The wait is over … and we have a winner!Leah Holtom has officially been named the winner of the 2026 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase (EAS), presented by CIBC, taking home a career-changing prize package and a coveted spot on one of Canada’s biggest country stages.
RELATED: See the full lineup for this year’s Boots and Hearts Music Festival …
From Eight to Two to One
This year’s Top 8 semi-finalists took the stage at Burl’s Creek on Friday afternoon, each one making a case for the win:
- Connor Eller
- Jackson Klippenstein
- Laila
- Landon Bedor
- Leah Holtom
- Taylor Jensen
- The Mainlanders
- YASSiN & Sean Terrio
By the end of the afternoon, two acts had risen to the top. Jackson Klippenstein and Leah Holtom were named the finalists, earning the two of them a spot on the main stage on Sunday for a final head-to-head performance.
It was Leah Holtom whose performance won over the judges, sealing her spot as the 2026 champion.
RELATED: Boots and Hearts organizers have announced a version of the festival that will be in Edmonton …
What Leah Holtom Won
💰 $10,000 cash
🎵 A single release with Universal Music Canada
🎟 A performance slot at the 2027 Boots & Hearts Music Festival
🎤 Artist Strategy Sessions with RLive Management
🎸 A Gibson J-45 Special Guitar, plus a VIP tour of the Gibson Garage
Congratulations to Leah Holtom on her well-deserved win, and to all the finalists who made the 2026 EAS one for the books!
This Is Where Country Careers Are Made
Held annually at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, the EAS has helped launch the careers of artists like:
- Leah Holtom (2026 winner)
- School House (2025 winner)
- Owen Riegling (2022 winner), who headlined the Front Porch Stage in 2025
- Josh Ross (2017 finalist), now one of Canada’s hottest country stars
- James Barker Band (2015 winner), with multiple chart-topping hits
- Tim Hicks (2012 winner), who’s now a household name in Canadian country
For many artists, EAS is exactly that: a breakthrough. A chance to play in front of thousands of fans, network with industry professionals, and make a mark on one of Canada’s biggest country stages.
A Look Back at the 2025 Emerging Artist Showcase
Last year’s showcase brought eight semi-finalists to the Burl’s Creek stage: Lowell Lawson, Sean Michael Ryan, Amanda Couture, Lake Porter, Annika Catharina, Warren Hargraves, Jade Hilton, and School House.
In the end, it was School House who took home the win, earning $10,000 cash, a single release with Universal Music Canada, artist development sessions with RLive Management, a Gibson J-45 Special Guitar, a VIP tour of the Gibson Garage in Nashville, and a performance slot at the 2026 Boots & Hearts Festival.
Logan Miller
As the founder of Front Porch Music, I believe that music has the ability to connect people. I love country music, and I love the country music industry as a whole. My goal is to help music fans find new artists to fall in love with.
