Artists From Manitoba Earn Nominations for The 2026 JUNO Awards

Posted on January 27, 2026

Artists Based in Manitoba Earn Honours in Adult Alternative, Jazz, and Roots Categories

Artists from Manitoba are strong contenders for top honours in three categories at The 2026 JUNO Awards. The nominees for the 55th annual awards were announced by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) on January 27.

Pop powerhouse Begonia has earned her third JUNO Award nomination, with a nod for Adult Alternative Album of the Year for Fantasy Life (Birthday Cake*Secretly Distribution). Begonia was nominated in this category in 2024 and 2021.

Internationally renowned singer/songwriter William Prince has earned his sixth JUNO nomination, this year for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for Further From the Country (Six Shooter*The Orchard). Prince won in this category in 2024 and 2017, for Stand in the Joy and Earthly Days, respectively. Prince will perform at The JUNO Awards at the TD Coliseum on March 29 in Hamilton, which will be broadcast on CBC and CBC Gem.

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra has earned its first JUNO nomination this year for Jazz Album of the Year (Group) for its album East Meets West: Connections (Chronograph).

Former residents of Manitoba have also garnered JUNO nominations this year, including Sebastian Gaskin for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year, Karen Kosowski for Jack Richardson Producer of the Year, and Hayley Gene Penner for Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer).

Winners will be announced at the JUNO Awards Gala on March 28 from the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton. For a complete list of nominees, go to junoawards.ca/2026-juno-nominee-list/.