The Juno Awards are one of the more underrated music awards shows on the planet. The talent that fills the room is enormous. Sure, the ceremony is Canadian-centric, but that is to be expected and not to be dismissed.
One of the best artists ever, of course, is rock icons Rush. While they weren't up for any awards, they did perform. They made their 2026 live debut with new drummer Anika Nilles by performing "Finding My Way" (the opening track on the band's debut album).
Comedian Mae Martin hosted the awards and was charming and funny. At one point, she suggested her "parents" were in the audience, and the camera panned to Prime Minister Mark Carney sitting next to Joni Mitchell. Not Martin's parents, but a humorous moment nonetheless.
2026 Juno Awards: Who won and what happened
Besides Rush's epic performance, Beaches, which won for Group of the Year and is one of the more underrated rock bands you will find, did an acoustic (with strings) version of "Lesbian of the Year," and that was as great as you might hope it would be.
The ceremony also produced extended tributes to Joni Mitchell and Nelly Furtado. Mitchell's included an all-star cast that was fun, but realistic.
Juno Awards 2026 winners:
- Single of the Year - Tate McRae, "Sports Car"
- Album of the Year - Tate McRae, So Close to What
- Breakthrough Arist - Cameron Whitcomb
- Artist of the Year - Tate McRae
- Group of the Year - The Beaches
- Classical Album of the Year (solo artist) - Jan Lisicki Deutsche, Preludes by Chopin, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Messiaen, Gorecki
- Classical Album of the Year (large ensemble) - Axios Men’s Ensemble, The Tenors and Basses of Pro Coro Canada conducted by/dirigé par Michael Zaugg featuring John Tessier and Yuliia Zasimova, Benedict Sheehan, Ukrainian War Requiem
- Jazz Album of the Year (solo) - Renee Rosnes, Crossing Paths
- Jazz Album of the Year (group) - Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, East Meets West: Connections
- Vocal Jazz Album of the Year - Laura Anglade, Get Out of Town
- Instrumental Album of the Year - Aaron Paris, Lotusland
- Blues Album of the Year - Steve Marriner, Hear My Heart
- Contemporary Roots Album of the Year - Mariel Buckley, Strange Trip Ahead
- Country Album of the Year - Cameron Whitcomb, The Hard Way
- Adult Alternative Album of the Year (tie) - Barchords, My Second Last Album and Birthday Cake, Fantasy Life
- Alternative Album of the Year - Aysanabee, Edge of the Earth
- Rock Album of the Year - The Beaches, No Hard Feelings
- Metal/Hard rock Album of the Year - DESPISED ICON, Shadow Work
- Adult Contemporary Album of the Year - Sarah McLachlan, Better Broken
- Pop Album of the Year - Tate McRae, So Close to What
- Dance Recording of the Year - Debby Friday, "Bet on Me"
- Underground Dance Single of the Year - Gene Tellem, "Phantom Vibrations feat. Teddy Bryant"
- Electronic Album of the Year - EBONY, Shades of Meridian
- Rap Single of the Year - TOBi, Saukrates & Jully, "Who's Driving You?"
- Rap Album/EP of the Year - SadBoi, DRY CRY
- Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year - Melanie Fiona, "Say Yes"
- Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year - Daniel Caesar, "Son of Spergy"
- Reggae Recording of the Year - Naomi Cowan, "Welcome to Paradise"
- Children's Album of the Year - Young Maestro, Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro "Rhyme Travelers - Back to the Time Machine"
- Comedy Album of the Year - Adam Christie, Dragonflies
- Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year - Bear Creek
- Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year - Aysanabee
- Francophone Album of the Year - Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Journal d'un Loup-Garou
- Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year - Ryan Ofei, Jubilate
- Global Music Album of the Year - Kazdoura, Ghoyoum
- South Asian Music Recording of the Year - Karan Aujla & Ikky Warner, "P-pop Culture"
- Album Artwork of the Year - Kevin Moore (art director) and Kyle Johnson (photographer) for Spiritbox's Tsunami Sea
- Music Video of the Tear - Kendrick Lamar & SZA, "luther"
- Jack Richardson Producer of the Year - Cirkut
- Recording Engineer of the Year - Shawn Everett
- Classical Composition of the Year - Amy Brandon, "Cloud Path"
- Songwriter of the Year - Ashton Simmonds (Daniel Caesar)
- Songwriter of the Year (non-performer) - Tobias Jesso Jr.
- Latin Music Recording of the Year - Alex Cuba, "Indole"
- Juno Fan Choice - bbno$