Keystone connections

Manitobans have a chance to win in six categories at this year’s Junos.

On Tuesday, the national music awards’ nominating committee announced the field for the 2026 ceremony, with winners to be announced on March 28 and 29 in Hamilton.

For the third time, following nods in 2021 for her album Fear and in 2024 for Powder Blue, Begonia is up for adult alternative album of the year, nominated this time around for Fantasy Life, released last year by local label Birthday Cake.

Could this be the year the dynamic pop project of Winnipeg’s Alexa Dirks — along with her production partners, Matt Peters and Matt Schellenberg of deadmen — finally nabs some Juno hardware? Also nominated in the category are Bahamas, Patrick Watson, the Barr Brothers and the Weather Station.

After earning his first Juno in 2025 as the contemporary Indigenous artist of the year, Tetaskweyak Cree Nation’s Sebastian Gaskin — now living in Toronto — has a chance to become a repeat winner this year. Other nominees in the field include Shawnee Kish, Siibii, Tia Wood and folk fest favourite Aysanabee.

William Prince is looking for trophy No. 3 in the contemporary roots album category. After winning the award in 2017 for his debut album Earthly Days, Prince was nominated again in 2021 for Reliever, before winning again in 2024 for Stand in the Joy.

Prince, who records with Six Shooter Records, is nominated for Further From the Country, recorded at Winnipeg’s No Fun Club with producer Liam Duncan (Boy Golden). The recognition marks the sixth Juno nomination of the Peguis First Nation rocker’s career.

With the release of its eighth album, East Meets West: Connections, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra has broken through with its first Juno nomination for jazz album of the year.

Recorded at Musirex Productions in Winnipeg, the collection was produced, edited and mixed by Larry Roy, with mastering by Guy Hébert. The 20-member WJO collaborated with composers Jean-Nicolas Trottier of Montreal and Fred Stride of Vancouver on the nine-movement suite.

Now based in Los Angeles, Winnipeg-raised songwriter Hayley Gene Penner is nominated as the non-performing songwriter of the year on the strength of her work with American R&B performer Teddy Swims (I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy) and British singers Celeste (Woman of Faces) and Lily Allen.

On the title track of Allen’s smash record West End Girl, Penner — Fred’s daughter — is credited as composer and lyricist alongside Blue May, Alessandro Buccellati and Lily Cooper. Penner is also credited as a producer and provided backing vocals on the song.

Based in Nashville, Karen Kosowski is up for recognition as a nominee for the Jack Richardson producer of the year award for her work with country stars Meghan Patrick and Mickey Guyton. Raised in Winnipeg, Kosowski has also worked as a songwriter with artists such as Tim Hicks, Brett Kissel and the a cappella group Pentatonix. When Guyton performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LVI in 2022, it was Kosowski accompanying her on piano.

Winnipeg artist Cassidy Mann is a credited songwriter on Swim Practice, a song on Mariel Buckley’s album Strange Trip Ahead. Released by local label Birthday Cake, it is up for contemporary roots album of the year.

Justin Bieber and Tate McRae lead the field of nominees with six each and will face off against each other in each of the Junos categories they’re up for, including artist of the year and the fan choice award.

They’re both up for artist of the year and album of the year — Bieber for Swag II and McRae for So Close to What — and will also compete in the single of the year category, with Bieber’s lo-fi Daisies up against the Y2K throwback Sports Car.

The Weeknd is nominated for five Junos, including album of the year for Hurry Up Tomorrow — which was released alongside a much-derided companion film — and single of the year for Cry For Me.

As it stands, the artist born Abel Tesfaye has 22 Junos, second only to Anne Murray’s 24 (not including her two career honours), meaning this year he could become the winningest artist.

Newcomer Cameron Whitcomb is also in the running for five awards, including the fan choice prize, breakthrough artist of the year, single of the year for Options, and album of the year and country album of the year for his debut The Hard Way.

Also up for album of the year and country album of the year is Josh Ross for Later Tonight. The Burlington, Ont., native is up for the fan choice award and single of the year for Hate How You Look.

In a new category called Latin music recording of the year, the inaugural nominees are Alex Cuba, Lido Pimienta, Andy Rubal, Isabella Lovestory and Mario Puglia.

The Junos will be handed out at a gala on Saturday, March 28 and during a live broadcast hosted by comedian Mae Martin on Sunday, March 29.

Since 1971, the Junos have recognized top Canadian talent in the recording industry, overseen by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

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