Nashville Shines: Christian Music Stars Dominate Dove Awards Noms

The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards nominations have been announced, showcasing a wide array of talent across Christian and gospel music. This year's nominations underscore Nashville's increasing prominence as a central hub for faith-based media production.

Phil Wickham leads the male nominees with an impressive nine nominations, while Tennessee-based CeCe Winans is at the forefront of female nominations with seven nods. Many nominees, including Joel and Luke Smallbone of for KING + COUNTRY, Lauren Daigle, Anne Wilson, and Jamie MacDonald, have strong connections to Nashville, reinforcing its status as a global center for Christian media.

The prestigious awards ceremony is scheduled for October 9, 2026, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. It will be broadcast exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ app at 7:30 and 10 p.m. ET, with a rebroadcast on October 16. Fans can also tune in via SiriusXM's The Message (Channel 65).

In addition to music, the awards will recognize achievements in faith-based television and film, with Andrew Erwin's movie "I Can Only Imagine 2" receiving a nomination for feature film of the year. Jonathan Smith and Jacob Sooter lead the songwriting and production categories with 14 and 12 nominations, respectively.

Tauren Wells will host the event for the fourth consecutive year, also serving as an executive producer and holding two nominations himself. The Christian music genre continues its rapid growth, generating over 30 billion on-demand streams in the past 12 months, according to Luminate's 2026 report.

The Dove Awards Music City Fan Experience will also return, offering fans a weekend of events including worship nights, artist showcases, and exclusive previews, further engaging the community with faith-based entertainment.