The 2026 Juno Awards are set to honor legendary musician Joni Mitchell with the lifetime achievement award, presented by the National Arts Centre. The prestigious ceremony will air live across Canada on Sunday, March 29, at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV and CBC Gem, with a global broadcast available on CBC Music’s YouTube channel. This year's event will feature a special tribute performance to Mitchell by acclaimed artists Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell, both celebrated Juno Award winners themselves.

Joni Mitchell, 82, continues to receive significant recognition for her indelible contributions to music. She recently secured her 11th Grammy Award on February 1, sharing the honor with Patrick Milligan for Best Historical Album for Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980). This follows her memorable Grammy performance debut at the 2024 ceremony, where she performed her iconic song “Both Sides, Now,” joined by a stellar ensemble including Allison Russell, Brandi Carlile, SistaStrings, Blake Mills, Lucius, and Jacob Collier. Mitchell's illustrious career has been marked by numerous accolades, including five Juno Awards and induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981. Other recent honors include the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021, the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2023, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1997, and a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2002.

Sarah McLachlan, 58, a 12-time Juno Award winner, is also nominated this year for adult contemporary album of the year for her work Better Broken. Allison Russell, 44, has previously won two Juno Awards: Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for Outside Child in 2022 and Music Video of the Year for “Demons” in 2024. Their combined talent promises a powerful tribute to Mitchell's legacy.

The 2026 Juno Awards broadcast will also showcase performances from a diverse range of artists. Five-time Juno nominee Cameron Whitcomb is scheduled to perform, alongside previously announced acts such as Arkells, The Beaches, and William Prince. The ceremony, which will be held at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, will be hosted by comedian Mae Martin. Martin makes history as the first non-binary person to host the event, and the first comedian to take on the role since Russell Peters.

In addition to Mitchell's lifetime achievement, several other notable individuals and groups will be honored. Nelly Furtado is slated for induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Daniel Caesar will be presented with the Juno International Achievement Award. The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award will be jointly presented to Sandy Pandya of ArtHaus, Vinny Cinquemani of Paquin Entertainment, and Alexander Mair of Attic Records. Furthermore, rock band Billy Talent will receive the Juno Humanitarian Award, acknowledging their significant contributions beyond music.