The 57th Annual Dove Awards will honor the best recordings, compositions, and musicians within the Christian music industry for the eligibility period of May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026, as chosen by the Gospel Music Association. The presentation ceremony is set to be held on October 7, 2026, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and will be broadcast exclusively on TBN. It will be hosted by eight-time winner Tauren Wells, marking Wells' fourth consecutive year as host.
The nominees for the ceremony were announced on July 29, 2026. Phil Wickham held the most nominations, with nine, while CeCe Winans held the most nominations for a female artist, with seven.
Promotion The date for the ceremony was announced in late 2025 subsequent to the conclusion to the prior award show; it was initially announced for October 6, 2026, but was later rescheduled to the following day. Tickets were made available for purchase beginning on December 15, 2025, and an exclusive presale became available on December 11. The date of the nominee announcement was publicly released on July 24, 2026, and the nominees themselves were announced on July 29.
On September 9, 2026, the first round of presenters and performers was announced, and the second was announced on September 16, 2026. The ceremony will be promoted with a headlining performance from Elevation Worship at the Ryman Auditorium on October 5.
Presenters and performers First round The first round of presenters and performers was announced on September 9, 2026. Presenters For King & Country CeCe Winans Anthony Brown Julie Chen Moonves Karen Peck Lisa Knowles-Smith Sarai Rivera
Performers TobyMac Anne Wilson Chosen Road Tasha Cobbs Leonard Tauren Wells
Second round The second round of presenters and performers was announced on September 16, 2026. Presenters Bart Millard of MercyMe Terrian Cain Moriah Jen Lilley Kelontae Gavin CalledOut Music
Performers Jamie MacDonald Naomi Raine Hulvey
Third round The third round of presenters and performers was announced on September 29, 2026. The third round also contains two additional performers as a tribute to American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, who died earlier that year. Presenters Christine D'Clario Chris Tomlin Cory Asbury Hezekiah Walker Jenn Johnson Marvin Sapp Shawn Johnson East from The Chosen George H. Xanthis Paras Patel
Performers Brandon Lake Lainey Wilson Tye Tribbett Hope Darst Elevation Worship
Dolly Parton tribute Natalie Grant Amy Grant
Nominees The nominees were announced on July 29, 2026.
General Artist of the Year Song of the Year Brandon Lake CeCe Winans Josiah Queen Lauren Daigle Phil Wickham "Can't Steal My Joy" – Josiah Queen and Brandon Lake "Come Jesus Come" – CeCe Winans "Dusty Bibles" – Josiah Queen "God I'm Just Grateful" – Elevation Worship and Chandler Moore "Homesick for Heaven" – Phil Wickham "I Know a Name" – Elevation Worship and Brandon Lake "Left It in the River" – Jamie MacDonald "Mighty Name of Jesus" – Hope Darst "No Fear" – Jon Reddick "What an Awesome God" – Phil Wickham New Artist of the Year Producer of the Year Bodie Emerson Day Jamie MacDonald Megan Woods SEU Worship Austin Davis Jacob Sooter Jeff Pardo Jonathan Smith Kyle Lee Songwriter of the Year (Artist) Songwriter of the Year (Non-Artist) Brandon Lake Chandler Moore Chris Brown Josiah Queen Phil Wickham Hank Bentley Jacob Sooter Jonathan Smith Steven Furtick Zac Lawson Recorded Music Packaging of the Year Long Form Music Video of the Year Blameless – Jackie Hill Perry Honest Conversations – Katy Nichole Mt. Zion – Josiah Queen Real – Blessing Offor Reconstruction – Lecrae Eterno Dios – Gateway Worship Español Just That Good – Passion Memorandum – Kristene DiMarco Sons of Sunday – Sons of Sunday The Resurrection of a King – Tommee Profitt Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept) Short Form Music Video of the Year (Performance) "Heaven on My Mind" – TobyMac "I've Got a Fire" – Pat Barrett "Raised By Wolves" – Franni Cash "Sevens" – Brandon Lake "World on Fire" – For King and Country and Taylor Hill "Campaign" – KB "Far Country" – Ellie Holcomb "Have Your Way" – Katy Nichole "I Ain't Worried" – Jackie Hill Perry "Worthy of It All (Worthy)" – CeCe Winans
