Dove 2026: Wickham Wins Both Top Awards
Phil Wickham took home Artist of the Year and Worship Album of the Year, and Josiah Queen won Song of the Year.
At the 2026 Dove Awards, Phil Wickham won Artist of the Year and Worship Album of the Year for "Song of the Saints." CCM Magazine published the full list of winners.
Wickham is a familiar name in worship music, the kind sung in church services and repeated in weekday rehearsals. The double win draws attention to work that is almost never done for applause. That's why the news feels close to home for anyone who sings at church without an audience.
Wickham's double win
Artist of the Year and Worship Album of the Year. Two of the night's biggest awards went to Phil Wickham. A worship album is born in rehearsal rooms, with lyrics rewritten several times and arrangements tried one Sunday and changed the next. Nobody records with a trophy in mind.
«The service of a local church shines every Sunday, almost always without an audience.»
"Song of the Saints" is the album that earned him the second award. If you've listened to it, you recognize that kind of song, made to be sung together, not for headphones.
Queen, Lake and the rest
Josiah Queen won Song of the Year with "Dusty Bibles," which also won in pop/contemporary. Jamie MacDonald was named New Artist of the Year. Brandon Lake added Pop/Contemporary Album for "King of Hearts" and Songwriter of the Year among artists. CeCe Winans returned to the list with "More Than This," her collaboration with Todd Dulaney.
Spanish-language music had its place: "Solo Hay Uno," by Joel Rocco and Enoc Parra, won the Spanish-language worship category. In entertainment, the gala recognized the series The Chosen and the animated film DAVID.
The gala handed out awards in 39 categories: Christian rock, hip-hop, gospel, country, bluegrass, Southern Gospel and Spanish-language music. In bluegrass, "Broken Angels," by The Grascals and Dolly Parton, also took home an award.
Faithfulness where no one applauds
A trophy recognizes work well done. It says nothing about the holiness of the person who receives it, and that difference matters. Scripture sets the standard elsewhere: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23, ESV).
Awards also serve a simple purpose: reminding you that behind every song is a person who worked, prayed and probably doubted. Paul himself wrote that the one who plants and the one who waters are one, but God gives the growth (see 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
The stage shines for one night. The service of a local church shines every Sunday, almost always without an audience. That's where faithfulness is tested: in the rehearsal nobody recorded, in the song sung with a hoarse voice, in the psalm repeated when you don't feel like it.
This week you can do something concrete. Think of the worship song that marked your year and write down in a note why it did. Then tell someone at your church, even if they don't know it. What would that song be?
Sources
- #Premios Dove
- #Phil Wickham
- #música de adoración
- #Josiah Queen
- #Brandon Lake
- #CeCe Winans
- #música cristiana en español
