Bluegrass Spartanburg Nominated for IBMA Event of the Year
Spartanburg Philharmonic program named among five nominees from across the United States and internationally for prestigious bluegrass industry honor
DATE: Thursday, July 22, at 10:00 am EST
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — July 22, 2026 — Bluegrass Spartanburg has been nominated for Event of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) as part of its 2026 Industry Awards.
The IBMA Industry Awards, presented by the Benwood Foundation, recognize outstanding contributions to the bluegrass music industry and honor the individuals and organizations whose work supports and advances the genre.
Bluegrass Spartanburg is one of only five events nominated for Event of the Year in 2026, placing Spartanburg alongside bluegrass festivals and series from Maryland, California, and Ohio.
The other nominees are the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival in Annapolis, Maryland; Bluegrass in La Roche at 20 in La Roche-sur-Foron, France; the CBA 50th Anniversary Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, California; and the Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series in Marysville, Ohio.
The nomination recognizes Bluegrass Spartanburg’s work to bring outstanding bluegrass artists and live performances to audiences in Spartanburg while contributing to a musical tradition with deep roots throughout the region.
Being recognized alongside events from across the United States and abroad also places Spartanburg on an international stage within the bluegrass community and celebrates the audiences, artists, supporters, volunteers, and community partners who have helped the series grow.
The 2026 IBMA Industry Awards will be presented Thursday, October 22, at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as part of IBMA World of Bluegrass, which takes place October 20–24.
For more information about the 2026 IBMA Industry Awards and the complete list of nominees, visit:
https://ibma.org/press-releases/nominees-announced-for-2026-ibma-industry-momentum-awards/
About Bluegrass Spartanburg
Bluegrass Spartanburg brings nationally recognized bluegrass artists to Spartanburg for live performances celebrating one of America’s most distinctive musical traditions. Through performances by established artists and rising voices in the genre, the series connects Spartanburg audiences with the artistry, history, and evolving sound of bluegrass music.