Following Paul McCartney’s successful concert at TD Coliseum on Friday night, Hamilton is gearing up to host another significant music event.
The 2026 Juno Awards are set to take place at the recently renovated stadium on March 29, as announced by industry leaders and elected officials on Monday.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Mayor Andrea Horwath expressed her excitement, stating, “When the rest of Canada tunes in, they’re going to see a Hamilton that’s dynamic, creative, and fully prepared for the spotlight.”
Accompanied by elected chiefs Sherri-Lynn Hill of the Six Nations of the Grand River and Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Mayor Horwath emphasized their eagerness to highlight Indigenous culture at the national awards show.
Sault expressed, “As we prepare for this significant celebration, we look forward to seeing Indigenous artists, youth, and communities represented on national platforms.”
“Their voices influence Canada’s music scene, and their contributions deserve to be recognized with pride,” she added.
Recognition for Music Icons
Joni Mitchell, a four-time Juno winner and described as “one of the most influential songwriters and voices of her generation,” will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Junos.
Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame for her chart-topping pop hits, earning her 10 Juno awards and multiple Grammys and Latin Grammys over the years.
Performers for the event will include Hamilton’s Arkells and Toronto band The Beaches.
Arkells, with nine Juno wins (including six for group of the year) since 2010, and The Beaches, winning all five awards they’ve been nominated for since 2018, are set to grace the event.
Speaking at the press conference, Tim Potocic, the owner of Hamilton’s Sonic Unyon Records, highlighted the Junos as a “significant” opportunity for the city and its music scene.
“Hamilton’s presence will be prominent on the national broadcast and across social media,” he noted. “People nationwide will be reminded of Hamilton’s exceptional talent.”
This marks the seventh time that Hamilton will host the Juno Awards.
The provincial government also announced a funding of $1.5 million for the event and other Juno-related activities running from March 26 to 29.
Tickets for the awards show and associated events will be available for purchase starting at 10 a.m. ET on November 28. The broadcast will be aired by CBC.
The events leading up to and following the Junos include:
March 26
- Juno Comedy Show at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Music Hall, 24 Main St. W.
- Juno Kickoff Concert at 8 p.m. at the Music Hall.
March 27:
- Juno Songwriters’ Circle at 8 p.m. at FirstOntario Concert Hall, 1 Summers Ln.
- JunoFest Day 1