Joni Mitchell and Nelly Furtado are set to receive prestigious honors at the upcoming 55th Juno Awards scheduled for March in Hamilton. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CBC revealed that Mitchell will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Arts Centre, while Furtado will be formally inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the 2026 Juno Awards hosted at Hamilton’s newly inaugurated TD Coliseum.
Mitchell, a four-time Juno recipient, is being acknowledged for her groundbreaking career spanning decades and her profound influence on global music culture. She was previously inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981. On the other hand, Furtado’s induction recognizes her chart-topping achievements, multiple Juno, Grammy, and Latin Grammy wins, and her significant impact on the pop music scene since the early 2000s. She joins a roster of recent inductees including Sum 41, Maestro Fresh Wes, Nickelback, Deborah Cox, and Jann Arden.
The Juno Awards are making a comeback to Hamilton after ten years, with hometown favorites Arkells headlining the event. The Beaches, a Toronto-based band, are also slated to perform. Both bands have been consistent winners at the Junos, with Arkells securing nine wins, including six for Group of the Year since 2010, and The Beaches sweeping all five nominations they’ve received since 2018.
Allan Reid, the president, and CEO of CARAS, expressed excitement about the return of the Junos to Hamilton, emphasizing the city’s deep-rooted music culture. The lineup featuring Joni Mitchell and Nelly Furtado, two influential Canadian artists, is a fitting tribute to the country’s rich musical heritage.
Additionally, it was announced that the Junos and MusiCounts will collaborate on a special industry exchange initiative, connecting ten music educators with ten local musicians from Hamilton for community-building and hands-on learning opportunities. The 2026 Juno Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 29 at 8 p.m. ET in Hamilton at the TD Coliseum. Ticket sales start on November 28 at 10 a.m. ET, with an early-access pre-sale code (CBCMUSIC) available on November 27 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased here.
