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There are music festivals. There are music industry conferences. Then there\u2019s Folk Alliance International<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Held January 21st\u201325th at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans\u2019 historic French Quarter, FAI is an experience that defies easy categorization. It\u2019s geared toward music industry professionals and artists\u2014offering unparalleled networking opportunities with managers, agents, festival talent buyers, promoters, and venue operators\u2014but for the music lover who appreciates folk music in its broadest definition, it might deliver more value and discovery than any traditional festival. The price of admission isn\u2019t cheap, but what you get in return is extraordinary.<\/p>\n Consider the math: Most music festivals feature a handful of stages with maybe a few late-night options. Folk Alliance features hundreds of performances happening simultaneously across multiple days and nights. During the day, there are enlightening panels exploring every facet of the music industry and folk traditions. Come evening, official showcases fill large conference rooms with performances on numerous stages. Then, when the official showcases end around 10 p.m., the real magic begins: several floors of the hotel transform into an endless labyrinth of \u201cprivate showcases,\u201d with performances in virtually every hotel room\u2014each thoughtfully curated\u2014extending until the wee hours of the morning.<\/p>\n The sheer abundance means you necessarily miss incredible performances. It\u2019s impossible to experience it all, and that\u2019s part of the beauty. Fortunately, most artists perform multiple times, giving you chances to catch everyone you want to see, but even that becomes an exercise in discipline\u2014do you see your favorites again, or discover someone new? The discovery is often the most rewarding part.<\/p>\n The conference kicked off Wednesday night with the International Folk Music Awards<\/strong> ceremony, where I\u2019m With Her<\/strong> (Sara Watkins<\/strong>, Sarah Jarosz<\/strong>, and Aoife O\u2019Donovan<\/strong>) tied with Carsie Blanton<\/strong> for Artist of the Year and also won Album of the Year for Wild and Clear and Blue<\/em>\u2014their second Album of the Year win. Crys Matthews<\/strong> took home Song of the Year for \u201cSleeves Up\u201d, her third IFMA award. The inaugural Global Folk Album Award went to The Baltic Sisters<\/strong> for V\u00e4rav \/ V\u0101rti \/ Vartai<\/em>. Lifetime Achievement Awards honored five-time GRAMMY winner Taj Mahal<\/strong>, zydeco originator Clifton Chenier<\/strong> (whose son C.J. Chenier<\/strong> performed on his father\u2019s favorite accordion), and Louisiana Folk Roots<\/strong>. Yasmin Williams<\/strong> received The Rising Tide Award, while Kyshona<\/strong> earned The People\u2019s Voice Award. The Rumble<\/strong> featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux, Jr.<\/strong> served as the house band for an evening that set the tone for what would follow.<\/p>\n International Folk Music Awards 2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe Awards and the Artists<\/h3>\n