The Canadian Country Music Association has released the nominees for the 2026 CCMA awards, and only two nominees in the artist category are from Saskatchewan.
Saskatoon is hosting the awards show at SaskTel Centre on Sept. 19 to close out Country Music Week starting Sept. 16.
This year’s nominations include 192 artists and industry professionals, with 71 nominees earning their first nominations ever. Josh Ross and Cameron Whitcomb lead the night with seven each.
Prince Albert’s Josh Stumpf is listed for the fan’s choice award, as well as breakthrough artist or group of the year. In 2025, he released his two singles “Highway Money” and “Nobody Roads.”
“Country music was always where I was going to go and always where I’ll be,” Stumpf told the StarPhoenix.
He said he was driving down a grid road when he found out about the nominations.
“I was so amped… I got a notification that I got tagged in something so I went to open it and look at what it was, and I had to pull over and stop to make sure I was reading the right thing.”
He describes representing Saskatchewan as one of the coolest feelings, and plans to continue repping with the release of new music.
He said there’s no confirmed date yet, so fans will have to keep their ears open.
Representing southeastern Saskatchewan is Jess Moskaluke, who’s up against four other nominees for female artist of the year.
“I write primarily about my own experiences, so no matter what I’m writing about, Saskatchewan comes through in everything I do,” she said.
Her music video for the song “I Ain’t Country,” which has more than 62,000 views on YouTube, has been nominated for video of the year.
Moskaluke said it would be a special win to secure the award as the music video features her family, friends and local actors from Rocanville, Langenburg and Moosomin.
“We wanted something that was so on the nose Canadian that it was undeniable,” she said.
Despite the lack of Saskatchewan representation in the artist awards, the CCMA Awards have a rich line-up of Saskatchewan performers, including Tenille Arts, Kalsey Kulyk, the Hunter Brothers and Moskaluke.
Final voting ballots for CCMA members close on July 30, but fans can have their say by casting up to 50 votes for the fans’ choice award until Sept. 16.