San Diego Music Awards

SDMA winners announced

The 35th annual San Diego Music Awards were held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at Humphreys by the Bay.

Check out the winners list.

Best Folk or Acoustic Song – The Beard and the Bird – My Dearest Eloise
Best Jazz Artist – Leonard Patton
Best Jazz Album – Irving Flores – Armando Mi Conga
Best Blues Artist – Chickenbone Slim
Best Blues Album – Low Volts – Forbidden Frequency
Best Country or Americana Artist – Kimmi Bitter
Best Country or Americana Song – Alex Bergan (with Ash Easton) – Hair of the Dog
Best Country or Americana Album – Elizabeth Bowersox – California Queen
Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist – Brothers Burns
Best Hip Hop/Rap Song – The Neighborhood Kids – The World is Worth Saving
Best Pop Artist – Cassie B
Best Pop Song – Sara Jade – Hippies Raised a Cowgirl
Best Pop Album – Hillandale Drive – Love, Fear & Everything In Between
Best Rock Artist – Mistress 77
Best Rock Album – The Suede Grenades – Flashbulb Memories
Best Indie/Alternative Artist – Dusk Drama
Best Indie/Alternative Album – The Film Company – Starving Artist and the Holy Ghost
Best Rock or Indie/Alternative Song – Daring Greatly – Lucid Ride
Best World Music Artist – Boostive
Best World Music Song – Smoke & Mirrors Sound System – Ain’t That Lovin’ You
Best R&B, Funk or Soul Song – Rebecca Jade – Not Me No Way
Best Local Recording – Sue Palmer and her Motel Swing Orchestra – Eight to the Bar!
Best Video – The Gravities – Stuck In The Desert
Best New Artist – Tigers in Cairo
Artist of the Year – The Schizophonics
Song of the Year – Slightly Stoopid – Step Into The Sun
Album of the Year – Anthony Cullins – Inside Out & Backwards

Lifetime Achievement Award: Steve Poltz

Guitars for Schools was started by the San Diego Music Foundation and has helped children in over 123 schools in San Diego County learn the gift of music.

The San Diego Music Awards supports the San Diego Music Foundation’s Guitars for Schools program, by donating our proceeds to this cause. Please donate a few dollars, to help the children of our community continue to learn music.