The Recording Academy has announced a new Grammy category, Best Traditional Folk Album, as part of a broader set of category and rule changes that will take effect at the 69th Grammy Awards.
The new award recognizes excellence in albums of traditional folk recordings. Eligible recipients include artists, producers, engineers, mixers, and songwriters of newly written material, provided they are credited on more than 50% of the album’s playing time.
The category was proposed by Folk Alliance International, which advocated for the return of a dedicated Traditional Folk Album award. Members of the Folk Alliance community also supported the effort throughout the proposal process.
According to the Recording Academy, traditional folk encompasses recordings rooted in established folk song structures, harmonic forms, and rhythmic traditions. The category includes music featuring instruments such as piano, harmonica, traditional woodwinds, strings, and percussion from cultures around the world. It also covers styles and song forms including old-time music, a cappella songs, work songs, sea shanties, protest songs, call-and-response songs, and ballads that emerge from or are preserved through community-based traditions.
With the addition of the Best Traditional Folk Album, Best Folk Album has been revised and renamed Best Contemporary Folk Album.
Folk Alliance International shared: “We are thrilled to see the return of separate Traditional and Contemporary Folk award categories, a change our membership has long called for, and one that addresses a significant representation and credibility gap in the genre. This reinstatement also challenges the long-held stereotype that folk music is exclusively Eurocentric. Traditional Folk is, in fact, a genre of rich cultural diversity that extends far beyond any single culture, and we’re excited that more of that diversity will now have the chance to be celebrated on a global stage. “
“2027 is going to be an amazing year for the Grammy Awards, and one that reflects the extraordinary growth we’re seeing across music,” said Grammys CEO Harvey Mason Jr. “The changes advanced by our Recording Academy members speak to the breadth of today’s music industry and the many genres, crafts, and creators shaping it. We’re excited to see these updates come to life in the year ahead as we celebrate the music people who are driving music forward.”
This is a huge win for our community, and we are grateful for all of the individuals who supported this proposal and helped make it a reality!
Other new categories:
Best Asian Pop Music Performance
Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance*
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
Best Latin Song
The 69th Grammy Awards will culminate with the 2027 Grammys live on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu on February 7, 2027.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central