The 2026 Nominees list has been announced and as always, the strong support of Canadian Indie Artists is outstanding.
2026 JUNO Award Independent Nominees: TD JUNO FAN CHOICE bbno$ – Independent*Broke/CMG Shubh – Independent
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADIO BROADCASTERS Goldie Boutilier – Independent Jutes – Position Music Noeline Hofmann – La Honda*The Orchard Saya Gray – Dirty Hit*Virgin Sofia Camara – 21 Entertainment*Universal
ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA bbno$ – Independent*Broke/CMG
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO ARTIST) Zaytoun – Haitham Haidar – Athene*Naxos Awake and Dreaming – Katherine Dowling – Independent*Leaf/Naxos Obsession – Marie Nadeau-Tremblay – ATMA*Universal
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SMALL ENSEMBLE) Current: MISSING ATOM – Artists of the Opera MISSING, Timothy Long & The Continuum Ensemble – Bright Shiny Things Re/String – CC Duo & colletif9 – Leaf*Naxos Vivaldi Les Quatres Nations (reconstruites) – Ensemble Caprice – ATMA*Naxos/Believe Kevin Lau: Kimiko’s Pearl – Mariko Anraku, Conrad Chow, Ron Korb & Rachel Mercer – Independent in an archipelago – Standing Wave – Independent
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (LARGE ENSEMBLE) | ALBUM CLASSIQUE DE L’ANNÉE (GRAND ENSEMBLE) Benedict Sheehan: Ukrainian War Requiem – Axios Men’s Ensemble, The Tenors and Basses of Pro Coro Canada – Cappella*Naxos Where Waters Meet – Canadian Chamber Choir featuring Sherryl Sewepagaham – Independent Ichmouratov: The Ninth Wave, Viola Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1 – Les Violons du Roy – ATMA*Universal Haydn: Symphony No. 43 “Mercury” & Symphony No. 49 “La passione” – Tafelmusik – Independent Stravinsky: Pulcinella, Le Baiser de la fée (Divertimento) – Toronto Symphony Orchestra – Harmonia Mundi
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO) City Lights – Anthony D’Alessandro – Independent Kinda Out West – Aretha Tillotson – Bent River*Independent Immersed – Justin Gray – IAN Records*Virgin Deeper Down – Nancy Walker – Independent Crossing Paths – Renee Rosnes – Smoke Sessions*The Orchard
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (GROUP) Afrokando – Alexis Baro Y la Big Band – G-THREE*Kycker CODE Red – CODE Quartet – Justin Time*Nettwerk/F.A.B Are You Really Real – Shuffle Demons – Alma*Universal Impact – The Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet – Independent East Meets West: Connections – Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra – Chronograph
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR Under the Lemon Tree – Ale Nuñez – Independent Alex Samaras Meets Judy Garland – Alex Samaras – Independent Seascape feat. Norma Winstone & Joe LaBarbera – Atlantic Jazz Collective – Alma*Universal Caity Gyorgy with Strings – Caity Gyorgy & Mark Limacher – La Reserve*The Orchard Get Out of Town – Laura Anglade – Justin Time*Nettwerk/F.A.B
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR LOTUSLAND – Aaron Paris – Independent*Too Lost The love it took to leave you – Colin Stetson – Envision*Believe Le piano et le torrent – Viviane Audet – LABE*The Orchard/Sony
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR Sing Pretty Blues – Crystal Shawanda – New Sun*Independent Ooh Yeah! – Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – Stony Plain*IDLA The Medicine – Miss Emily – Gypsy Soul*FUGA Answer the Call – Secondhand Dreamcar – Independent Hear My Heart – Steven Marriner – Cordova Bay*Fontana North/Symphonic
TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR I Lost My Heart On Friday – Aerialists – Independent Gold and Coal – Cassie and Maggie – Independent The Moon’s Daughter – Heather MacIsaac – Independent Heal The Divide – Morgan Toney – Ishkōdé*Universal Folk Signals – The Southern Residents – Independent
CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR Strange Trip Ahead – Mariel Buckley – Birthday Cake*Secretly Distribution The Hammer & The Rose – Matt Andersen – Sonic*Warner Purple Gas – Noeline Hofmann – La Honda*The Orchard These Dark Canyons – The Young Novelists – Independent Further From the Country – William Prince – Six Shooter*The Orchard
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR Let Your Horses Run – Brett Kissel – Big Star*Universal Later Tonight – Josh Ross – Core Entertainment*Universal Golden Child – Meghan Patrick – Riser House*The Orchard
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR My Second Last Album – Bahamas – Barchords*Universal Fantasy Life – Begonia – Birthday Cake*Secretly Distribution Uh Oh – Patrick Watson – Secret City*F.A.B. Let it Hiss – The Barr Brothers – Secret City*F.A.B. Humanhood – The Weather Station – Next Door*Outside
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR Edge Of The Earth – Aysanabee – Ishkōdé*Universal SAYA – Saya Gray – Dirty Hit*Virgin SORRY, IT’S OVER – The OBGMs – BURN INDUSTRY*The Orchard All Cylinders – Yves Jarvis – Next Door*Outside
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY LONG & MCQUADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Roll With The Punches – Bryan Adams – Bad Records*Platoon/Y.E.S INERTIA – grandson – XX*Create Music Metro – The Blue Stones – New Weapon*The Orchard The Damn Truth – The Damn Truth – Spectra*The Orchard
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR Heaven Let Them Die – Counterparts – Pure Noise*The Orchard An Insatiable Violence – Cryptopsy – Season of Mist*The Orchard Shadow Work – DESPISED ICON – Nuclear Blast*Believe/ADA Antibloom – Silverstein – UNFD*FUGA A Pathway to the Moon – Unreqvited – Independent*Believe/SPKR
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR NU2U – Nuela Charles – Independent*AWAL Conditions of Love Vol. 1 – Rose Cousins – Nettwerk*F.A.B. Better Broken – Sarah McLachlan – Concord*Universal Rebuild – Shawn Hook – Infinity*Vydia/Independent Believer – Sister Ray – Royal Mountain*Universal
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR PRESENTED PERONI NASTRO AZZURRO 0.0 bbno$ – bbno$ – Independent*Broke/CMG 7 – Nelly Furtado – Nelstar/21 Entertainment*Universal DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR Bet On Me – Debby Friday – Royal Mountain*Universal i, sabotage – Felix Cartal – Physical Presents*Fontana North
UNDERGROUND DANCE SINGLE OF THE YEAR Cosmic Affliction (toi toi toi) – AADJA – BPitch Control*Believe/The Orchard Main de Fer – Annie-Claude Deschênes – Bonsound*Redeye Icarus – F7 Acting – Press*Independent Phantom Vibrations feat. Teddy Bryant – Gene Tellem – Love Injection*!K7 Yeah! – Pacific Coliseum – Rhythm Section*!K7 ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY NISSAN Channel 303 – Cloverdale – VIBRANCY*LabelWorx The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life – Debby Friday – Royal Mountain*Universal Bab El Mdina – Didon – Electrofone*Independent Shades of Meridian – ÈBONY – Turbo*!K7 Glow Up – Korea Town Acid – Groovy Lab*Independent
RAP SINGLE OF THE YEAR Mula feat. Big Sean – Connor Price – Independent PURSUIT – Freddie Dredd – Doomshop/RCA*Sony DUMB – SonReal & Snotty Nose Rez Kids – 1851*Independent/GroupSpeed RAP ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPARROW – ARDN – Amuseio About Time – Connor Price – Independent Misery Loves Company – NorthSideBenji – NRTHRN RECORDS*Virgin DRY CRY – SadBoi – LVRN*The Orchard
