Artur Menezes named 2026 Unsigned Only Artist of the Year
The Brazilian-born blues-rock guitarist won the independent-music competition's top honor with 'Once Again' and a $20,000 prize.
Credit: Unsigned Only Music Awards (via source)
Brazilian-born, Los Angeles-based guitarist, singer and songwriter Artur Menezes has been named Artist of the Year in the 2026 Unsigned Only Music Awards for his song 'Once Again.' The awards organization announced the result on September 2 and lists Menezes at the top of its 2026 winners.
Menezes works at the blues-rock end of the guitar spectrum and has already built a substantial live résumé, including appearances at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival and the Experience Hendrix Tour. Unsigned Only's top award carries a $20,000 cash prize, while the competition says its winners were selected by a panel of artists and music-industry professionals.
The result is notable less as a celebrity trophy than as another international marker for a guitarist who has been building his career outside the mainstream pop-label pipeline.
Why it matters
A guitar-led blues artist taking the overall prize in a broad independent-music competition is a useful signal that strong instrumental identity can still cut through beyond guitar-specific awards.
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