TORONTO, March 30, 2026 — What a display of Canadian talent on hand in Hamilton last night! The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CBC brought Canadians together in Hamilton this weekend for an unforgettable celebration of homegrown music as The 2026 JUNO Awards unfolded across the JUNO Awards Gala Presented by Music Canada and the 55th Annual Broadcast, live tonight from TD Coliseum on CBC.
Hosted by Mae Martin, this year’s JUNOS celebrated artists at every phase of their careers – from breakout voices to defining icons – through major wins, powerful tributes, historic performances and surprise appearances that reflected the pride, passion and connection at the heart of Canada’s Biggest Night in Music.
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS FROM THE 2026 JUNO AWARDS GALA PRESENTED BY MUSIC CANADA AND THE 2026 JUNO AWARDS, please visit: www.junoawards.ca.
The Broadcast opened with a landmark moment as Canadian rock icons, Rush performed on the JUNO stage, surprisingly, for the first time ever. More than five decades after being named Most Promising Group of the Year in 1975, the legendary band returned in a full-circle performance of their early single, “Finding My Way,” accompanied by drummer Anika Niiles, setting the tone for a night honouring the remarkable journey of Canadian artistry.
The celebratory spirit continued with the legendary Joni Mitchell receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the National Arts Centre, from Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney. One of Canada’s most revered and influential artists, Joni was celebrated for an extraordinary body of work that continues to shape Canadian culture and the global music landscape. Canadian Music Hall of Famer Sarah McLachlan and two-time JUNO winner Allison Russell led a powerful tribute performance in honour of Joni, presented by the National Music Centre.
Nelly Furtado’s induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame was another defining moment of the evening, featuring a presentation by Drake celebrating the artist’s influence and place in Canadian music history.
Across the weekend, The JUNOS also celebrated the artists shaping the soundtrack of Canada today. Cameron Whitcomb emerged as one of the weekend’s biggest stories, earning Country Album of the Year for The Hard Way and Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
International Achievement Award recipient Daniel Caesar added to his acclaimed career with wins for Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year Presented by Music Canada for Son Of Spergy and Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN.
Tate Mcrae continued her rise, taking home Artist of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Single of the Year Presented by Sunrise Records for “Sports car,” Pop Album of the Year Presented by Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0 for So Close To What, and Album of the Year Presented by Music Canada for So Close To What.
Although he was not in attendance at the award show, bbno$ earned TD JUNO Fan Choice, for the second straight year wins the only fan-voted award at The JUNOS.
The weekend also highlighted the breadth and evolution of Canadian music. At the JUNO Awards Gala, Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba was named the inaugural winner of the newly introduced Latin Music Recording of the Year category for Índole, marking an important milestone for both The JUNOS and Canada’s dynamic and diverse musical landscape.
Saturday evening’s celebrations also featured a captivating performance from genre-bending singer-songwriter Saya Gray, presented by FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
Quebec artist Fredz showcased his talent with a performance on Saturday night, while Lou-Adriane Cassidy took home the award for Francophone Album of the Year. Montreal-based deathcore band Despised Icon left with the trophy for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year, and francophone artist Laura Anglade won in the Vocal Jazz Album of the Year category. Montreal DJ and producer Gene Tellem was presented with the award for Underground Dance Single of the Year, while Isabella Lovestory delivered an electrifying performance during the Gala.
MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The JUNO Awards/CARAS, awarded Raquel McIntosh of Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School in Hamilton, ON, with the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Music Group. McIntosh, the “hometown hero”, will take home a $10,000 cash prize, a grant for the school music program, and a JUNO Statuette.
The Broadcast stage also came alive with performances from hometown heroes Arkells with special guests GROUPLOVE, The Beaches, Cameron Whitcomb, Daniel Caesar, William Prince, MICO and Sofia Camara, delivering a show that moved from high-energy anthems to intimate artistry with confidence and heart.
Together, the performances, wins and surprise appearances made The 2026 JUNO Awards an unforgettable celebration of Canadian music, driven by the epic moments that define Canada’s Biggest Night in Music.
Fans can rewatch every performance and memorable moment from The 55th Annual JUNO Awards broadcast on CBC Gem,and around the world on CBCMusic.ca/junos and The JUNO Awards social channels. The 2026 JUNO Awards Broadcast was produced by Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker company) in association with CBC and CARAS.
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