Annapolis Baygrass Festival Nominated for IBMA Event of the Year

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival will take place September 19 & 20, 2026, at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, MD.  The 2-day event features Little Feat, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sam Bush, Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart, Mountain Grass Unit, Shadowgrass and more.  BAYGRASS TICKETS & INFO

Festy GoNuts’ Take:

We’ve already seen Baygrass take home many coveted Festy Awards in its short existence, so this recognition comes as not surprise to the Festy GoNuts faithful. (2023: Best Overall Music Festival, Best New Festival; 2024: Best Overall Music Festival, Best Family-friendly Festival; 2025: Best Waterside Festival, Greenest Festival – among others!)

There has also been an endless stream of current and past Baygrass artists receiving their deserved recognition from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) this end every year. (Sister Sadie is up for 11 different awards this year, as well as fellow 2026 Baygrassers Sam Bush and Michael Cleveland).

So, from our point of view, recognition from the IBMA is well deserved for this festival that has been growing over the last 5 years to become one of the premiere music festivals in the country. 

Congrats, Annapolis Baygrass!

👇 READ ON 👇 

FROM ANNAPOLIS BAYGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL:

(Courtesy of Dreamspider Publicity & Events) 

Annapolis Baygrass Nominated for IBMA Event of the Year!
Also Announcing a Friday Night Kick-off Party at Maryland Hall!

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival – Sat & Sun, Sept. 19 & 20
Family Friendly | Beachfront Stages | Local Food & Craft Drinks
Two-day & Single Day Tickets on Sale!
Including VIP & GA
www.baygrassfestival.com/tickets

ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival is incredibly honored to be nominated for the 2026 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Industry Award for ‘Event of the Year’! This recognition means the world to the entire Baygrass family.

Festival CEO/Founder, Ron Peremel says, “I’m incredibly humbled that Annapolis Baygrass has been nominated for this prestigious IBMA Industry Award that also includes Bluegrass in La Roche at 20 in La Roche-sur-Foron, France, Bluegrass Spartanburg in Spartanburg, South Carolina, CBA 50th Anniversary Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, California, and Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series in Marysville, Ohio.”

“From day one, we set out to create something more than just a great music festival in a beautiful waterfront setting,” Peremel continues. “Baygrass was built on the belief that music can bring people together to make a difference—connecting fans and artists to our mission of helping to heal the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary, and healing our community through music and immersive educational programming. To receive this recognition in only our fourth year is truly overwhelming. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who believes in our vision and took the time to nominate us. On behalf of our entire Baygrass team, thank you for your support.”

“I have experienced the festival as an audience member, a performer, and also as an environmental scientist who works with the non-profit festival partners and as an Environmental Advisory Board volunteer,” says Dr. John D. Bolten. “I am the Chief Scientist for Hydrology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the largest federal hydrology lab in the county, and I also lead Geraldine and have performed at the Baygrass since the beginning… I can sincerely say that Baygrass provides a fun, safe, and clean family-friendly experience that I am proud to be a part of.”

Bolten continues, “After the last evening headliner set I noticed a stark difference from many other festivals I’ve attended — the almost complete absence of litter on the festival grass and sandy beach. This is a testament to Baygrass’ earnest approach to running a bluegrass festival — bring world-class music to a beautiful place and leave the people and land better from the experience. Where else can you watch Molly Tuttle shred on stage, later talk shop with her about environmental activism, and then devour a plate of fresh oysters with your toes in the sand while listening to the Travelin’ McCourys? The best endorsement I can give is that I’ve encouraged my relatives and friends from West Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina to attend this truly wonderful festival this year. I’m confident it will not be their last!”

Matt Hoffman, a professional music journalist/podcaster who has profiled the festival twice for JamBase and covered its environmental impact for One Beautiful Planet, says, “I’ve seen the festival consistently exemplify IBMA’s values and awards criteria for environment, regional impact, and audience experience. Unlike traditional live music festivals, Baygrass unquestionably has a net and ever-growing positive impact on the environment. In 2025, Baygrass diverted more than 50 cubic yards of waste from the landfill and eliminated an estimated 10,000 single-use water bottles through reusable cups and water filling stations. Baygrass also raises awareness of various Bay-related environmental efforts… None of this is the easy path for a festival, but Peremel and his team chose it anyway, prioritizing impact over the bottom line.”

