JUNOS MOMENTS 2026: Joni, Nelly, a PM, a surprise Rush song and Drake’s feud paused

Hamilton was centre stage at Canada’s Biggest Night in Music for many memorable musical moments. 

On a night that felt like a big celebration of being Canadian, two legends of music were honoured, Rush made a surprise appearance, Prime Minister Mark Carney got a rousing welcome, and Drake paused his longstanding beef with The JUNOS to pay tribute to a friend.

Hamilton was centre stage for it all.

The highlights of the night were tributes to Joni Mitchell, who was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Nelly Furtado, who was inducted in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. 

The night was steered by comedian Mae Martin who began the show by celebrating Canada. “I’ve spent the last month on tour across the United States. So, I’ve never felt more grateful to be back in my homeland. I’m truly so proud,” said Martin. “I feel like I’m with my people, you know. People who care more about which hockey team I support than which gender I am.”

Martin said Canadians aren’t embarrassed to care about each other.

They said they are often described south of the border as an “earnest comedian.”

“I didn’t realize I was earnest until I left Canada. I think I’m just Canadian. I think that’s what they mean.”

When Martin, a Toronto native, said their parents were in the audience, the camera shifted to Carney sitting alongside Joni Mitchell. Martin, who later stood with her real father, said to Mitchell:

“Joni, just being in the same room with you and breathing the same air as you is making me want to cry tears of joy. Thank you, Joni, for everything you have given us.” 

HERE'S A FULL LIST OF THE JUNOS 2026 WINNERS

Drake made a video appearance to induct Furtado into the Hall of Fame, calling it “long overdue.”

He read from a four-minute speech, celebrating Furtado’s creativity and determination.

"I want to say to you, I think we've had this conversation before, but I'd like to say in front of everybody, being a woman in the music industry in any era is something that I have to tip my hat to," he said. "The men in this business do not make it any easier."

The rapper addressed The JUNOS with “I’ll spare you,” pausing a 15-year grudge with the JUNOS to induct Furtado, whom he called a “dear friend.”

In 2011, Drake hosted the 40th edition of the awards show but didn’t win in any of the six categories in which he was nominated. He has not submitted any of his music to the awards since.

He ended his tribute by calling Furtado "our North Star" and "the proof that it was possible.”

The tribute included a medley of Furtado hits, including “Say It Right,” “Powerless (Say What You Want),” “Do It,” “I’m Like a Bird,” and “Promiscuous,” performed by Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Shawn Desman, Tanya Tagaq, Lido Pimienta, and Kardinal Offishall.

“What an honour. Canada’s a dream. I’m literally a product of the Canadian dream,” said an emotional Furtado, who is a native of Victoria. “Canada has always cared about art. Canada has always cared about culture. I’m a product of that.”

Furtado has won 10 JUNOS over a 25-year career and her first – four awards to be exact – were awarded in Hamilton in 2001. 

“Honestly, I’m just really proud to be Canadian. I live in Canada,” she said to cheers from the crowd. “I make my music in Canada and I work with Canadian musicians, songwriters, producers because I totally believe in the Canadian dream. Please believe it, too.”

Toronto’s four-piece rock band The Beaches, performed “Lesbian of the Year” backed by a four-string section during the broadcast. They later made history as the first all-women band to win group of the year three years in a row.

Other standout performances included Hamilton's beloved Arkells, Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year winner Cameron Whitcomb, acclaimed singer-songwriter William Prince, and Daniel Caesar, who won JUNOS for Songwriter of the Year, Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year and was recognized Sunday with an international achievement award. Caesar, whose real name is Ashton Simmonds, sat in the crowd with an acoustic guitar to perform “Who Knows” alongside Mustafa.

Canadian rock band Billy Talent was the recipient of a humanitarian award.

The show closed with a tribute to Mitchell led by Carney as she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. That was a full-circle moment because when Mitchell was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981, it was then prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau who led the tribute. 

“The songs of this prairie girl brought to life beauty in everyday Canadiana,” he said, referencing Mitchell’s early days of an “iconic, prolific and fiercely authentic career that we all celebrate this evening.”

Mitchell, accompanied by a helper and leaning on a cane, took to the podium afterwards to extended standing ovations from the crowd. She shared that having an aneurysm 11 years ago was a “catastrophe” that actually changed her life for the better because she quit smoking and was surrounded by wonderful female nurses after years of being with men on the road.

She had to relearn to sing and has only been seen on stages again in the last few years. 

She said her black dress had the word happy stitched in Chinese all over it.

“So I am happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy to be here,” said the 82-year-old, who stood against a backdrop featuring her own framed art work.

Mitchell repeatedly praised Carney, telling the cheering crowd that “this man is a blessing. You guys are so fortunate.” 

Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell performed a number of Mitchell hits, including “A Case of You,” “Both Sides Now,” and “Big Yellow Taxi,” which Mitchell joined in on, alongside Furtado and all the night’s performers, who were clearly delighted to be there. 

“Thank you, Hamilton!” Mitchell said to close the show. 

Legendary Canadian rock band Rush made an unannounced appearance to open the show. It was the first time the band performed at an awards show since 1978. Singer/bassist Geddy Lee, and guitarist Alex Lifeson were joined by new drummer Anika Nilles, who now sits in where the late Neil Peart sat for decades. Peart, who was born in Hamilton and raised in Port Dalhousie, died of brain cancer in 2020. 

Nilles, a German musician who launched her career on YouTube 15 years ago, sat in front of a screen where clips played of Peart performing with Rush over the years.

The trio played “Finding My Way” from Rush’s debut album released in 1974, nine years before Nilles was born.

Only a handful of awards were presented Sunday. Forty-seven awards were handed out Saturday at an industry-only gala. That’s where pop singer Tate McRae, who did not appear to accept her awards, became this 2026’s most awarded artist, taking home Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Pop Album of the Year.

For the second consecutive year, rapper bbno$ (pronounced baby no money) won the Fan Choice Award.