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Coming off the success of Paul McCartney playing the first concert at TD Coliseum Friday night, Hamilton is getting ready to host another major music event.
The 2026 Juno Awards will take place at the newly renovated stadium March 29, industry leaders and elected officials announced Monday.
“When the rest of Canada tunes in, they’re going to see a Hamilton that’s dynamic, creative and absolutely ready for the spotlight,” Mayor Andrea Horwath told the cheering crowd.
She was joined 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. They said they were excited to showcase Indigenous culture at the national awards show.
“As we prepare for this landmark celebration, we are excited to see Indigenous artists, youth and communities represented on national stages,” said Sault.
“Their voices shape Canada’s music landscape and their contributions deserve to be celebrated loudly and proudly.”
Music legend to be honoured
Joni Mitchell — a four-time Juno winner and “one of the most influential songwriters and voices of her generation” — will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, a Junos news release said Monday.
Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. For her chart-topping pop songs, she’s won 10 Junos and numerous Grammys and Latin Grammys over the years.
Hamilton’s Arkells and Toronto band The Beaches were announced as performers.
Arkells have won nine Junos (six for group of the year) since 2010 and The Beaches have won all five awards they’ve been nominated for since 2018.
Tim Potocic, owner of Hamilton’s Sonic Unyon Records, said at the news conference the Junos will be a “huge” opportunity for the city and music scene.
“Hamilton’s going to be all over the national broadcast, all over social media,” he said. “People across the country are going to get reminded that Hamilton produces the best talent.”
This is the seventh time the Junos will take place in Hamilton.
The province also announced it is providing $1.5 million in funding for the show itself and other Junos events running from March 26 to 29.
Tickets will go on sale Nov. 28 at 10 a.m. ET. The show will be broadcast by CBC, which will also host related events.
