Top recipients and new prize revealed at the 2026 Edmonton Arts Prizes
May 5, 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Metro Cinema to celebrate this year’s Edmonton Arts Prizes finalists! At the May 4th presentation, the four primary recipients were announced and honoured for their creative achievements in literature, music, film and visual arts.
The evening was hosted by Andrew MacDonald-Smith and included the Edmonton Arts Prizes partner organizations, Councillors Erin Rutherford and Jon Morgan, and the City of Edmonton’s fourth Indigenous Artist in Residence, Arsene Arcand. “On behalf of Mayor Knack and all of City Council, a huge congratulations to the shortlisted artists,” said Councillor Rutherford. “The 12 honourees exemplify the immense talent and innovative spirit we have in our growing city. Local artists bring Edmonton’s personality to light, the way only Edmontonians can.”
All twelve of the finalists took home a prize, with $15,000 going to the primary prize recipient in each category, and two secondary prizes of $5,000 awarded to the runners up. In total, $100,000 was awarded to the artists.
Congratulations to the 2026 Edmonton Arts Prizes recipients!
City of Edmonton Music Prize
Primary recipient: ARDN
Runners up: Cikwes ᒋᑵᐢ, Joe Nolan
The Eldon + Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize
Primary recipient: Elsa Robinson
Runners up: AJA Louden, Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet
City of Edmonton Film Prize
Primary recipient: Adam Scorgie
Runners up: Colin Waugh, Simon Glassman
Robert Kroetsch – City of Edmonton Book Prize
Primary recipient: Jennifer Bowering Delisle
Runners up: Conor Kerr, Jason Purcell
Later this year submissions will open for the 2027 Edmonton Arts Prizes, including the new City of Edmonton Dance Prize. Working with the prize’s consulting community partner, the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, it is anticipated that the first dance prize will be awarded next year. More details on the new prize are available here.
2026 City of Edmonton Music Prize
(in partnership with Alberta Music)
PRIMARY WINNER
ARDN for KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPARROW
Beginning as an independent musician in Edmonton, ARDN has grown into a nationally recognized hip hop and R&B artist with a strong digital presence, peaking at 1 million monthly listeners and 90k+ social media followers across platforms.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPARROW is a nine-track EP showcasing the full range of ARDN’s artistry — sharp, introspective verses, infectious hooks, and dynamic production. The project explores ambition, love, nostalgia, and the chaos that comes with growth.
“I just wanted to mostly keep it rap this time around,” ARDN says. “Get back to the essence.“
Highlights include “STACEY DASH,” a hypnotic collaboration with fellow Canadian FRVRFRIDAY, and “RAIN CHECK,” featuring Top Dawg Entertainment’s Ray Vaughn. The EP also features “TMTK” — a high-energy anthem about seizing the moment — already gaining traction for its infectious vibe and razor-sharp wordplay.
RUNNERS UP
Cikwes ᒋᑵᐢ for Nehiyaw Iskô ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐃᐢᑰ
Joe Nolan for Luv in the New World
2026 City of Edmonton Film Prize
(in partnership with Alberta Media Production Industries Association)
PRIMARY WINNER
Adam Scorgie for Tootoo
Adam Scorgie, a visionary in the world of film production, transforms stories into cinematic experiences. With a keen eye for compelling narratives, he navigates the complexities of filmmaking, bringing forth thought-provoking content that resonates with audiences globally. Adam’s dedication to storytelling transcends boundaries, making him an influential force in shaping impactful and unforgettable cinematic journeys.
Tootoo shares the extraordinary story of Jordin Tootoo, who broke barriers as the first Inuk and the first player raised in Nunavut to compete in the NHL and represent Team Canada. Growing up in Rankin Inlet, he was shaped by traditional Inuit life while carrying the weight of childhood trauma. On the ice, Tootoo became one of hockey’s fiercest competitors. Off the ice, he battled alcohol addiction and personal pain before entering the NHL’s Substance Abuse Program, a turning point that saved his life. Today, Tootoo is celebrated not only as a trailblazing athlete, but as a powerful advocate for mental health and Indigenous communities.
RUNNERS UP
Colin Waugh for The Secret Long Tree Society
Simon Glassman for Buffet Infinity
2026 Eldon + Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize
(in partnership with he Eldon and Anne Foote Fund at the Edmonton Community Foundation & CARFAC Alberta)
PRIMARY WINNER
Elsa Robinson for The Garden
(Nominated by Art Gallery of St. Albert)
Elsa Robinson’s work is characterized by bold forms, bold colours, and the use of ancient symbols from various cultures. “My art is informed by personal experience and the history of my people. It is also informed by Black Feminism, Afrofuturism and Afro-Surrealism, all of which are movements for the liberation of all people from all forms of oppression.”
The Garden was nominated by Emily Baker, Curator of the Art Gallery of St. Albert. Baker describes the exhibition as “a monumental achievement in ambition and scale, Elsa conceived of The Garden as a single artwork with many parts,” … “taking over four years of intensive effort to bring it to life.”
The Garden includes three large textile installations and eight soapstone sculptures; it incorporates elements from Elsa Robinson’s Jamaican heritage and the culture of her present home, Amiskwacîwâskahikan.
RUNNERS UP
AJA Louden for Enoch’s Fireweed
Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet for when chokecherries are ready on top the hill
2026 Robert Kroetsch – City of Edmonton Book Prize
(in partnership with Audreys Books & Writers’ Guild of Alberta))
PRIMARY WINNER
Jennifer Bowering Delisle for Stock
Jennifer Bowering Delisle writes poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction. Her work explores themes of motherhood, grief, and family through a feminist lens. She strives to create a sense of intimacy with readers against a backdrop of political, social, and environmental crisis.
Stock photographs are everywhere. Their ubiquity shapes and reinforces the biases, privilege, and stereotypes of their distinct aesthetic. Delisle’s poetry collection, Stock, takes a playful look at stock photography’s clichés and delights in all its strangeness, while casting a critical eye on its representations of women.
RUNNERS UP
Conor Kerr for Beaver Hills Forever
Jason Purcell for Crohnic
About the Edmonton Arts Prizes
The Edmonton Arts Prizes celebrate artists from a range of art forms and practices, recognizing their work, and investing in their continued experimentation and creation.
With the shared aim to enhance Edmonton’s reputation as a hub for extraordinary creation in the arts, the prize program is coordinated by the Edmonton Arts Council, in partnership with the City of Edmonton and our community partners: Alberta Media Production Industries Association, Alberta Music, Audreys Books, CARFAC Alberta, Edmonton Community Foundation and Writers’ Guild of Alberta.
More information on the Edmonton Arts Prizes can be found here.
