
The Proper Things
With Violet

Indigenous Artist of the Year
Elizabeth Sheppard
James Cutler
Silver Wolf Band

Industry Professional of the Year
Debbie Brown
Matt Dines
Meghan Herder
Mike McDonald
Robert Buck
Rozalind MacPhail

Instrumental Artist of the Year
Ben Diamond
Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill
Elder Caius
Ian Foster
The Ames Window
Wade Tarling

International Touring Artist of the Year
Ana & Eric
Ben Diamond
Port-Aux-Poutines

Jazz Artist of the Year
Andrew Gosse
Beep Bop
Duane Andrews

L’Artiste Francophone de L’Année
Adrian House
Colleen Power
daisy jay
Liz Fagan Band

Loud Artist of the Year
DAHLIA
IRØNVEIL
Sea Dogs
Yes, Officer

Media Person of the Year
Presented by Ray Agency
Alyssa Crocker
Heather Barrett
Zach Snow

Music Educator of the Year
Presented by Long and McQuade Musical Instruments
Ben Chapman-Smith Music
Ben Diamond
Dr. Dylan Maddix
Emily Martin
Port-Aux-Poutines
Rozalind MacPhail

Music Video of the Year
Adrian House – “Noël Noël”
Director: Adrian House
Editor, Producer: Noah Bender
Director of Photography: Noah Bender
Participants: Adrian House, Julien Bouchard, Axel Belgarde, Jenna Maloney, Kristen English, Mariève Therriault, Chris Driedzic, Laura Penney

Ana Luisa Ramos – “Clareia”
Director and Video Editing: Eric Taylor Escudero
Camera and Directors of Photography: Michelle Lacour, David Eguiguren
Stage Design: Bruno Vinhas
Produced by: Ana Pitol

Becca Bartlett – “Cicadas”
Directed by: James Newhook and Becca Bartlett
Edited and produced by: Cesar Espinosa and James Newhook
Director of Photography: James Newhook
Color Graded by: Cesar Espinosa
Starring: Emma Beach, Makailla Palliyaguru, Maeggan Palliyaguru and Breanna Lynch

Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill – “Tunnels of Light”
Director, Editor and Producer: Bruce Alcock
Design, Direction, and Animation: Bruce Alcock

mosthated – “Midsummer”
Director, Editor, and Director of Photography: Adam Martin

Rachel Cousins – “To Fail”
Director: Stephen Green
Producer: Stephen Green
Editor: Brad Tulk
Set and Creative Design: Hilda Cousins & Rachel Cousins

The Ennis Sisters – “Wildfire”
Director: Cecil Johnson
Producer: Cheryl Hickman
Director of Photography: David Howells
Editor: Maïka Hearson

Outstanding Company of the Year
Atlantic Music & Merch
Making Music Academy Inc
NARA Community
Opera on the Avalon
Spectrum Queer Choir, Inc.
The Citadel House

Pop Artist of the Year
H.A.G.S.
Judith
Julia Dawson
With Violet

Rap / Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Albert Dalton
Janet Cull & Decay
mosthated

Recording Engineer/Producer of the Year
Ben Chapman-Smith Music
Bill Brennan
Dean Stairs
Louis McDonald
Matt Dines
Mike McDonald

Rising Star of the Year
Beep Bop
Feminotica
Judith
Julia Dawson
Nana Kwame Obese
The Way East
WEKU

Rock Artist of the Year
Presented by George Street Association
George Morgan
MADELINE
Matthew Hare
The Way East
Tobirus
Zay Nova

Side Musician of the Year
Adam Baxter
Jacob Earle
Jamie Moran
Wade Tarling

Solo Artist of the Year
Ben Diamond
Claire Porter
Ian Foster
MADELINE
Mallory Johnson
Paige Penney

Songwriter of the Year (Non Performer)
Amelia Curran
Daniel Adams
Peter Daniel Newman

Sound on Screen of the Year
Amelia Curran
Daniel Adams
Peter Daniel Newman

Traditional Artist of the Year
Kitchinparti
Roblo’s Rock
The Irish Descendants

Venue of the Year
City of St. John’s – Downtown Pedestrian Mall
Old House Shows
The Battery Café
The Majestic Theatre
The Ship Pub
Trinity Hall Inc

Volunteer of the Year
Alick Tsui and Christopher Deacon
Glenn Pardy
“MK Sisters Productions” (Lydia, Lina and Rosemary Makaga)

Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year
Becca Bartlett
Evan AuCoin
Mallory Johnson
Port-Aux-Poutines
Rachel Cousins
With Violet
Yes, Officer

Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year
Presented by VOCM
Josh Janes
Justin Fancy
Kitchinparti
Mackenzie Critch
Mallory Johnson
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts
Port-Aux-Poutines
Rachel Cousins
The Ennis Sisters
The Irish Descendants
With Violet

Album of the Year
Bill Brennan and Andy McNeill – Dreaming in Gamelan
Duane Andrews – Duane Andrews and The Hot Club of Conception Bay
Matthew Byrne – Stealing Time
Port-Aux-Poutines – Oui B’y
Rachel Cousins – What Hasn’t Killed Me
Robert Humber – into air