“The Chesapeake Bay shapes the weekend, sets land against sunset over the water, and the conservation mission ties back to what’s literally in view,” Hoffman continues. “The festival is family-friendly without being sanitized, and the mental health and recovery-related programming give the weekend a dimension most festivals don’t attempt. As I wrote in my 2025 JamBase review, Baygrassers are like family and treat each other with love and kindness. They’re proving that doing a good thing and having a good time are in no way mutually exclusive.”

Kate Fritz, CEO of Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay says, “As an organization dedicated to restoring and protecting the lands and waters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed—a vast and vital ecosystem that sustains an estimated 18 million people—we are incredibly proud to be a founding non-profit partner with a festival whose core mission aligns so deeply with our own. Bluegrass music has a rich, historical connection to the land, storytelling, and community. The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival beautifully bridges this musical heritage with urgent environmental stewardship, proving year after year that “Every Jam Heals the Bay”… This connection between great music and clean water is an active, measurable effort rather than just a concept. Last year, the festival raised $36,061 to support its three Maryland-based non-profit partners: the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the Oyster Recovery Partnership, and the Watershed Stewards Academy. Guided by CEO Ron Peremel, the Baygrass team consistently prioritizes regional conservation and audience experience over the bottom line… By bringing world-class music to a beautiful place, the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival truly leaves both the people and the land better from the experience. It stands as an exemplary model of how a musical event can champion bluegrass culture while protecting our natural treasures.”

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Announcing Friday (9/18) Night Kick-off Party at Maryland Hall!

In its fourth year, the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival returns to its beachfront location at Sandy Point State Park along the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, 2026. Annapolis Baygrass has grown into one of the country’s top eco-focused destination festivals since its inception in 2022 and first festival in 2023. Lovers of progressive bluegrass, improvisational jam, and American roots music have traveled from 38 U.S. states, Canada, and Europe.

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival is thrilled to add an official Kick-off Party at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts (Main Theater) on Friday, September 18, featuring music by Jammy Buffet and Cumberland Honey. Tickets are on sale now, with doors opening at 6:30pm and the show starting at 7, with Parrothead-themed food and beverages on site.

The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival 2026 lineup includes Little Feat, Yonder Mountain String Band, Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush, Mountain Grass Unit, TopHouse, Shadowgrass, SCYTHIAN, Sister Sadie, Fireside Collective, Midnight North, Jammy Buffet, Melody Trucks & The Fitzkee Brothers Band, Geraldine, and three Artists-at-Large—Allie Kral, Alvin Lee, and Patrick Rainey. Performances will take place on two alternating beachside stages over the course of two days. Fans can expect to see the artists-at-large making their rounds, creating unique moments with their special improvisational magic.

Throughout the weekend, Baygrass offers something for everyone, from interactive music, conservation, and wellness workshops to beach yoga, yard and tabletop games, a vibrant artisan village, an unforgettable KidZone, a lively waterfront beer garden, and an exceptional VIP experience. Guests can also savor the best of the region with local craft beer, handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, fresh Chesapeake seafood, gourmet BBQ, and a delicious selection of vegan and vegetarian fare.

Sandy Point State Park, a 786-acre Maryland State Park located along the northwestern shore of Chesapeake Bay, provides a perfect backdrop for this one-of-a-kind festival. With stunning views of the Bay, the iconic Bay Bridge, and the historic Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse, festival-goers can spread out and enjoy themselves in comfort on the sandy beaches and soft green grass of the park. The site is ADA accessible.

Annapolis Baygrass offers several local lodging partners with premier hotels and camping options nearby for a perfect weekend. These discounted options are on a first-come, first-served basis and fit all budgets. Shuttle service will make the stay even easier, with shuttle passes serving many of the lodging locations and the Annapolis Park-n-Ride.

Two-Day and Single Day General Admission, VIP Passes, and pre-party tickets are available now at baygrassfestival.com.

Annapolis Baygrass fosters a safe, open, welcoming space and a community that focuses on love, compassion, and inclusion.

🎶 Music Heals. Come experience it for yourself!