Winners at the 2026 Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship

Twin Lakes Grand Champion Bubba Hopkins – photo © Ed Carnes

The third weekend of July always sees the Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship in Leitchfield, KY, where $14,500 in prize money is awarded across six age groups, and also the traditional bluegrass and old time instruments.

The contest is certified by the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest and the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Association (NOTFA), and winners are eligible to participate in the Certified Showcase Contest at the National Contest each June in Weiser, ID.

Judges this year were Junior Marriott of Marshfield, Loreeta Brnak of McKeever, Spring Hill TN, and Kerry Varble of Salem, OH.

And the 2026 winners are:

2026 Small Fry Fiddle (Ages 8 and under)

1. Violet Edgington – Nashville, TN
2. Caleb Speck – Murfreesboro, TN
3. Emile Perry – Winchester, KY
4. Noah Bater – Christiana, TN
5. Ellis Bater – Christiana, TN
6. Zara Laufenburger – Nicholasville, KY

Jr Jr Fiddle (Ages 9 thru 12)

1. Oliver Wells – Mt. Sterling, KY
2. Lily Coleman – Vestavia Hills, AL
3. Sadie Hammond – Brentwood, TN
4. Alan Speck – Murfreesboro, TN
5. Kennedy Reeves – Marshfield, MO
6. Kylah Harris – Seymour, MO
7. Jeremiah Bates – Hartsville, TN

Guitar (All Ages)

1. Adam Wright – Goodlettsville, TN
2. Joel Whittinghill – Bowling Green, KY
3. Rob Pearcy – Smyrna, TN
4. Nick Norris – Nashville, TN
5. Jeffrey Woodard – Hartsville, TN

Jr Fiddle (Ages 13 thru 17)

1. Sidney Cantrell – Seymour, MO
2. Kadence Edgington – Nashville, TN
3. Sarah Hathaway – Bowling Green, KY
4. Audrey Nye – Columbus, IN
5. Zoe Hackbarth – Dayton, VA
6. Summer Edgington – Nashville, TN
7. Kennedy Gambrel – Lexington, KY
8. Peli Ross – Benton, KY
9. Avery Brown – Charlestown, IN

Young Adult Fiddle (Ages 18 to 39)

1. Bubba Hopkins – Spavinaw, OK
2. Oliver Houchin – Lexington, KY
3. David Lin – Lexington, KY
4. Jacob Johnson – Lincoln, AL
5. Anna Lang – Marshfield, MO
6. Olivia Lee – Versailles, KY
7. Bailey Yates – Lexington, KY
8. Ashely Powell – Lexington, KY
9. Sam Stowe – Georgetown, KY
10. Colton Harris – Seymour, MO
11. Eric Cameron – Adairville, KY

Mandolin (All Ages)

1. Nick Norris – Nashville, TN
2. Joel Whittinghill – Bowling Green, KY
3. Jeffrey Woodard – Hartsville, TN
4. Rob Pearcy – Smyrna, TN
5. Sarah Hathaway – Bowling Green, KY
6. Avery Flake – Sevierville, TN

Adult Fiddle (Ages 40 to 59)

1. Bill Jones Oak – Ridge, TN
2. Bonnie Norris – Nashville, TN
3. Joel Whittinghill – Bowling Green, KY
4. Nick Norris – Nashville, TN
5. Michael Garvin – Flatwoods, KY
6. Jeffrey Woodard – Hartsville, TN

Sr Fiddle (Ages 60 and over)

1. Kay Lorson – Dover, OH
2. Susumu Okano – New York, NY
3. Rob Pearcy – Smyrna, TN
4. Brent Young – Anna, TX
5. David Foster – Horse Cave, KY
6. John Paul Jarboe – Caneyville, KY

Banjo (All Ages)

1. Joey Gipson – Manchester, TN
2. Jasper Hammond – Brentwood, TN
3. Nick Norris – ,Nashville TN
4. Sarah Hathaway – Bowling Green, KY
5. Rob Pearcy – Smyrna, TN

Dancing – No Holds Barred (All Ages)

1. Clara Herman – Whites Creek, TN
2. Anthony Harrell – Mount Juliet, TN
3. Jason Wade – Smyrna, TN
4. Jason Hammond – Adairville, KY
5. Ann Bane – Smyrna, TN
6. Eric Cameron – Adairville, KY
7. Everett Hammond – Brentwood, TN
8. Sadie Hammond – Brentwood, TN
9. Pam Mahurin – Falls of Rough, KY
10. Manda-lynn Woodard – Hartsville, TN
11. Samuel Barrett – Leitchfield, TN

Championship Fiddle-Off

1. Bubba Hopkins – Spavinaw, OK
2. Bill Jones – Oak Ridge, TN
3. Sidney Cantrell – Seymour, MO
4. Oliver Wells – Mt. Sterling, KY
5. Kay Lorson – Dover ,OH

Bud Meredith Showmanship Award: Rob Percy – Smyrna, TN