Half of the first wave of performers recently announced for the 2026 Canadian Country Music Association Awards are Saskatchewan homegrown.
While the awards will celebrate artists from coast to coast, the full-Canadian line-up includes a slew of local names including Tenille Arts, Hunter Brothers, Kalsey Kulyk and Jess Moskaluke.
The list also includes Dean Brody, The Reklaws, James Barker Band and Owen Reigling.
The awards, set for Sept. 19 at Sasktel Centre, return to Saskatoon for the first time in almost a decade.
CCMA president Amy Jeninga said she’s thrilled for fans to experience this one-night-only evening.
“Unveiling the first wave of performers for the CCMA Awards is always a special moment, offering an exciting glimpse into what promises to be an incredibly memorable night for country music in Canada,” Jeninga said.
“This is just the beginning,” added Mayor Cynthia Block. “As more performers are announced and the countdown continues, the excitement here in Saskatoon keeps growing.”
A native of Weyburn, Arts recently finished up as the opening act for Luke Bryan’s Canadian shows for his Mind of a Country Boy tour. Her single Somebody Like That made history as the first No 1 country song to be written, produced and performed by all women.
Hunter Brothers, a set of four real-life brothers, hail from Shaunavon and attribute much of their success to their rural upbringing. They have a packed history of CCMA and Juno Award nominations, as well as a long list of Saskatchewan Country Music Association (SCMA) awards.
Representing Hudson Bay, Kulyk is also no stranger to the CCMA. Her 2019 debut album earned a nomination for CCMA roots album of the year.
The last Saskatchewan name CCMA released was Moskaluke, a multiple CCMA and Juno winner from Rocanville, who commenced her headlining tour Life For Me last fall. She was also a nominee for the 2024 Women in Music Canada Honours.
The awards show will be the culmination of Country Music Week, which takes place from Sept. 16-19, and features talent showcases, an industry conference and a Songwriter’s Series.
Award nominees have not been announced yet, with final voting ballots for CCMA members closing on July 30.
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