TRADITIONAL R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR Say Yes – Melanie Fiona – PUBLIC/COLTURE*Stem Formed – Savannah Ré – Matrimony*ADA Reasons To Stay – Tanika Charles – Unique Applause/Record Kicks*Secretly Distribution/Symphonic
CONTEMPORARY R&B RECORDING OF THE YEAR THERAPIST – SadBoi – LVRN*The Orchard Set Me Free – Adria Kain – ArtHaus/Circle of 5ths*APG
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR Ready For You – Exco Levi & Kheilstone – Kheilstone*ONErpm Dagga Riddim Cypher – Jojo You Made That, Yung 2nuff, Erin B, Topman Meeko, One Don & Enzooo – Independent Deh Yah – Kirk Diamond – Independent Welcome To Paradise – Naomi Cowan – Dreamspace/7th C*ADA More Reggae (Funk It Up) – Samora & Ammoye – Staudenmann*Hapilos
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR Ari Cui Cui et les jeux d’rôles – Ari Cui Cui – Independent Little Leaf – Chris McKhool – Independent*Fontana North All the Earth Speaks – Ginalina – Independent Hip Kids Music, Vol. 1 – Hip Kids Music – Independent Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro – Young Maestro – Independent
COMEDY ALBUM OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA Dragonflies – Adam Christie – Independent Fish From the Jar – Charlie Demers – Comedy Here Often?*Warner Dawud – Dave Merheje – Independent homesick. – Faris Hytiaa – Independent I’m Nervous – Robby Hoffman – Counterfeit Sounds
TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR Battle At The Beach – Bad Eagle – Hidden Lake*Independent On The Move – Bear Creek – Hidden Lake*Independent Me & You – Manitou Mkwa Singers – Silverheels*Independent Anirniliit Suli Piunguałaq – Qamaniq*Independent Nakota Tayhunyabi – YB Nakota – Independent
CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY DESTINATION INDIGENOUS Edge Of The Earth – Aysanabee – Ishkōdé*Universal LOVECHILD – Sebastian Gaskin – Ishkōdé*Universal Chapter 1 – Shawnee Kish – Independent*Symphonic Siibii – Siibii – Ishkōdé*Universal
FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR On s’enverra des fleurs – Fredz – Les Disques Nova*Believe Les amours de seconde main – JF Pauzé – La Tribu*Believe/Propagande Journal d’un Loup-Garou – Lou-Adriane Cassidy – Bravo*Believe/F.A.B Dix chansons démodées pour ceux qui ont le cœur abîmé – Pierre Lapointe – Audiogram*The Orchard/Sony
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR Outlaw Gospel – collect.assembly – Independent the light that leads to YOU – Elenee – Independent*Wings Music Jubilate – Ryan Ofei – Independent*Believe
GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR Bab El Mdina – Didon – Electrofone*Independent Ghoyoum – Kazdoura – Independent Future Village – Kizaba – Nuits D’Afrique*Independent/Believe Legends – PIQSIQ – Independent Rammana – Salin – Independent*AWAL
ALBUM ARTWORK OF THE YEAR Bambini Symphonique – Mykael Nelson, Nicolas Lemieux, Liliane Jodoin & Felipe Arriagada – GSI
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR OK! – Haviah Mighty – Independent*Foundation Media Listen2me – Foxwarren – Arts & Crafts*Universal
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY AUDIO-TECHNICA Joel Stouffer “BODY” BODY – Shawn Desman & Jamie Fine – Wax*Universal “How to Sing for Money” – co-producer/co-producteur Corey LeRue HOW TO SING FOR MONEY – Maggie Andrew – Independent*Warner “Lie” – co-producer/co-producteur Shawn Hook Rebuild – Shawn Hook – Infinity*Universal “Revelation” – co-producer/co-producteur The Knocks Revelation – The Knocks & Dragonette – Neon Gold*Virgin “Talk About Me” Talk About Me – Tedy – Sony “Anyways How You Been?” Was I(t) Worth It? – Sofia Camara – 21 Entertainment*Universal
