Billy Strings and East Nash Grass Top 2026 IBMA Honors

WHO:

Rolling Stone Music - Billy Strings, a guitar player, was named Entertainer of the Year.

Billboard - Billy Strings and East Nash Grass led the list of 2026 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards winners.

WHAT:

Rolling Stone Music - Billy Strings received the IBMA Entertainer of the Year honor for the fifth time in six years.

Billboard - Billy Strings and East Nash Grass were the leading winners at the 2026 IBMA Awards.

WHERE:

Rolling Stone Music - The annual IBMA awards were held in Chattanooga.

Billboard - The IBMA Awards were held in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

HOW:

Rolling Stone Music - The honors were presented at the annual International Bluegrass Music Association awards ceremony.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 17:06 UTC)

Billy Strings was named Entertainer of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, taking home the honor for the fifth time in six years. The annual ceremony was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and recognized leading performers across bluegrass music. Strings and East Nash Grass emerged as the night’s top winners, leading the list of honorees. The awards celebrate artists and contributors in the bluegrass community, with the Entertainer of the Year title among its most prominent distinctions. Strings, a guitar player, has now claimed that award in five of the past six years, underscoring his continued success at the ceremony. East Nash Grass also stood out among this year’s winners, sharing the spotlight as one of the leading acts recognized.