57th Annual GMA Dove Awards Celebrates Gospel and Christian Music at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena
The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards took place October 6, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The ceremony, hosted by Tauren Wells and themed "Together For One," honored the best in gospel and Christian music across 39 categories.
NASHVILLE — The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards brought together the gospel and Christian music community at Bridgestone Arena on October 6, 2026, for a night celebrating faith-driven artistry.
Tauren Wells, an eight-time Dove Award winner, hosted the ceremony and also served as an executive producer for the event. The theme, "Together For One," was drawn from Colossians 3:14.
Jonathan Smith led all nominees with 14 nominations heading into the night, followed by Jacob Sooter with 12 and Steven Furtick with 11. Phil Wickham earned the most nominations among male artists with nine, while CeCe Winans led female artists with seven.
The Artist of the Year category featured Phil Wickham, CeCe Winans, Brandon Lake, Josiah Queen, and Lauren Daigle. New Artist of the Year nominees included bodie, Emerson Day, Jamie MacDonald, Megan Woods, and SEU Worship.
The awards ceremony served as the centerpiece of "Dove Week 2026," which included a Night of Worship at the Ryman Auditorium featuring Elevation Worship and a multi-day Music City Fan Experience for attendees.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, who released her 34-track live album "Tasha Unscripted" in September, was among the performers at the event. TobyMac also performed during the ceremony.
The eligibility period for the 2026 awards covered music released between October 2025 and September 2026. The Gospel Music Association maintains a full list of winners across all 39 categories on its official website at doveawards.com.
The Dove Awards have been presented annually since 1969 and remain the premier awards ceremony for gospel and Christian music.
