Ethnogala, the awards gala for the Finnish folk, world and roots music and folk dance will take place again in January 2019. Launched in November 2017, the gala will now be organised for the second time.

Hosting the event will be the legendary Tavastia Club, with the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) recording performances and interviews from two stages as well as the green room and backstage areas. 

This time, prizes will be handed out to the most distinguished figures, acts and organisations in folk music, world music and folk dance in the following seven categories:

• Artist of the Year 
• Producer of the Year 
• Newcomer of the Year 
• Folk Music Songwriter of the Year (awarded by Musiikintekijät - The Finnish Society of Composers and Lyricists) 
• Border Breaking Act of the Year (awarded by Music Finland) 
• Intersection Prize (awarded by the Global Music Centre) 
• Choreographer of the year (awarded by the Dance Info Finland)

The nominees for each award will be chosen on the basis of submissions from the wide audience. Call for submissions is open until 15 August.

Ethnogala is arranged by the Committee of Folk Music and Dance in Finland (KEK) in partnership with the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE). The other partners include, e.g., Global Music Centre, Music Finland, Musiikintekijät – The Finnish Society of Composers and Lyricists, the Finnish Musicians’ Union, Teosto (the Finnish Composers' Copyright Society), the Folk Music Institute of Finland and the Finnish Folk Music Association.