The Canadian-American band Daring Greatly is the top nominee for the 2026 San Diego Music Awards, with nods in three categories. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Steve Poltz will be this year’s Country Dick Montana Lifetime Achievement Award recipient when the 35th edition of the annual awards is held May 6 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
Daring Greatly’s three nominations this year match the number the group received last year, when it was up for Artist of the Year honors. While it is not vying in that category this time around, Daring Greatly is nominated in the Best Rock Artist, Best Rock Album and Best Rock or Indie/Alternative Song categories. All of the nominations were announced Monday night.
Other top 2026 contenders, with at least two nominations apiece, include Rebecca Jade, Jeff Berkley, Irving Flores, almost monday, Obed Padilla, Swami John Reis, Alex Burgan, rapper RMthePoet, Mistress 77, Ash Easton, Anthony Cullins, The Frights, Agent 51, Sara Petite and Cheyenne Benton.
Also receiving two nominations is a pair of San Diego bands that are both veteran national concert attractions, Pierce The Veil and Slightly Stoopid. By coincidence, both bands are performing stadium concerts here this summer at Petco Park — Slightly Stoopid on June 13 and Pierce The Veil on Sept. 12.
Slightly Stoopid has two 2026 San Diego Music Awards nominations. The Ocean Beach-bred band will perform June 13 at Petco Park. (Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The contenders in all 27 categories were announced Monday night at a San Diego Music Awards kick-off concert at the Music Box. The event was also livestreamed on the SDMA website.
“We started doing livestreams during the COVID shutdown to announce our nominees, and it’s been very successful,” San Diego Music Awards founder Kevin Hellman told the Union-Tribune Sunday night.
“But Monday night at the Music Box is the first time we’ve had a live event to announce the nominees and we’ve had over 500 people RSVP.”
Hellman was in attendance Sunday night at the Belly Up in Solana Beach for the second night of what Steve Poltz billed as his “annual 50th birthday bash concert.” Both shows were sold out.
Poltz left San Diego early Monday evening. On Friday, he will launch an extensive concert tour of Australia and New Zealand, followed by a tour of his native Canada.
“I just turned 66 and I think I’m too young to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. I haven’t lived life yet!” he said Monday afternoon.
“But the San Diego Music Awards support a really good cause,” he continued, “and I’m glad they have provided so many guitars for schools here.”
Since its inception in 1991, the nonprofit awards show has raised $915,799. The money has funded Guitars for Schools, which has provided instruments made by El Cajon based Taylor Guitars to 131 schools across San Diego County.
This year saw a record 853 entries submitted for nomination consideration. Online voting will begin at noon Wednesday, Feb. 25, and continue until 5 p.m. March 31, at sdmusicawards.com.
Tickets go on sale at noon Wednesday at the same website for the May 6 awards show.
Confirmed performers include Poltz, a student ensemble from the Gilbert Castellanos-led Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, sullvn (the artist formerly known as Sully), The Freights, Obed Padilla, Agent 51 and a joint performance by blues favorites Whitney Shay, Robin Henkel, Earl Thomas and Anthony Cullins.
There will also be five pre-awards concerts featuring various nominees, The dates are: April 10 at California Center for the Arts, Escondido, April 12 at the Casbah, April 18 at the Ken Club, April 19 at Belly Up and April 24 at the 710 Beach Club.
2026 San Diego Music Awards nominees
Singer Rebecca Jade, a multiple San Diego Music Awards-winner, is a double-contender year (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Artist of the Year
Obed Padilla
Pierce the Veil
Rebecca Jade
Slightly Stoopid
Swami John Reis
The Frights
The Schizophonics
Song of the Year
almost monday, “Lost”
P.O.D., “I Won’t Bow Down”
Pierce The Veil, “Kiss Me Now”
Shane Hall & Ash Easton, “Midnight Pine”
Slightly Stoopid, “Step Into The Sun”
Switchfoot, with Buddy Guy, “Last Man Standing”
Thee Sacred Souls, “We Don’t Have To Be Alone”
Album of the Year
Agent 51, “Age of Validation”
Anthony Cullins, “Inside Out & Backwards”
Buck-O-Nine, “Cut Out The Noise”
Obed Padilla, “Do You Still Love Me?”
