Additional Coverage:
- Juno Awards fans slam Justin Bieber, Tate McRae, The Weeknd as artists all skip 2026 ceremony (themirror.com)
Juno Awards 2026 Draws Criticism as Big Canadian Stars Skip Ceremony
The 2026 Juno Awards, held on Sunday, March 29 at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum, faced backlash from fans after some of Canada’s biggest music stars-Justin Bieber, Tate McRae, and The Weeknd-were notably absent from the event.
Bieber and McRae each entered the night with six nominations, but only McRae took home awards. The Weeknd, nominated for five Junos and with the chance to break Anne Murray’s record for most wins, was also missing. Their absence sparked frustration among viewers, rekindling an ongoing issue the show faces: securing attendance from Canada’s top-tier talent.
Social media users voiced their disappointment, with some suggesting that artists who don’t attend shouldn’t be nominated. Criticism also pointed to perceived divided loyalties, referencing McRae’s recent promotion of Team USA at the Olympics despite her Canadian roots.
One viewer wrote, “If they can’t be bothered to attend, maybe they shouldn’t be nominated. Have fun being American now and ignoring your roots.”
Another added, “Tate McRae, The Weeknd, Tobias Jesso Jr., and Justin Bieber all skipped the Junos. Drake never comes either.
Remember this.” Calls to boo Bieber if his name were announced also circulated online.
Despite the controversy, the awards continued without the absent stars. Tate McRae emerged as the night’s big winner, capturing album of the year, artist of the year, single of the year, and pop album of the year, outperforming Bieber, who went home empty-handed for his album Swag II. The Weeknd also left without a trophy, missing the chance to surpass Murray’s record of 24 Juno wins.
The ceremony highlighted other notable moments, including Cameron Whitcomb’s breakthrough artist win and his debut performance of Options. Whitcomb had earlier won country album of the year for The Hard Way during the pre-gala event.
The Beaches made history by becoming the first all-female group to win group of the year three times. Daniel Caesar received the International Achievement Award and took home contemporary R&B recording of the year, performing alongside longtime friend and collaborator Mustafa.
A tribute to Nelly Furtado, inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame via video message from Drake, featured a medley of her hits performed by Alessia Cara, Shawn Desman, and others.
Closing the night, Joni Mitchell was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Mitchell expressed her delight to be back in Hamilton and joined fellow performers-including Sarah McLachlan-to sing her iconic Big Yellow Taxi.
The ceremony also included performances by rock legends Rush, who made history with their first public performance featuring new drummer Anika Nilles, alongside sets from Daniel Caesar, The Beaches, and more.
While the absence of some marquee names drew criticism, the Junos celebrated a diverse mix of established and emerging Canadian talent in a memorable evening of music and recognition.