Line up announced and nominations open for annual ‘folk Oscars’
Paisley is preparing to roll out the red carpet for Scotland’s traditional music stars as it is confirmed as the host of the 2026 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, with nominations open from today.
The biggest awards night of the year for the country’s traditional music scene will celebrate the people and places powering the country’s thriving folk scene at Paisley Arena on Saturday 5 December.
The public are being invited to put their nominations forward to recognise musicians, singers, venues, festivals, organisations, teachers and more from across Scotland playing their part.
Categories at the awards, which welcome nominations until 18 October, include Album of the Year, Musician of the Year, Venue of the Year, Festival of the Year, and more.
Na Trads, or the ‘folk Oscars’ as it’s fondly known, will also welcome performances from celebrated names across the night, with the line up of acts announced today.
Electrotrad group Valtos and Gaelic vocal trio Sian – two acts who have just made the Scottish Album of the Year long list – will be taking to the stage. Valtos’ performance comes off the back of a sensational set showcasing Scotland at its best at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Orkney folk quartet Gnoss will also be showcasing their upbeat sound, alongside folk fusion online sensations Spodo Komodo, and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2026, Rachel Groves. Youngsters from Renfrewshire’s Fèis Phàislig, which celebrated 10 years last year, will also get the chance to share their talents with attendees.
Long-time hosts Mary Ann Kennedy and Alistair Heather will be at the helm once again, as Paisley hosts the night showcasing the remarkable breadth and array of talent within Scotland’s contemporary folk music scene. Need to check this have emailed Beezer
Paisley last played host to the Trad Awards back in 2017. Tickets for the event’s comeback to the town are on sale now.
Scots Trad Music Awards organiser Simon Thoumire said: “Paisley is a powerhouse of cultural creativity so we’re hugely excited to be taking the Trad Awards back to the town this year! The awards are an opportunity for Scotland’s traditional music scene to gather under one roof and recognise the energy, ingenuity and talent that exists. Traditional music is an important cultural asset for Scotland, which continues to find new audiences, and it’s vital that we champion this. We also want to hear from fans about what organisations and acts have inspired them this year – come and let us know who deserves to be honoured, or better yet, come along to Paisley and celebrate the best of Scotland’s trad music with us.”
Martyn MacDonald of Valtos said: “The Trad Awards are always a highlight of our year and it’s an honour to be asked to play to a room full of our peers while they’re being celebrated for their many talents. It’s always a brilliant evening bringing together acts and artists from the full cross-section of the Traditional, Gaelic, and Scots Music worlds and we look forward to finding out, and supporting, all of the nominees.”
Siobhan Anderson, Music Officer at Creative Scotland said: “It’s fantastic to see Na Trads return to Paisley this year, with all of the town’s character, culture and heritage on offer. The night will bring folk-lovers and performers together to celebrate the colourful variety, depth and talent of Scotland’s thriving traditional music scene. Every nomination from the public is a huge support to their favourite artists, events, organisations and individuals helping them to reach the next steps in their career and development.”
Lorna Macaulay, Director of Partnerships and Development at MG ALBA: “As headline sponsor of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, we are proud to celebrate the exceptional talent, creativity and ambition that define Scotland’s traditional music community. From grassroots projects and youth initiatives to world-class performances on global stages, artists continue to innovate while keeping Gaelic language, heritage and culture at the heart of their work. Through our longstanding partnership and coverage on BBC ALBA, MG ALBA is delighted to help bring these remarkable voices, stories and music to audiences across Scotland and beyond.”
The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are organised by Hands Up For Trad and made possible with funding and support from Creative Scotland and MG ALBA.
Category sponsors include VisitScotland, The Musicians’ Union, Isle of Barra Distillers, SHURE, PRS for Music, Birnam CD and the Highland Society of London.
The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards will take place at Paisley Arena on Saturday 5 December 2026. A two-hour highlights show from the awards will be broadcast on BBC ALBA at 9pm on Sunday 6 December.
Nominations are open until Sunday 18 October at projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards. Tickets are on sale now at https://renfrewshireboxoffice.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173677168.