7 Things You Missed from the JUNO Submissions 101 Webinar
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Now Open: JUNO Awards Submissions Presented by TD
Thinking of submitting your music to the 2026 JUNO Awards? The CARAS Academy Operations team recently hosted their Submissions 101 webinar, breaking down everything from eligibility to deadlines to what’s brand new this year. If you couldn’t make it, here’s your quick catch-up — the top things you need to know before you hit submit.
1. Here’s who’s eligible to submit (and why CARAS has the final say).
To qualify:
Projects must be released between Sept 1, 2024 – Nov 7, 2025.
Projects must be on a nationally accessible streaming service with subscriptions, a full catalogue, or on-demand options.
All nominated artists must be Canadian. CARAS defines Canadian as follows:
⚪ Solo artists must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
⚪ Groups must be comprised of at least 50% or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents
2. The clock is ticking — don’t miss these deadlines.
Submissions Opened: Sept 22, 2025
Early Bird Deadline & Fees: Oct 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT / Oct 4, 2025, at 2:59 AM ET — $55 (Delegates) / $75 (Non-Delegates)
Final Deadline & Fees: Nov 6, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT / Nov 7, 2025, at 2:59 AM ET — $80 (Delegates) / $100 (Non-Delegates)
⚠️ Pre-orders count — If your release is available to consumers by Nov 14, 2025, it is eligible as long as the pre-save link is active and available by Nov 7.
3. What’s new for 2026: Rap eligibility updates and a brand-new Latin category.
Rap Categories: Main rap vocals must be predominantly delivered by Canadian citizens or permanent residents (predominantly defined as 50% or more of the vocal delivery).
Latin Music Recording of the Year: A new crossover category for singles, EPs, or Albums in Latin genres like Salsa, Reggaetón, Latin Pop, Tango, Bossa Nova, or Música Urbana.
⚪ Lyrics must be at least 50% Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, or Indigenous/Afro-Latin dialects.
⚪ Main vocals must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
⚪ Projects can also be submitted to another genre category except Global Music Album of the Year.
4. Becoming a Delegate saves money and gives you a real say on the nominee and winners.
Becoming a CARAS Academy Delegate costs $85/year + tax and comes with big perks:
Save up to 45% on submission fees.
Discounts on JUNO Week tickets & hotels.
Exclusive industry discounts and updates.
Voting power in up to 16 key categories, including Album, Single, Artist, Rap, Rock, and Songwriter of the Year.
5. Some categories need more than just your streaming link — here’s what to prepare.
Depending on your category, you may need extra materials:
Music Video of the Year → YouTube + streaming links.
Producer/Engineer of the Year → WAV files.
Songwriter of the Year → Tracks + lyrics.
Children’s/Christian/Gospel → Past shows/tour info and community engagement statement.
Indigenous Artist of the Year → Indigenous references and Nation/Community description.
Latin, South Asian, Francophone → Lyrics.
Classical Composition → Sheet music.
Album Artwork of the Year → 12 identical physical copies delivered to CARAS by Nov 7, 2025, 5 PM ET, OR animated digital artwork (JPG/PNG or MP4) if submitting for a digital-only project.
Interested in becoming a Judge for the 2026 JUNO Awards? Apply now!
7. Don’t forget: JUNOfest submissions are open too.
Want to perform live during JUNO Week in Hamilton? JUNOfest submissions are open until Dec 19, 2025. It’s your chance to play across the city alongside Canadian talent of every genre. Apply now!
Get More Information or Watch The Webinar Below
For full details, guidelines, and resources, head tojunoawards.ca/submissions. And if you’d like the complete walkthrough, you can also catch the full Submissions 101 webinar, where the CARAS Academy Operations team breaks down every step of the process in detail.
➡️ Ready to submit?
Head to junosubmissions.ca to get started — and don’t wait until the last minute.
