The soul of Hamilton was on full display as the 2026 JUNO Awards took the city by storm this weekend!
The JUNOS celebrated the artists shaping the soundtrack of Canada today, from the JUNO Songwriters’ Circle, to JUNOFest; both of which spotlighted national and local artists alike.
The JUNO Songwriters’ Circle, in particular, gave the spotlight to non-performer songwriters, such as Hailey Gene Penner and Nathan Ferraro, whose work can be found on all of today’s hottest international releases; as well as to past winners and nominees, such as R&B star, Savannah Ré, rising songwriting powerhouse, Haily Gene Penner, first time nominee, Mariel Buckley, rising pop-star, Jade LeMac, country superstar, James Barker, indie-folk icon, Bahamas, and the ever dynamic, Aysanabee; as well as an appearance collaborators Sofia Camara and Nathan Ferraro. Never before heard tracks and demos, songs about parenthood and vulnerability, and a guitar lesson in “tapping” had the audience captivated.
Meanwhile, JUNO Fest offered something for everyone – including the core Hamilton scene when local legends, Junkhouse, invited Terra Lightfoot on stage for a passionate and electric late night show at the Music Hall.
The awards themselves were filled with emotional moments and surprises that rocked the music community to the core. After the Broadcast on March 29, opened with a landmark moment as Rush performed on the JUNO stage for the first time ever (more than five decades after being named Most Promising Group of the Year in 1975) Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson took questions and quipped with reporters; saying “Finding My Way” was chosen to lead their first performance since the passing of the beloved Neil Peart because it was the “first song from the first album”…and that “it’s the only song they knew how to play.”
The celebratory spirit continued with the legendary Joni Mitchell receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by your National Arts Centre. Presented with the award from Prime Minister Mark Carney, Joni was celebrated for her extraordinary body of work by Canadian Music Hall of Famer Sarah McLachlan and two-time JUNO winner Allison Russell, who led a powerful tribute performance in honour of Michell.
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.
In addition to the broadcast, the JUNOS also celebrated the artists shaping the soundtrack of Canada today throughout the weekend. 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.
bbno$ earned TD JUNO Fan Choice, his second consecutive win of the only-fan voted award at The JUNOS.
In addition to the awards presented at the JUNO broadcast, the JUNO Awards Gala saw Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter, Alex Cuba, 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, 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 “hometown hero”, Raquel McIntosh of Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School in Hamilton, ON, with the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Music Group. As the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year, McIntosh took home a $10,000 cash prize, a grant for the school music program, and a JUNO Statuette.
The 2026 JUNO Awards were an unforgettable celebration of Canadian music, driven by the epic moments that define Canada’s amazing and dynamic music scene!
And your 2026 JUNO Award winners are…
TD JUNO Fan Choice: bbno$
Single of the Year (Presented by Sunrise Records): “Sports car” Tate McRae
Album of the Year (Presented by Music Canada): So Close To What Tate McRae
Breakthrough Artist or Group of The Year (Presented By Factor, The Government Of Canada And Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters): Cameron Whitcomb
Artist of the Year (Presented by SiriusXM Canada): Tate McRae
Group of the Year (Presented by SiriusXM Canada): The Beaches
Classical Album of the Year: Solo Artist: Preludes by Chopin, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Messiaen, Górecki Jan Lisiecki
Classical Album of the Year: Small Ensemble: Kevin Lau: Kimiko’s Pearl Mariko Anraku, Conrad Chow, Ron Korb, Rachel Mercer
Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble: Benedict Sheehan: Ukrainian War Requiem Axios Men’s Ensemble, The Tenors and Basses of Pro Coro Canada, Michael Zaugg, John Tessier
Jazz Album of the Year: Solo: Crossing Paths Renee Rosnes
Jazz Album of the Year: Group: East Meets West: Connections Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
Vocal Jazz Album of the Year: Get Out of Town Laura Anglade
Instrumental Album of the Year: LOTUSLAND Aaron Paris
Blues Album of the Year: Hear My Heart Steve Marriner
Traditional Roots Album of the Year: Heal The Divide Morgan Toney
Contemporary Roots Album of the Year: Strange Trip Ahead Mariel Buckley
Country Album of the Year: The Hard Way Cameron Whitcomb
Adult Alternative Album of the Year: My Second Last Album Bahamas, Fantasy Life Begonia
Alternative Album of the Year: Edge Of The Earth Aysanabee
Rock Album of the Year (Presented by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments): No Hard Feelings The Beaches
Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year: Shadow Work Despised Icon
Adult Contemporary Album of the Year: Better Broken Sarah McLachlan
Pop Album of the Year (Presented by Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0): So Close To What Tate McRae
Dance Recording of the Year: Bet On Me Debby Friday
Underground Dance Single of the Year: “Phantom Vibrations (feat. Teddy Bryant)” Gene Tellem
Electronic Album of the Year (Presented by Nissan): Shades of Meridian ÈBONY
Rap Single of the Year: “Who’s Driving You?” TOBi, Saukrates, Jully Black
Rap Album/EP of the Year (Presented by My Singing Monsters): DRY CRY SadBoi
Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year: Say Yes Melanie Fiona
Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year: Son Of Spergy Daniel Caesar
Reggae Recording of the Year: Welcome To Paradise Naomi Cowan
Children’s Album of the Year: Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro “Rhyme Travellers – Back to the Time Machine” Young Maestro
Comedy Album of the Year (Presented by SiriusXM Canada): Dragonflies Adam Christie
Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year: On The Move Bear Creek
Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year (Presented by Destination Indigenous): Aysanabee
Francophone Album of the Year: Journal d’un Loup-Garou Lou-Adriane Cassidy
Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Jubilate Ryan Ofei
Global Music Album of the Year: Ghoyoum Kazdoura
South Asian Music Recording of the Year: P-POP CULTURE Karan Aujla Ikky
Album Artwork of the Year: Tsunami Sea (Spiritbox) Kevin Moore Kyle Joinson
Music Video of the Year (Presented by City of Hamilton): luther Karena Evans
Jack Richardson Producer of the Year (Presented by Audio-Technica): Henry “Cirkut” Walter
Recording Engineer of the Year: Shawn Everett
Classical Composition of the Year: “Cloud Path” Amy Brandon
Songwriter of the Year: Daniel Caesar
Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer) (Presented by SOCAN): Tobias Jesso Jr.
Latin Music Recording of the Year: Índole Alex Cuba
Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award (Presented by Slaight Music): Vinny Cinquemani, Sandy Pandya, Alexander Mair
Humanitarian Award: Billy Talent
International Achievement Award: Daniel Caesar
Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Nelly Furtado
Lifetime Achievement Award (Presented by the National Arts Centre): Joni Mitchell
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