The East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs) have unveiled the 2026 nominees, and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians swept the shortlists this year with 36 nominations across music and industry categories.
Two household names Kellie Loder and The Irish Descendants, earned Album of the Year nominations for their records Transitions and Those Were the Days, respectively. Loder previously won Songwriter of the Year and Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year in 2023, and The Irish Descendants’ list of accolades spans past ECMAs and the Junos. It’s safe to say that both acts have a fair chance at the title.
French act Port-Aux-Poutines and music educator Heather Feather are nominated for Children’s Artist of the Year, and Jim O’Leary was named for Classical Composer of the Year, along with Andrew Staniland and Bekah Simms. Classical Release of the Year shortlisted MAIER FRANCK SCHUMANN: Sonatas for Violin and Piano, by Duo Concertante.
Country Release of the Year earned Mallory Johnson one of many nominations for her album Over the Party.
What I Gotta Be got electronica artist and DJ, potem, a nomination for Dance Release of the Year.
The 2026 TD Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year Award nominated musicians of various genres: Kellie Loder, Mallory Johnson, Bailey Jordan-Neil, and Rachel Cousins. Newfoundlanders make up four out of the eleven nominees in this category.
The 2026 TD Fan’s Choice Video of the Year Award also nominated a few Newfoundlanders: Justin Fancy for “Break My Heart Again,” Kellie Loder for “When We Kiss,” and Mallory Johnson for “fck that.” This category promotes the swiftly-dwindling art of the music video – seriously, as a 2000s kid, bring them back!
Both ‘Fan’s Choice’ categories are decided via public voting, which opened on January 28 and will close on March 31.
Folk Release of the Year nominated Justin Fancy’s Shelter From the Storms, and Mallory Johnson’s Over The Party. Claire Porter was nominated for Fusion Release of the Year for her record Time Alone.
Interworlds by XIA-3 and Clareia (Live) by Ana Luisa Ramos were named contenders for Global Music Release of the Year, incorporating musical elements inspired by their respective cultural backgrounds.
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts, The Irish Descendants, and XIA-3 all have a chance at being named Group of the Year.
The title of Jazz Release of the Year may go to Seascape by the Atlantic Jazz Collective, featuring Norma Winstone and Joe LaBarbera, or Time Alone by Claire Porter.
Loud Release of the Year (which is Award Ceremony-speak for punk or metal), nominated The Order of the Precious Blood for their album Dark Hallucinations.
Rachel Cousins earned a Pop Release of the Year nomination with Nora.
Producer of the Year nominated Daniel Adams and Clint Curtis for their prolific contributions to local musicians’ endeavours.
Judith Ifeadi earned two nominations for African Canadian Artist of the Year and R&B/Soul Release of the Year for Fooling Me.
A generalized Release of the Year category named Kelly McMichael’s “Open (Hurts to Have a Heart)” and Mallory Johnson’s “the circus” as award contenders. Rock/Alternative Release of the Year nominated “Nostalgia Attack” by Nick Earle and the Reckless Hearts, and “Interworlds” by XIA-3.
Kelly McMicheal was nominated for Solo Artist of the Year, and Kellie Loder and Rachel Cousins for Songwriter of the Year.
The Irish Descendants were also nominated for Traditional Release of the Year with Those Were The Days.
Annual St. John’s alternative music festival Lawnya Vawnya earned a nomination for Event of the Year, a fitting accomplishment to mark their 15th anniversary.
Hilda Cousins and Roger Lockyer were nominated for Artist Management of the Year, and Ben Chapman-Smith for Innovator of the Year for his unique approach to music education, combining practical lessons with artist development.
VOCM host Greg Smith earned a nomination for Media Excellence, while Matt Dines‘ name was put forward for Recording Engineer of the Year. Nick Decker earned a nomination for Technical Excellence, and photographer Sandra-Lee Layden made it on the shortlist for Visual Artist of the Year.
And finally, The Majestic Theatre and The Ship Pub will duke it out for Venue of the Year.
This adds up to 26 nominations for music, and 10 for industry awards, making Newfoundland and Labrador the most highly-nominated province in the ECMAs this year.
The 2026 awards ceremony will take place in Sydney, Cape Breton, from May 20-24, and it’s looking promising for our immensely talented province.
