Whoop-Up Days earns Country Music Alberta nomination

By Lethbridge Herald on February 6, 2026.

Submitted photo Multi-time Country Music Alberta Awards nominee Brayden King performs on the Original 16 Stage during Whoop-Up Days 2025.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

Whoop-Up Days’ focus on spotlighting local talent has earned the annual festival a significant nomination from Country Music Alberta (CMAB). Whoop-Up Days is one of five finalists for the Live Event or Presenting Series of the Year (Large Market) award.

Director of event development with Excite Lethbridge, Paul Kingsmith says it is an honour for Whoop-Up Days to be included among some of the province’s largest and most prestigious music events.

“Over the past couple of years, we have focused on increasing the music options for our guests, and with that, have focused on giving a stage to the many incredible artists we have right in our backyard,” says Kingsmith. 

He says it is great to be recognized, as a lot of time and effort goes into making sure that the music at Whoop-Up Days is our music is top notch. 

“We’ve expanded what we’ve done in music over the past couple of years. So, to see it being recognized on a provincial level, and the first wave of voters putting us in this category, it is something that we’re incredibly proud of,” says Kingsmith. 

He explains that for Whoop- Up Days, Excite Lethbridge is a member of the Alberta Country Music Association, which is made up of artists and promoters, events and venues from throughout the province, all in support of Alberta country music.

Kingsmith adds that the Alberta Country Music Association has been giving out awards for a few years, with this year being their fifth, in categories in both the artists side and the industry side. 

“There’s a nomination process to get yourself onto the ballot, then the ballots get sent out to all eligible voters in the Alberta Country Music Association and after that balloting was done, the announcement came out for best event or live series in a large market,” says Kingsmith. “We were thrilled to see that we were one of the five finalists for that award, along with some other industry heavy hitters.” 

Also nominated for the award are Big Valley Jamboree, Calgary Stampede, Cody Snyder Charity Bullbustin’, and Country Thunder Alberta. The winner will be announced as part of the 5th Annual Country Music Alberta Awards on March 22 in Edmonton.

 Whoop-Up Days was held from Aug. 19-24, 2025, in Lethbridge and featured more than a dozen Alberta country music performers across seven different stages including Trevor Panczak, Morgan Klaiber, FoxxWorthee, Brayden King, Nice Horse, Tyson Ray Boorsboom, Willy Big Bull and the BFC All-Star Band, and Bennett Mitchell. 

Whoop-Up Days also featured live music concerts and showcases as part of the Whoop-Up Days parade, the Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo pre-show, the Siksikaitsitapi Indigenous Music Showcase, the Whoop-Up Days busker program, the Whoop-Up Days Community Stage, and the Rodeo Reds post-event party. 

Among the artists appearing throughout Whoop-Up Days were Armond Duck Chief, the Cody Hall Band, Brody Jerome, Boots Graham and more.

Whoop-Up Days 2026 will run from Aug. 18-22 and will continue to heavily feature local music and artists. Details will be announced in May. For more information, visit whoopupdays.ca.