Swami John Reis, “Time To Let You Down”
The Frights, “Ready When You Are”
Wavves, “Spun”
A list of all the nominees is included in the online version of tis article at: sandiegouniontribune.com/things-to-do/music-concerts/
Best Folk or Acoustic Song
Dylan Razwick x Tavia, “Kaleidoscope”
Highline Trail, “When I Die”
Jeff Berkley, “Abracadabra”
Mark Montijo, “Apricot Moon”
Patch & Maggi, “Alive”
The Beard and the Bird, “My Dearest Eloise”
Virginia James, “730 Run”
Best Jazz Artist
Ed Kornhauser
Euphoria Brass band
Gilbert Castellanos
Irving Flores
Leonard Patton
Nathan Hubbard
Sacha Boutros
Best Jazz Album
Archie Thompson, “Makin’ The Scene”
Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, “Unexpected Guests”
Irving Flores, “Armando Mi Conga”
Patrick Yandall, “Devocean”
Rob Thorsen & Paul Gabrielson, “Sonic Visions”
Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, “Gemini”
Victor Baker Quartet, “As the Crow Flies”
Whitney Shay will perform at the 2026 San Diego Music Awards. (Milan Kovacevic)
Best Blues Artist
Ben Powell
Black Market III
Chickenbone Slim
Manzanita Blues
Mercedes Moore
Whitney Shay
Zavala Sol
Best Blues Album
CC Blues Factory, “Look Me Over”
Earl Thomas, “Live in London”
Good Gravy, “Roux”
Johnny Vernazza, “Home By Christmas”
Low Volts, “Forbidden Frequency”
The Juke$, “Salacious Stories”
Tracy Lee Nelson & The Native Blues Band, “Relocation”
Best Country or Americana Artist
Alex Bergan
Ashley E. Norton
Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas
Cathryn Beeks
Jesse Ray Smith
Kimmi Bitter
Stucky Leigh
Best Country or Americana Song
Alex Bergan (with Ash Easton), “Hair of the Dog”
Haisley, “The Good In Me”
Lissa Dee, “Chasing Whiskey with Whiskey”
Michael Dean Goodrich, “Get Back Home”
Miranda Ramos, “The Only Men I Need”
Sara Petite, “Jealous Heart”
ZB Savoy, Out to Forgetting
Best Country or Americana Album
Dave Preston, “Fly On A Wall”
Elizabeth Bowersox, “California Queen”
Jeff Berkley, “A Buffalo Trace”
MohaviSoul, “Encore”
Thea The Band, “Whiskey Revival”
Todd Higginson, “Highlights”
Whiskey & Burlap, “Milkman”
Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist
Banish Habitual
Bozzzy
Brothers Burns
Daygo Smoove
Kahlee
Miki Vale
RMthePoet
Best Hip Hop/Rap Song
Bloodstone the Street Preacher, “Know What I’m Saying”
BounceCX, “Bounce Back”
Dazer Daze, “Lighting Treez”
DJ Who & Heat, “Burn It All Down”
Mike Holmes & Riston Diggs, “Auntisistercousin”
RMthePoet featuring Oside Lenz & Oldschool, “Hit N Run”
The Neighborhood Kids, “The World is Worth Saving”
Best Pop Artist
Audrey Callahan
Cassie B
Chloe Lou
Emilia Vaughn
Jessie Lark
Matthew Phillips
Trey Hill
Best Pop Song
Brianna Grace, “Playing With Fire”
David Spitzfaden, “Lost Hope”
Em Cable, “Feeling Me”
KaiLana Tomiko, “Indigo”
Sara Jade, “Hippies Raised a Cowgirl”
sullvn, “The Fighter”
Sweet Myths, “Still The Same”
Best Pop Album
Cheyenne Benton, “Corrupted”
Gregory Page, “100 Years Ago”
Hillandale Drive, “Love, Fear & Everything In Between”
Matthew Phillips, “Till It’s Over”
Pip Lewis, “Growing Pains”
Sophie London, “Mindreader”
Tamar Berk, “ocd”
Best Indie/Alternative Artist
Dusk Drama
Lioneer
miniaturized
Slacker
Sunbendrcq
The Film Company
Weatherbox
Best Indie/Alternative Album
Agent 51, “Age of Validation”
Buck O Nine, “Cut Out The Noise”
Paradise Drive, “The Phenomenon”
Pleasure Pill, “Hang a Star”
The Film Company, “Starving Artist and the Holy Ghost”
Thee Allyrgic Reaction, “Thee Allyrgic Reaction”
The Reckless, “Who Are You”
Best Rock Artist
Band of Gringos
Daring Greatly
Door 13
Misfire
Mistress 77
The Farmers
The Tourmaliners
Best Rock Album
Blame Betty, “Who’s to Blame?”
Daring Greatly, “Let It Ride”
Rhinoceros III, “Listen With Two Hearts”
Sun Room, “Ritual of Chaos”
Taz Taylor Band, “The Other Side of Midnight”
The Suede Grenades, “Flashbulb Memories”
Year of the Kid, “Year of the Kid”
Best Rock or Indie/Alternative Song
Beta7, “So Long Ago”
Daring Greatly, “Let It Ride”
Go Scarlet, “La Motorcyclette”
Half Hour Late, “Slow Motion”
Manganista, “Talking to Myself”
Mistress 77, “It Ain’t Christmas Without The Mistress”
Three Legged Dog, “Left for Dead”
Best World Music Artist
Boostive
Israel Maldonado
Kekoa the Artist
Monette Marino
Quel Bordel
Sandollar
Slack Key Ohana
Best World Music Song
B-Side Players, “En Paz Dub”
Mitchum Yacoub, “Lourdes Iri, Métele Más”
Mix Mob, “Rock Star”
Safety Orange, “Castaway”
Sierra Marin, “Earth Child”
Skyler Lutes, “In My City”
Smoke & Mirrors Sound System, “Ain’t That Lovin’ You”
Best R&B, Funk or Soul Song
Anthony Cullins, “Lynmar”
Durell Anthony, “Meet Me in the Middle”
Hummingbird Hotel, “Close to You”
Kat Hall, “Frequency”
Monica Larrea, “Mental”
Rebecca Jade, “Not Me No Way”
We The Commas, “In Japan”
Sue Palmer, front left, will perform with her Motel Swing Orchestra at the 2026 San DIigo Music Awards in May at Humphreys. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Best Local Recording
Clinton Davis, “Ever Returning”
Grampadrew, “It’s Getting Darker”
Salinas Road, “ ‘25”
Seawall Prophet, “Hallowed Ground”
Sue Palmer and Her Motel Swing Orchestra, “Eight to the Bar!”
The Bastards, “Fall Risk”
Noël Tsoukalas, “I Still Hear You”
Best Video
Almost Monday, “Enjoy the Ride”
Cheyenne Benton, “Lessons”
Emilia Vaughn, “Rock Music, Girl Secrets”
The Gravities, “Stuck In The Desert”
Eric Sage, “Rise Up San Diego”
KBong, “Good News”
Doah’s Daydream, “Girls Girl”
Best New Artist
Doylestown
Jettee
Payback & Associates
Saint Misty
Tigers in Cairo
Vurv
You Can Call Me Sugar