Bluesfest 2026 artists claim both Blues Grammy categories — reinforcing Bluesfest as the home of the world’s best blues

Byron Bay Bluesfest has marked a significant moment in its history, with artists performing at Bluesfest 2026 winning both Blues Grammy Award categories in the same year — an achievement unprecedented for an Australian festival that features blues as a core part of its format.

At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles:

Buddy Guy won Best Traditional Blues Album for Ain’t Done With The Blues, marking his ninth Grammy Award

Robert Randolph won Best Contemporary Blues Album for Preacher Kids, earning his first career Grammy after seven nominations

Together, the wins represent a “double whammy” — two out of two Blues Grammys — for Bluesfest 2026 artists, reinforcing Bluesfest’s long-standing position as one of the world’s most respected homes of blues music.

A WORD FROM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR PETER NOBLE
Festival Director Peter Noble OAM said the moment was a rare and defining one for the festival.

“I believe this is the first time Bluesfest artists have won both Blues Grammy categories in the same year, and they will both be performing at bluesfest this Easter” Noble said.

“We’ve had years where artists playing Bluesfest have collectively won multiple Grammys across different categories, but this — two out of two Blues Grammys — is something else entirely.”

“It’s unprecedented for an Australian festival that features blues at its core, and it speaks directly to Bluesfest’s role as a true home of the blues.”

BUDDY GUY: THE MOST HONOURED BLUES ARTIST OF ALL TIME
Born George Guy on July 30, 1936, in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Buddy Guy remains one of the most important figures in blues history — and its most decorated.

At 89 years old, his Grammy win for Ain’t Done With The Blues adds to a career that includes:

  • 9 Grammy Awards from 16 nominations
  • A Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (2015)
  • The distinction of being the most honoured artist in the history of the Blues Music Awards, holding the highest number of wins ever

Guy released his debut album I Left My Blues In San Francisco in 1967. His breakthrough album Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues (1991) became his first Billboard 200 entry, was certified gold, and earned his first Grammy. His catalogue includes blues standards such as Sweet Little Angel, Stone Crazy and Feels Like Rain.

In the 1960s, Guy played alongside Muddy Waters as a house guitarist at Chess Records, helping define the sound of electric Chicago blues.

“I’ve never missed a gig yet,” Guy has said. “Music makes people happy, and that’s why I go on doing it — I like to see everybody smile.”

Buddy Guy performs at Bluesfest on Friday and Sunday, Easter Long Weekend.

ROBERT RANDOLPH: CONTEMPORARY BLUES AT ITS PEAK
For Robert Randolph, the 2026 Grammys marked a career-defining moment.

Randolph won Best Contemporary Blues Album for Preacher Kids, his first Grammy win after seven nominations, in a category where all nominees were seeking their first victory.

Produced by Shooter Jennings and released on Sun Records, Preacher Kids blends blues, rock, gospel and soul into a powerful modern statement. The album received widespread acclaim, including a 10/10 review from Blues Rock Review.

During his acceptance speech, Randolph reflected on the long journey: “It’s been a long 20 years. I’ve been nominated seven times.”

Robert Randolph performs at Bluesfest on Saturday and Sunday, Easter Long Weekend.

BLUESFEST: WHERE THE BLUES WORLD MEETS
Bluesfest 2026 brings together the full spectrum of blues — from living legends to contemporary innovators — across the Easter long weekend.

Alongside Buddy Guy and Robert Randolph, the festival’s blues program includes a broad lineup of Australian and international blues and blues-roots artists, continuing Bluesfest’s long-held commitment to presenting blues in all its forms.

Also appearing is Jovin Webb, now produced by Tom Hambridge — Buddy Guy’s longtime bandleader and producer of his Grammy-winning album.

“It’s a small world in blues,” Noble said. “And Bluesfest is where those worlds come together.”

BLUES AND CULTURE BEYOND THE STAGE
In the past year, Buddy Guy’s influence has also extended beyond the stage. He appeared in the Oscar-nominated film Sinners, with the soundtrack going on to win Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the same Grammy Awards.

The wins underline how deeply blues — and Buddy Guy’s music in particular — remains woven into contemporary culture.

THE BEST OF BLUES IS ALWAYS AT BLUESFEST
Now entering its fourth decade, Byron Bay Bluesfest is Australia’s most awarded music festival and one of the most respected Blues and Roots festivals in the world.

With Bluesfest 2026 artists winning both Blues Grammy categories, the festival’s role as a global authority on blues has never been clearer.

“This is exactly what Bluesfest exists to do,” Noble said. “Celebrate the masters, honour the tradition, and show the world where the blues is alive and thriving.”

Bluesfest 2026 takes place over the Easter long weekend in Byron Bay, NSW.

Featuring Grammy-winning legends and the next generation of blues: Buddy Guy · Robert Randolph · Chain · Marcus King Band · Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band · Backsliders · Jovin Webb · Ray Beadle · Chain · 19-Twenty, Z-STAR, Taj Farrant, Roshani, Angelique Francis and more!