Return to River City 56th Juno Awards brings the party back to Winnipeg in 2027 By: Eva Wasney Posted: 5:00 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 Last Modified: 8:24 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 Updates

The Juno Awards are coming back to Winnipeg.

The city has been selected to host the 56th edition of the Canadian music award show and its associated events from April 1 to 4, 2027. The Junos were previously held in Winnipeg in 2005 and 2014.

“Winnipeg has always been a city that has had an outsized musical influence,” said Allan Reid, president and CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), which oversees the awards. “We are so excited to be back and we’re ready to build something truly extraordinary together.

“Get ready for the best Junos ever.”

Event organizers, politicians, business leaders and members of the local music industry gathered at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre Thursday night to celebrate the announcement. The evening included an impromptu harmonica solo from Al Simmons and a performance by Tataskweyak Cree Nation singer-songwriter Sebastian Gaskin, who is nominated for a Juno this year.

The awards are held in a different Canadian location each year. Winnipeg received the winning 2027 bid after delegates from CARAS, which oversees the Junos, visited the city during the Grey Cup festivities last fall.

“Get ready for the best Junos ever.”

“We showed them the capacity of downtown, the excitement, and I think they were quite impressed by that,” said Kenny Boyce, the City of Winnipeg’s manager of film and special events.

The city’s music industry and downtown landscape has grown significantly over the past 12 years, said Lynne Skromeda, CEO of Manitoba Film & Music.

When the Junos were here last — a ceremony hosted by rapper Classified and singer-songwriters Johnny Reid and Serena Ryder — the Canadian Museum for Human Rights had yet to open, True North Square was but a blueprint and The Forks market was awaiting redevelopment.

“We’ve evolved as a city. To be able to bring the country here to show off what we can do, not only in terms of our music scene, but also how we celebrate as a city, is a massive opportunity,” Skromeda said.

Skromeda and Boyce are co-chairs of the Junos host committee and say Winnipeggers can expect plenty of fun leading up to the televised April 4 awards show, which will take place at Canada Life Centre.

“It’s one of the best parties,” said Boyce, who helped organize both of Winnipeg’s past Juno events.

Juno Week will include concerts from legendary and emerging musicians, as well as songwriter showcases, children’s entertainment, Indigenous programming and a gala at the RBC Convention Centre for the non-televised awards, said Boyce.

Many details, including who will host the 2027 award show, are yet to be decided.

For Manitoba musicians, who often have to travel elsewhere for networking events, the Junos are a chance to mingle with national record labels, agencies and promoters.

“The Junos tend to be the centre of business for the music industry; the entire music industry comes from across the country to gather,” Skromeda said.

Venues, restaurants, hotels and other local businesses are also set to benefit from the event, which can generate as much as $17 million in economic impact for the host city.

On Thursday, Premier Wab Kinew announced $1.5 million in provincial support for the event and commented on the importance of music during an era of international conflicts and political upheaval.

“Who’s going to stand up and turn things around and mess things up for the better? I firmly believe it’s going to be the artists,” Kinew said.

“We know that events like this have such a positive impact on the economy with visitors to local businesses, restaurants and filling hotel rooms, it’s going to be such a great, great time,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham, who started his remarks by quoting Magic Power by Triumph at length.

Skromeda and Boyce are heading to Hamilton, Ont., later this month to do some reconnaissance and cheer on local nominees during the 2026 Junos.

Six Manitoba-born artists/groups and music professionals hold nominations this year: Begonia (adult alternative album of the year), Gaskin (contemporary Indigenous artist of the year), William Prince (contemporary roots album of the year), the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (jazz album of the year), Hayley Gene Penner (non-performing songwriter of the year) and Karen Kosowski (Jack Richardson producer of the year).

The televised awards show, hosted by comedian-actor Mae Martin (Feel Good), airs live on March 29 at 7 p.m. on CBC.

winnipegfreepress.com/evawasney

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