Canadian Folk Music Awards 2026 – Folk for Families Is Coming to Calgary This April

Calgary has always had a big heart for live music, and this spring, that love gets a proper spotlight. The 21st edition of the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMAs) is rolling into the city from April 9 to 12, 2026, and it is bringing one of its most beloved events along with it: Folk for Families. If you have kids who tap their feet to a good melody or you simply want a feel-good morning out, this is one Calgary event you will not want to sleep on.

What Are the Canadian Folk Music Awards?

The CFMAs have been running for over two decades, recognizing the very best in Canadian folk, roots, traditional, Indigenous, and Francophone music. This year marks the 21st edition of the awards, with 105 nominees spread across 21 categories, representing artists from every corner of the country. It is not just an awards show either. The CFMAs are a full multi-day music festival with live showcase concerts, industry events, and community programming that gives fans real access to artists they might never otherwise see up close.

Calgary was specifically selected as the 2026 host city, and the city's music community has fully embraced the moment. Carson Ackroyd, Senior Vice President of Sales at Tourism Calgary, put it well when he said Calgary has a vibrant music scene with iconic events like the Folk Music Festival and venues like the National Music Centre and Festival Hall. That reputation is exactly why this city was chosen.

The Full 2026 CFMA Lineup in Calgary

The four-day program spans three different Calgary venues and offers something for every kind of music fan.

April 9 – Songs and Stories at the Westin Calgary Ballroom: An evening celebrating storytelling through French, English, and Indigenous songwriting, featuring artists like Amanda Rheaume, Terra Spencer, and Wyatt C. Louis
April 10 – Folk Forward at Bella Concert Hall: A contemporary showcase pushing the boundaries of folk music, with performers including Aysanabee, Boreal, Duane Andrews, and Calgary's own Calgaréal
April 11 – Traditional and Global Roots at Bella Concert Hall: Honouring folk music's deep roots with artists like Cassie and Maggie, Sacred Wolf Singers with Simon Wall, and Habana Safari
April 12 – Folk for Families at Studio Bell, National Music Centre: An all-ages morning concert designed specifically for young listeners and their families

Folk for Families: Calgary's Can't-Miss Family Concert

Folk for Families takes place on Sunday, April 12 at Studio Bell, the National Music Centre located at 850 4th Street SE in Calgary's East Village neighbourhood. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and the concert starts at 11:00 a.m., making it a perfect morning outing before the rest of your Sunday unfolds.

Tickets are priced at $15 plus GST, and NMC members receive a 15% discount. The concert is also included with the CFMA weekend wristband if you are planning to attend multiple events across the four days.

What makes Folk for Families genuinely special is that it is not just a performance. During the show, two Canadian Folk Music Awards will actually be handed out live on stage: Children's Album of the Year and Young Performer of the Year. So your kids get to witness real award-show moments in an intimate, welcoming setting. That is a memory that sticks.

Meet the Artists Performing at Folk for Families

The 2026 Folk for Families lineup features four outstanding Canadian artists, all nominated for CFMA awards this year.

Max Francis

Max Francis started playing keyboard at age two, made his stage debut at three, and has since picked up guitar, ukulele, and violin. He trained at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and later developed a deep love for Texas-style fiddling. Max is nominated for the 2026 Young Performer of the Year award, and watching someone this young command a stage is genuinely something else.

Ginalina

A West Coast artist with Taiwanese-Canadian roots, Ginalina is a four-time JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter who performs in English, French, and Mandarin. She plays guitar, violin, and ukulele, and her music blends original folk with family-centred storytelling. She is nominated for Children's Album of the Year and has also been recognized by Canadian Geographic as an author. Her performances have a warmth that kids and adults both connect with.

James Culleton

Based in Winnipeg, James Culleton is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter known for his deep appreciation of storytelling and musical craftsmanship. His work blends folk, roots, and contemporary influences, and he is also nominated for Children's Album of the Year. He brings an authenticity to his live performances that feels rare.

Oh Clementine

Hailing from Vancouver, Oh Clementine is a folk band that writes music built around family, togetherness, and the natural world. Their rich folk arrangements carry a sense of childhood wonder that kids respond to immediately, and parents tend to get pulled in just as fast. They are also in the running for Children's Album of the Year.

Why Studio Bell Is the Perfect Venue

Studio Bell at the National Music Centre is one of Calgary's most architecturally striking buildings, sitting right in the heart of East Village. It is home to a world-class collection of music history and instruments, and it regularly hosts live performances in an intimate setting. For a family-focused concert, it genuinely could not be a better fit. The space is accessible, welcoming to younger visitors, and the energy inside during a live show is something the big arena stages simply cannot replicate.

The CFMAs have recognized this, making Studio Bell the anchor venue for Folk for Families specifically because of how well it connects artists and audiences.

Calgary's Folk Music Roots Run Deep

This is not Calgary's first dance with folk music at a serious level. The Calgary Folk Music Festival, held annually at Prince's Island Park, has been one of Canada's most celebrated outdoor music events for decades, regularly drawing over 10,000 attendees across its four-day run. The city's appreciation for roots music, storytelling through song, and community-driven cultural events is genuinely built into its identity.

Having the CFMAs land here in 2026 is a natural fit. Calgary already has the venues, the audience, and the cultural infrastructure to support an event of this scale.

How to Get Tickets and Plan Your Visit

Getting to Folk for Families is straightforward. Tickets are available directly through the National Music Centre's website at studiobell.ca. Here is a quick breakdown of what to know before you go:

Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Venue: Studio Bell, National Music Centre, 850 4th Street SE, Calgary
Doors open: 10:30 a.m. | Concert starts: 11:00 a.m.
Tickets: $15 + GST per person; NMC members get 15% off
Weekend wristbands cover all four CFMA events including Folk for Families
Parking and transit: Studio Bell is close to the CTrain's City Hall station and sits within walking distance of several East Village parking lots

If you want to make a full weekend of it, the CFMA program runs April 9 through 12, and individual tickets for each concert are available alongside the all-access wristband option.

A Morning Worth Getting Up For

Folk for Families at the Canadian Folk Music Awards 2026 is exactly the kind of event Calgary does well: rooted in genuine artistry, open to the whole community, and set in a venue that adds to the experience rather than just holding it. Whether your kids are already music lovers or you are just looking for something different to do on a Sunday morning in April, this one delivers.

Grab your tickets early, plan your morning around East Village, and get ready to hear some of the best family folk music Canada has to offer, live and up close, right here in Calgary.

Tickets for Folk for Families and all 2026 CFMA events are available at studiobell.ca and folkawards.ca