Cremona Musica Awards 2026 to honor international musical talent

The 12th edition of the Cremona Musica Awards will take place from October 2 to 4, 2026, at the CremonaFiere exhibition center in Italy. Held during the Cremona Musica International Expo and Festival, the event celebrates global musical talent and the tradition of lutherie.

Key award recipients for 2026 include Bob Taylor, founder of the Californian brand Taylor, who will receive the Acoustic Guitar award for his contributions to contemporary acoustic guitar evolution and his ability to blend industrial production with fine craftsmanship.

Viktor Nemeth, a Hungarian collector, will be honored in the Vintage Guitar Collecting category for his work preserving electric guitar history through the Budapest Collection. As part of the event, Nemeth will bring rare instruments to Cremona, including a 1959 Les Paul Standard previously owned by Scorpions guitarist Matthias Jabs.