At the recent Juno Awards Gala, Justin Bieber, despite being one of the most nominated artists with six nominations, did not win any awards. Tate McRae, another popular singer, dominated the night by clinching four Junos, including album of the year, artist of the year, single of the year, and pop album of the year.
The 2026 Juno Awards Gala was held on March 28 and was co-hosted by CBC Music’s Damhnait Doyle and Odario Williams. A total of 47 awards were presented, with some remarkable victories and multiple first-time winners.
Although neither Bieber nor McRae attended the gala to witness the results, both are still contenders for the TD Juno Fan Choice award at the upcoming Juno Awards on March 29, where the remaining four awards will be announced.
Toronto’s R&B artist, Daniel Caesar, secured the first award of the night for songwriter of the year, surpassing Bieber, Tate McRae, the Beaches, and Jessie Reyez. Caesar, absent from the gala, is set to grace the Juno Awards stage to accept the International Achievement Award and perform songs from his Juno-winning album, “Son of Spergy.”
Aysanabee emerged victorious in the alternative album of the year and contemporary Indigenous artist of the year categories. During his acceptance speech for the latter, he expressed gratitude to his all-female team and humorously mentioned his intention to step away from future submissions in that category to create room for other Indigenous artists.
Billy Talent was honored with the Humanitarian Award for their charitable work over the past 25 years. The band’s efforts with organizations like War Child and Kids Help Phone, along with fundraising for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, were acknowledged.
The Beaches celebrated their win for rock album of the year with “No Hard Feelings,” expressing gratitude for the Canadian music scene and the overwhelming support received. Sadboi, a Toronto-based hip-hop, R&B, and electronic artist, was awarded the rap album/EP of the year for “Dry Cry.”
Several artists, including Kazdoura, Aaron Paris, and Debby Friday, received their first-ever Juno Awards, marking significant milestones in their careers. Accomplishments in various categories, such as global music album of the year, instrumental album of the year, and dance single of the year, were recognized.
Karena Evans, a Toronto-born filmmaker, won the music video of the year award for her work on “luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Notable wins also included Cameron Whitcomb for country album of the year, Tobias Jesso Jr. for songwriter of the year (non-performer), and Lou-Adriane Cassidy for francophone album of the year.
In a remarkable moment, hip-hop veteran Saukrates secured his first Juno after four nominations spanning 30 years. Tobi, Jully Black, and Saukrates made history with their win for rap single of the year, showcasing the enduring impact of hip-hop in the Canadian music scene.
Maestro Fresh Wes, a legendary figure in Canadian music, triumphed in the children’s album of the year category, marking his return to Juno victory after three decades. Reflecting on his win, Maestro Fresh Wes highlighted the significance of perseverance and Canadian heritage in his enduring musical journey.