IEBA Reveals 2026 Industry Award Recipients, Honoring Simmons, Checker, and Cunningham

IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) celebrated the people and organizations shaping the live entertainment business on Tuesday (Oct. 6) during its 2026 Honors & Awards at The Pinnacle Nashville.

Hosted by comedian Derrick Stroup, the event celebrated the professionals working behind the scenes to bring live entertainment to audiences around the world. IEBA’s annual Industry Awards, voted on by the association’s membership, recognize outstanding achievement among venues, talent buyers, agents, promoters, festivals, fairs and other leaders throughout the business.

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“Tonight represents what IEBA is all about — the people who make live entertainment happen,” Brian Wagner , executive director of IEBA, said in a statement. “…This year’s honorees represent both the history and the future of live entertainment. It was especially meaningful to celebrate them together here in Nashville as we closed an incredible 56th Annual Conference.”

The event also recognized Gene Simmons of KISS with IEBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a touring career spanning more than five decades and his enduring impact on live entertainment.

IEBA inducted two new members into its Hall of Fame: Chubby Checker , the trailblazing entertainer who had a pair of No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the early 1960s, “The Twist” and “Pony Time,” and Gil Cunningham , the veteran concert promoter and industry leader whose career has helped shape live entertainment and artist touring for decades.

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The ceremony also marked the introduction of the Barbara “Mother” Hubbard Mentorship Award, named in honor of longtime industry leader and IEBA Hall of Fame member Barbara Hubbard. The award recognizes the essential role mentorship plays in developing future generations of live entertainment professionals.

“IEBA has always been built on relationships — people doing business together, learning from one another and creating opportunities for the next generation,” Wagner said. “Recognizing Barbara’s legacy of mentorship alongside the achievements of tonight’s winners is a powerful reminder that the strength of this industry comes not only from what we accomplish, but from how we invest in the people who will carry it forward.”

IEBA’s 56th Annual Conference was held Oct. 4–6 at the Grand Hyatt Nashville and The Pinnacle Nashville. Founded in 1970, IEBA is the leading not-for-profit trade organization for live entertainment industry professionals who buy, book and sell talent.

Here’s the full list of 2026 IEBA Industry Award winners:

Club of the year: The Pinnacle Nashville

Casino of the year: Yaamava’ Resort & Casino

Theater of the year: ACL Live

Arena of the year: Madison Square Garden

Amphitheater of the year: The Gorge Amphitheatre

Fair/expo of the year: Minnesota State Fair

Festival of the year: Bourbon & Beyond

Club buyer of the year: Sonia Grover, First Avenue

Casino buyer of the year: Drew Dixon, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino

Corporate buyer of the year: EastCoast Entertainment

International buyer of the year: Jim Cressman, Invictus Entertainment

Fair/expo buyer of the year: Lisa Sexton, OC Fair

Festival buyer of the year: Tom Hoppa, Danny Wimmer Presents

Venue executive of the year: David Kells, Bridgestone Arena

Young professional of the year: Spencer Zubrow, Pinnacle Entertainment

Music & entertainment industry educator of the year: Ed Traversari, Point Park University

Boutique agency agent of the year: Heath Baumhor, Reliant Talent

Major agency agent of the year: Becky Gardenhire, WME

Promoter of the year: Rich Schaefer, AEG Presents

_Originally reported by [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/pro/ieba-2026-industry-award-winners-full-list/)._