Rap/Hip Hop Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year "Bless You" – Lecrae and Torey D'Shaun "Dave" – Hulvey "God Did II" – Rua Young and KB "Rob Hell" – Indie Tribe, Nobigdyl, and Torey D'Shaun featuring Jon Keith "Yes" – Steven Malcolm, For King & Country, and KB Blameless – Jackie Hill Perry Could Be Tonight – Hulvey Fine by Me – Gio. Reconstruction – Lecrae Via Dolorosa – Miles Minnick
Rock/Contemporary Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year "Eyes on Him" – Strings & Heart "Idols" – Stephen Stanley "No Survivors" – Jeremy Camp featuring Skillet "Sevens" – Brandon Lake "The Love I Have for You" – Colton Dixon Asaph's Arrows II – Kings Kaleidoscope Lonely God – Fit for a King M Us Eum – Citizens Plastic Wine – Srings & Heart There Was a Light Here – Demon Hunter
Pop/Contemporary Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year "Dusty Bibles" – Josiah Queen "Homesick for Heaven" – Phil Wickham "Left It in the River" – Jamie MacDonald "Let It Be a Hallelujah" – Lauren Daigle "Washed" – Elevation Rhythm Counting My Blessings – Seph Schlueter Jamie MacDonald – Jamie MacDonald King of Hearts – Brandon Lake Mt. Zion – Josiah Queen Walk Through Fire – Ben Fuller
Inspirational Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year "Heal for You" – Lloyd Nicks "I Speak Jesus" – Karen Peck and New River "Make It Well" – MercyMe "Psalm 8" – Phil Wickham and Angel "The Blessing" – Andrea Bocelli, Cody Carnes, and Kari Jobe
Southern Gospel Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Deep Waters" – Triumphant Quartet "God Gives Good Answers" – Karen Peck and New River "Hard Trials Will Soon Be Over" – Gaither Vocal Band featuring Chris Blue and Gene McDonald "No Rock" – Jeff & Sheri Easter "The Church" – Joseph Habedank Forever – Tribute Quartet Good Answers – Karen Peck and New River Steadfast Love – The Craguns Then Came the Morning – Gaither Vocal Band This Is the Time I Must Sing – The Martins
Country/Roots Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year "Black Sheep" – Ben Fuller "Broken Man Can" – Scotty Inman "Speaking Terms" – Ella Langley "Still Do" – Anne Wilson and Cole Swindell "The Jesus I Know Now" – Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson American Morning: Side A (EP) – Chosen Road Folk! – Rend Collective Full Grown Man, Vol. 1 (EP) – Josh Baldwin Soul Condition – Darin and Brooke Aldridge Stars – Anne Wilson
Bluegrass Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year "A God Thing" – Chosen Road "Above the Clouds" – Eighteen Mile "Broken Angels" – The Grascals and Dolly Parton "Camel Train" – Becky Buller featuring Rickey Skaggs, Sharon White, and Cheryl White "I Am the One" – Jeff Tobert and Primitive Road
Contemporary Gospel Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" – Tasha Cobbs Leonard "Imposter Syndrome" – Anthny "Jesus I Do" – Mariah Carey featuring The Clark Sisters "Still" – Jonathan McReynolds and Jamal Roberts "Sunday Morning" – Tauren Wells and Pastor Mike Jr. Closer – Jonathan McReynolds Confetti and Conspiracies: The Amen Mixtape – Pastor Mike Jr. Diary Entry 1 (EP) – Anthny Only on the Road – Tye Tribbett Tasha – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Traditional Gospel Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year Traditional Gospel Album of the Year "At the Cross" – CeCe Winans "Church" – Tasha Cobbs Leonard and John Legend "Love Never Fails" – The Choir Room and Fred Hammond "Promises" – Lisa Knowles and The Brown Singers "Your Name" – Jovonta Patton Jekalyn x the Legends – Jekalyn Carr Love Never Fails – The Choir Room Revival – Lisa Knowles and The Brown Singers The Live Reunion – JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise Trowback: An Evening With John P. Kee Pt. 1 – John P. Kee
