One week from today, the biggest fan-voted night in Christian music takes place at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. If you haven't voted yet for the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards, today is the moment to do it.
Voting is open now at KLOVEFanAwards.com and closes Friday, May 22 at 6 PM Central Time - just two days before the 13th annual ceremony on Sunday, May 24. The show will air exclusively on TBN on May 29 at 7:30 PM ET, with an encore on June 5.
Here is a look at the categories, the names to watch, and what makes this year's show one of the most competitive in recent memory.
Artist of the Year: The Most Wide-Open Race in Years
Last year, Brandon Lake swept this category and left Nashville with four trophies. This year he returns with three nominations - but faces a deeper field than ever.
Phil Wickham leads all nominees with four nods, including Artist of the Year, powered by his 16-week Billboard Christian Airplay chart-topper "What an Awesome God." Lauren Daigle, who is co-hosting the show this year alongside Sadie Robertson Huff, is also nominated for Artist of the Year - her third time in the category - on the strength of her No. 1 "Let It Be a Hallelujah," which marked a decade since her debut. Jeremy Camp, Josiah Queen, CeCe Winans, and MercyMe round out a category that has no clear frontrunner going in.
Song of the Year: Three Strong Contenders
Phil Wickham's "What an Awesome God" - a reimagination of the Rich Mullins classic - logged 16 weeks at No. 1 on Christian Airplay. Josiah Queen's "Can't Steal My Joy" featuring Brandon Lake spent three weeks at the top. Jeremy Camp's "No Survivors" marked a return to his rock roots and became one of the year's most-played songs. Any of the three could take it.
First-Time Nominees to Watch
Two names making their first appearance in the Artist of the Year category represent something important for Christian music's next generation. Jamie MacDonald - who earned three nominations this year - and Josiah Queen, whose sophomore album Mt. Sinai built on the promise of his debut, are both first-time Artist of the Year nominees. Their presence in the bracket is a signal of where the genre is heading.
The Weekend Begins May 22
The K-LOVE Fan Awards is more than one night. The full weekend runs May 22 through 24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. The Kickoff Concert on Friday, May 22 will feature CAIN, Colton Dixon, Ben Fuller, and Leanna Crawford. Confirmed appearances throughout the weekend include Anne Wilson, Bart Millard of MercyMe, Ben Fuller, and Colton Dixon, with more artists still to be announced.
It is the only major awards show in Christian music where every winner is chosen entirely by fan votes - no industry panels, no committees. The people who love the music decide.
Proverbs 3:27 says: do not withhold good from those to whom it is due. These artists have carried a lot of people through a lot of hard seasons. This week is the chance to say thank you.
Vote now at KLOVEFanAwards.com before May 22.
Related articles:
- Voting for the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards Opens Tonight: Here's Everything You Need to Know
- K-LOVE Fan Awards Return to Opry House with Lauren Daigle and Sadie Robertson Huff as Hosts
- 12th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards: The Winners and How You Can Watch It