Karen Kosowski “Feels Like Christmas” Feels Like Christmas – Mickey Guyton – MCA Nashville*Universal “Sugar Cookie” Feels Like Christmas – Mickey Guyton – MCA Nashville*Universal “Blood From a Stone” Golden Child – Meghan Patrick – Riser House*The Orchard “Stoned Alone feat. Caitlyn Smith” Golden Child – Meghan Patrick – Riser House*The Orchard “Jessica, Jezebel” Jessica, Jezebel – Meghan Patrick – Riser House*The Orchard “You Don’t Know Me At All” You Don’t Know Me At All – Mickey Guyton – Capitol Nashville*Universal
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Jason Dufour “Home (Phillip’s Version)” Home (Phillip’s Version) – Phillip Phillips – Independent “Blue Sky Mystery feat. Filter” Last Night on Earth – Finger Eleven – Better Noise John ‘Beetle’ Bailey “All I See feat. CUBE” All I See – Molly Johnson – Universal “Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em” Crashbox – Monkey House – Alma*Universal L Stu Young “..THUS IS WHY ( I DON’T SPRING FOR LOVE )” SAYA – Saya Gray – Dirty Hit*Virgin/Universal “LIE DOWN..” SAYA – Saya Gray – Dirty Hit*Virgin/Universal
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR Cloud Path – Amy Brandon – Leaf*Naxos The Laws of Nature – Andrew Staniland – Leaf*Naxos Kevin Lau: Kimiko’s Pearl – Kevin Lau – Bravo Niagara*Independent Linda Catlin Smith: The Complete Piano Solos (1989–2023) Vol. 1 – The Plains – Linda Catlin Smith – Redshift Music for Body-Without-Organs – Nicole Lizée – ATMA*Universal
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (NON-PERFORMER) PRESENTED BY SOCAN Elizabeth Lowell Boland Publisher – Artist Publishing Group West / Kobalt Music Services “World’s Smallest Violin” – co-songwriters Amanda Ava Koci, Arthur Remond, Hamid Bashir, Kyle Buckley & LOLO Don’t Click Play – Ava Max – Atlantic*Warner “Girls Like You” – co-songwriters Donny Bravo, Michael Wise, Nathan Ferraro & Sofia Camara Hard To Love – Sofia Camara – 21 Entertainment*Universal “Too Pretty For Buffalo” – co-songwriters Gus Van Go & Kayleigh O’Connor Too Pretty For Buffalo – Baby Nova – APG*Atlantic Hayley Gene Penner Publisher – Hayl Songs / Downtown Music Publishing “Small Hands feat. Raiche” – co-songwriters Eren Cannata, Jaten Dimsdale, Jett Gitelman & Skyler Stonestreet I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy – Teddy Swims – Warner*Downtown Music “West End Girl” – co-songwriters Alessandro Bruccellati, Blue May & Lily Cooper West End Girl – Lily Allen – BMG “Woman Of Faces” – co-songwriters Jamie Hartman, Celeste, KIDDO & Matt Maltese Woman Of Faces – Celeste – Polydor*Reservoir Nathan Ferraro Publisher – Warner Chappell Music Canada “After You feat. FAANGS” – co-songwriters Mikkel Cox, Christophe Dalla-Ca, David Guetta, FAANGS, Feli Ferraro, Heavy Mellow, Olivier Giacomotto & Tobias Frederiksen After You feat. FAANGS – David Guetta, Kiko & Olivier Giacomotto – Independent “Girls Like You” – co-songwriters Donny Bravo, Michael Wise, Elizabeth Lowell Boland & Sofia Camara Hard To Love – Sofia Camara – Universal “Parking Lot” – co-songwriters Sofia Camara, Elizabeth Lowell Boland & Mike Wise Hard To Love – Sofia Camara – Universal
LATIN MUSIC RECORDING OF THE YEAR Índole – Alex Cuba – Caracol*Fontana North/ONErpm BAILA Y CONFÍA – Andy Rubal – MoonSun*Believe Vanity – Isabella Lovestory – Giant Music La Belleza – Lido Pimienta – ANTI-*Fontana North He Sanado Varias Cosas – Mario Puglia – ABC Music