The Blues Foundation has announced the recipients of the
2026 Keeping the Blues Alive Awards
Each year, the Blues Foundation presents the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the Blues world. These awards will be presented at the KBA Awards Brunch during the Internation Blues Competition (IBC) week. The KBAs are awarded to non-performers strictly based on merit by a select panel of Blues professionals. Affliated organizations, past KBA recipients, and members of the Blues Foundation Board of Directors are eligible to submit nominations. Here are the KBA winners for 2026:
• Jazz Alley – Blues venue in Seattle Washington
• Cognac Blues Passions – Blues Festival in Cognac, France
• NOLA Blue Records, Sallie Bengtson- Promoting legends of the blues
• Robert Terrell – Blues curator, Sound Engineer, Producer, Mentor
• Michael Gray – Journalist, Music Historian, Advocate, VP of Country Music Hall of Fame Museum in Nashville
• Mark Jacobson – DJ at KSCU 103.3FM, Santa Clara University, California
• John Anderson – Filmmaker, Chicago Blues Documentaries
• Jeff Davis – Blues Festival Producer, Playing With Fire, Omaha BluesEd Program,
___Catalyst Foundation to support the Omaha Music House
• Jim Hartzell, “The Captain” – Photographer
For more information on these very deserving recipients click HERE.
