Legendary Songwriter and Cultural Icon Joni Mitchell to Receive the Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by your National Arts Centre, and 10-time JUNO Award winner Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at The 2026 JUNO Awards, Live on CBC and CBC Gem
Tickets to Canada’s Biggest Night in Music go on sale to the public Friday, November 28 at 10 a.m. ET
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HAMILTON, ON, November 24, 2025 — The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CBC today announced an exciting lineup of honourees and performers for The 55th Annual JUNO Awards, set to take place Sunday, March 29, 2026, live from TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, and nationwide on CBC and CBC Gem.
This year’s celebration will honour Joni Mitchell, one of the most influential songwriters and voices of her generation, with the Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by your National Arts Centre. The distinction recognizes her outstanding artistic contributions and enduring impact on global music culture. Mitchell, a four-time JUNO Award winner and Companion of the Order of Canada, will be celebrated for her trailblazing artistry that has inspired generations of creators across genres.
In an unforgettable moment, 10-time JUNO Award winner Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of Canada’s most celebrated icons. With over 35 million albums sold worldwide and multiple JUNO, GRAMMY, and Latin GRAMMY Awards to her name, Furtado’s genre-defying career continues to shape the global pop landscape.
“Hamilton has always been a city that lives and breathes music,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO of CARAS/JUNO Awards, CEO of MusiCounts. “To return here with an incredible lineup that includes Joni Mitchell and Nelly Furtado – two of Canada’s most influential artists – is a fitting way to celebrate our country’s rich musical legacy.”
The 2026 JUNO Awards Broadcast will also feature electrifying live performances by nine-time JUNO Award winners and Hamilton hometown legends, Arkells and 5-time JUNO Winners, including Group of The Year at The 2025 JUNO Awards, The Beaches, two bands who exemplify the creativity and talent of Canadian music today.
MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS/The JUNO Awards, will be celebrating The 55th Annual JUNO Awards and amplifying the impact of Canada’s Biggest Night in Music through the MusiCounts Industry Exchange program, which will bring together 10 educators and 10 emerging artists from the Hamilton area for a one-of-a-kind experience combining community-building, celebrating Canadian music, and hands-on music industry learning.
The 55th Annual JUNO Awards, produced by Insight Productions (A Blue Ant Studios Company), will air live across Canada at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and stream globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and on CBC Music’s YouTube channel.
Tickets to Canada’s Biggest Night in Music go on sale Friday, November 28 at 10 a.m. ET at ticketmaster.ca/junos.
Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by your National Arts Centre Recipient
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, the beloved Canadian singer-songwriter, has profoundly impacted folk, rock, pop and jazz music through her distinctive voice, innovative guitar playing, and a unique ability to craft poetic and thought-provoking lyrics.
Her prolific recording career began in 1968, resulting in a remarkable 19 studio albums and six live records. She is celebrated for her ability to seamlessly blend folk, jazz, and rock influences to create an instantly recognizable sound that is both timely and timeless. Her classic songs like “Big Yellow Taxi,” “A Case of You,” “Help Me,” and “Both Sides, Now,” continue to strike a chord with listeners. Beyond her musical talents, Mitchell is also a gifted painter, having said she considers herself a “painter derailed by circumstance,” and her artwork often graces her album covers, underscoring her boundless creativity.
For nearly six decades, Mitchell’s extensive contributions to music have earned her numerous accolades. She is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (1997), a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (1981), a laureate of the Polaris Music Prize (1996), and a recipient of both the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize (2023) as well as Kennedy Center Honors (2021). Rolling Stone ranks her among the greatest songwriters, singers, and guitarists of all time.
Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductee
Nelly Furtado (Photo Credit: Valentin Herfray)
With over 20 billion streams, 35 million albums sold worldwide, and multiple #1 hit singles, Nelly Furtado is an undisputed icon whose innovative songwriting shaped an era and transformed pop music. Her unique “Nelly sound” has earned her Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, 10 JUNO Awards, Multi-Platinum certifications, and millions of fans around the world. Effortlessly maintaining her place at the forefront of culture, the multi-talented musician and songwriter has landed three #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, five within the top ten, has charted #1 on the US Latin Billboard chart, and has sold-out arenas around the world.
In 2024, Nelly Furtado released her highly anticipated album 7, which she wrote and co-produced. The collection of celebratory and liberated pop music received praise and anticipation for the album from Rolling Stone, Billboard, The New York Times, Zane Lowe, Vogue Italy, NME, Complex, Vulture, PAPER Magazine, Grammy.com, Zach Sang, MTV, Stereogum, Wonderland, The Line of Best Fit, and publications around the world. Inspired by an “inner revolution”, Nelly Furtado is an artist thriving in her purpose, continuing her legacy of elevating pop music.
To further celebrate her impact, a new temporary exhibition will open in the spring of 2026 at the National Music Centre in Calgary, the physical home of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Stay tuned for more details.
2026 JUNO Awards Performers
Arkells
Whether they’re rocking stadiums, making a beeline for the discotheque, or gathering around the campfire, the implicit message of Arkells is always the same: everyone is welcome here. Since the beginning, Arkells have never wavered in their mission to be the house band that soundtracks the greatest nights of your life and provides emotional support in your darkest hours. And that communal spirit is reflected in an ever-evolving sound that hits all the perennial pleasure points – fusing the anthemic power of alt-rock, the pulpit-shaking passion of vintage soul, the off-the-cuff intimacy of singer-songwriter music, the urbane edge of 21st-century indie, and the futurist aesthetics of modern R&B.
