7th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards

The 7th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards were held on September 26, 1996, at RiverPark Center, Owensboro, Kentucky. The awards recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. 5 awards were won by either Del McCoury or his sons and they were nominated in 10 of the categories.

Award winners

;Entertainer of the YearThe Del McCoury Band

;Vocal Group of the YearIIIrd Tyme Out

;Instrumental Group of the YearThe Del McCoury Band

;Male Vocalist of the YearDel McCoury

;Female Vocalist of the YearLynn Morris

;Song Of The Year"Mama's Hand"

* Hazel Dickens, songwriter
"Another Place, Another Time"
* Jerry Chestnut, songwriter
"In The Gravel Yard"
* Malcolm Pulley, songwriter
"Tear My Stillhouse Down"
* Gillian Welch, songwriter
"Wing and a Prayer"
* Kim Williams, Sam Login & Jim Olander, songwriters

;Album of the YearIt's A Long Long Road - Blue Highway
* Blue Highway, producerMama's Hand - Lynn Morris
* Lynn Morris, producerOne Step Forward - The Lonesome River Band
* The Lonesome River Band, producerRonnie & Rob McCoury - Ronnie & Rob McCoury
* Ronnie McCoury, producerUnleashed - The Nashville Bluegrass Band
* Jerry Douglas, producer
;Recorded Event of the YearBluegrass '95 - Scott Vestal, Aubrey Haynie, Adam Steffey, Wayne Benson, Barry Bales & Clay Jones

* David Parmley, producerFiddle And A Song - Byron Berline
* Byron Berline, producerRose Of Old Kentucky - Byron Berline featuring Vince Gill
* Byron Berline, producer60 Years of Bluegrass with My Friends - Curly Seckler
* Billy Henson, producerThat High Lonesome Sound - Old & In the Way
* David Grisman, producer

;Instrumental Recording of the YearRonnie & Rob McCoury - Ronnie & Rob McCoury
* Ronnie McCoury, producerAn American Original - The '94 Sessions - Chubby Wise
* Sonny Osborne, producerDancing In The Hog Trough - Lynn Morris
* Lynn Morris, producerSouthern Comfort - The Lonesome River Band
* The Lonesome River Band, producerWolves A' Howlin - Richard Greene & The Grass Is Greener
* Richard Greene, producer
;Gospel Recorded Performance of the YearThere's A Light Guiding Me - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

* Doyle Lawson, producerGlory Train - Southern Rail
* Bob Dick and Southern Rail, producersI Can Call Jesus - Lynn Morris
* Lynn Morris, producerMy God Made It All - Bass Mountain Boys
* Butch Baldassari, producerPathway To Heaven - The McPeak Brothers
* The McPeak Brothers, producers

;Emerging Artist of the YearBlue Highway'

Instrumental Performers of the Year

;Banjo Player of the YearSammy ShelorScott Vestal

;Dobro Player of the YearRob Ickes

;Bass Player of the YearMike Bub

;Fiddle Player of the YearStuart Duncan

;Guitar Player of the YearTony Rice

;Mandolin Player of the YearRonnie McCoury