Gospel Worship Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year Gospel Worship Album of the Year "Bless Your Name" – Maranda Curtis "More Than This" – CeCe Winans featuring Todd Dulaney "One Good God" – Jonathan McReynolds "Something's About to Shift" – Red Worship and Jonathan Stamper "Yahweh Flow" – Tye Tribbett featuring Jocelyn Bowman, D'nar Young, Jewell Jones, and Jalisa Faye Greater – Todd Galberth Live at Redemption Church – Red Worship More Than This – CeCe Winans Promises: The Best of Todd Dulaney – Todd Dulaney Soundcheck – VaShawn Mitchell
Spanish Language Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year Spanish Language Album of the Year "ABCD" – Daddy Yankee featuring Alex Zurdo "Christo" – Miel San Marcos, Josh Morales, and Luis Morales Jr. "Digno" – Nate Diaz featuring Aaron Moses and Israel Houghton "Necesito a Cristo" – Karen Espinosa "Tu Voz" – Sarai Rivera Así Será – Elevation Español Coritos, Vol. 1 – Israel and New Breed Eterno Dios – Gateway Worship Español Lamento en Baile – Daddy Yankee Legado – Marcos Witt
Spanish Language Worship Spanish Language Worship Recorded Song of the Year "El Cel de to Casa" – Tomatulugar and Marcos Brunet "Mi Necesidad" – Cales Louima and Christine D'Clario "Salvavidas" – Su Presencia "Solo Hay Uno" – Joel Rocco and Enoc Parra "Victoria" – Averly Morillo
Worship Worship Recorded Song of the Year Worship Album of the Year "God I'm Just Grateful" – Elevation Worship and Chandler Moore "How Good It Is" – Chris Tomlin "Mighty Name of Jesus" – Hope Darst and Josh Baldwin "What an Awesome God" – Phil Wickham "Worthy of It All (Worthy)" – CeCe Winans A Forgiving God – SEU Worship Breathe on It – Tauren Wells So Be It – Elevation Worship Song of the Saints – Phil Wickham We Must Respond – Bethel Music
Children's/Musical/Choral Collection Children's Recorded Song of the Year Musical/Choral Collection of the Year "El Amor de Dios" – Marilú y los Niños "Follow the Light" – Brandon Engman, Phil Wickham, and Angel "Lord Has Mercy" – Matthew West and The Dead Sea Squirrels "Strong and Courageous" – Gateway Worship featuring Josiah Gonzalez "This Is My Father's World" – The Getty Girls, Keith Getty, and Kristyn Getty Big Night in a Small Town – Dave Clark Forrest Frank Favorites for Kids – Semsen Music A Child Is Born... All Is Well – Semsen Music The Name That Changed the World – Hillcrest Nashville We Shall Behold Him: A Tribute to Dottie Rambo – Various Artists
Christmas/Special Event Christmas Recorded Song of the Year Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year "God's Gift to Us" – Natalie Grant "Long Expected" – Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli "Our King Has Come" – Katy Nichole and Matt Maher "The First Noel" – CeCe Winans "We Three Kings" – We Are Messengers Christmas – Natalie Grant Come Home for Christmas – Matthew West David – Various Artists I Can Only Imagine 2 Various Artists Rejoice! – We Are Messengers
Film/Television Feature Film of the Year Television Series of the Year A Great Awakening – Joshua Enck David – Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham I Can Only Imagine 2 – Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle Sarah's Oil – Cyrus Nowrasteh Soul on Fire – Sean McNamara House of David – Jon Erwin The Chosen – Dallas Jenkins The Promised Land – Mitch Hudson The Wingfeather Saga – Daniel Haycox, John Sanfod, Keith Lango, Ron Smith, John Wall
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