Thanks to that eclectic ethos, Arkells have continued to evolve, while making everyone feel right at home. As one of the most heavily rotated acts on radio, and all-time record holders of the JUNO Award for “Group of the Year,” Arkells have extended their reach beyond borders by infiltrating all corners of pop culture; from global sports telecasts and top-tier video games to the stages of Coachella and Bonnaroo. But the band’s longevity is ultimately a function of their commitment to never coasting on past glories and to always live completely in the moment.
The Beaches
The Beaches are doing everything their way. After more than a decade together as a band, sisters Jordan Miller (lead vocals, bass) and Kylie Miller (guitar), plus closest friends Leandra Earl (guitar and keys) and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums), are entering a new era. On the new album “Blame My Ex,” the 5x Juno Award-winning Toronto band channels heartbreak into self-discovery through 10 exuberant songs that revel in pain and redemption. The lead single, “Blame Brett,” an acerbic pop-rock knockout Jordan calls “a song for all the hot messes out there,” has racked up over 100 million streams and over 10 million views on TikTok. The track peaked at #2 on a US Viral chart, #20 at Alternative Radio in the US and #1 at Alt Radio in Canada for 13 consecutive weeks, making it the biggest alternative radio hit of the year. Mark Hoppus (blink182), Nelly Furtado, and Demi Lovato are all fans of the track.
Their new album No Hard Feelings sees The Beaches at their most fine-tuned and brightest. From the bold and bright anthemic riffs of “Touch Myself” to the indie melancholy of “Lesbian of the Year,” the album is set to solidify the group as one of the driving forces of alt-rock today. Exploring the highs of nights out and lows of losing someone you love, No Hard Feelings is rife with the band’s signature witty lyricism, grungey tones, and unapologetic boldness.
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Web Links:
Official JUNO Awards website: www.junoawards.ca
Official Joni Mitchell website: www.jonimitchell.com
Official Nelly Furtado website: www.nellyfurtado.com
Official Arkells website: www.arkellsmusic.com
Official The Beaches website: www.thebeachesband.com
The National Music Centre, physical home of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame: https://studiobell.ca/
Canadian Music Hall of Fame website: http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca
Social Media:
Instagram: @TheJUNOAwards / X: @TheJUNOAwards / Facebook: @TheJUNOAwards / TikTok: TheJUNOAwards / Hashtag: #JUNOS
Instagram: @jonimitchell / X: @jonimitchell / Facebook: JoniMitchell
Instagram: @NellyFurtado / X: @NellyFurtado / Facebook: Nelly Furtado / TikTok: @nellyfurtadoofficial
Instagram: @Arkellsmusic / X: @arkellsmusic / Facebook: Arkells / TikTok: @arkellsmusic
Instagram: @thebeachesband / X: @thebeaches / Facebook: The Beaches / TikTok: @thebeachesband
Exclusive Broadcast and Content Partner: 
CARAS acknowledges the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
Premier Sponsor: TD Bank Group
Lead Sponsors: Skip, SiriusXM Canada, and Nissan Canada
Funding Partners: Music Canada, Province of Ontario, City of Hamilton, Tourism Hamilton, and Canadian Starmarker Fund
About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and promote higher artistic and industry standards. CARAS’ mandate is comprised of four key pillars: Educate through our music education charity, MusiCounts, programs and initiatives; Develop emerging artists through mentorship and development programs; Celebrate Canadian artists with year-round JUNO Awards showcasing; and Honour music industry icons through the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The 55th annual JUNO Awards Broadcast will take place in Hamilton at TD Coliseum on Sunday, March 29, 2026. For more information on the JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), please visit www.junoawards.ca.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About CBC Music
CBC Music is the leading curator of emerging and diverse Canadian music talent across platforms, playing the most Canadian artists and genres on radio, CBC Listen and cbcmusic.ca. We prioritize Canadian artists in a wide variety of genres on over 200 playlists available on CBC Listen, and publish daily national music coverage. CBC Music Live features live music recordings from across the country. Our music partnerships and events include The JUNO Awards, the Polaris Music Prize, CBC Music Presents: Live at Massey Hall and The Canadian Music Class Challenge.
About Insight Productions (A Blue Ant Studios Company)
Insight Productions, known for its award-winning ratings juggernauts, is Canada’s most established content producer and an industry leader in the development, financing, and production of hit programming. Insight Senior Vice President Lindsay Cox serves as Executive Producer – alongside Insight’s Chair, CEO, and Executive Producer John Brunton, on The 2026 JUNO Awards. The company has created some of the most dynamic and top-rated programs including 12 seasons of Big Brother Canada – the most watched reality program across specialty channels in Canada and hit programs including The Amazing Race Canada, the most watched Canadian series on record; original formats Battle of the Blades and The Launch; Top Chef Canada; Stronger Together/Tous Ensemble (the largest multi-platform broadcast and highest viewed non-sporting broadcast in Canadian television history); The JUNO Awards, Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown; and The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration, a live concert special on CBC watched by one in three Canadians. Recent collaborations include a strategic production partnership with Groupe Fair-Play to develop and produce English and French-language programming, The Legacy Awards with The Black Academy and Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Insight Productions was founded in 1979 and has since created thousands of hours of ground-breaking content. For more information, please visit InsightTV.com, @insightprod on X, and Facebook.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
About The Canadian Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame was established in 1978 and recognizes Canadian artists that have attained commercial success while having a positive impact on the Canadian music scene here at home and around the world. Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary, is the physical home to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame collection. NMC works closely with the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) to collect and exhibit items within the collection. As the governing body for the Hall of Fame, CARAS makes annual inductions in the artist, industry, and humanitarian categories each year at the JUNO Awards. For more information, please visit canadianmusichalloffame.ca
Media Contacts:
JUNOS: Amandine Lucas, [email protected]
CBC: Teaghan Hawke, [email protected]