Junos introduce Latin music category in effort to recognize more Canadian-made sounds

Advertisement

Advertise with us

TORONTO - The Juno Awards are adding a dash of Latin flavour to next year's festivities.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$1 per week for 24 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.99/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/08/2025 (233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO – The Juno Awards are adding a dash of Latin flavour to next year’s festivities.

Organizers at Canada’s biggest music awards show say they plan to introduce Latin music recording of the year at the 2026 edition.

The new category will recognize Canadian musicians across all Latin American languages and genres who’ve released music in the eligible year.

A woman waits for the Juno Awards nominees announcement to start in Toronto on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A woman waits for the Juno Awards nominees announcement to start in Toronto on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

It’s the latest move by the Junos to diversify how it recognizes Canadian creators and the evolving national music scene.

Last year, the Junos added a South Asian music category, while in 2022 it split the Indigenous category in two to honour both contemporary and traditional Indigenous artists.

The 2026 Junos are set to take place in Hamilton with the main show broadcast from the recently renamed TD Coliseum, formerly FirstOntario Centre, which is finishing off a $290-million renovation.

Another tweak is being made to the rap categories, which answers calls for clarity around the involvement of Canadian MCs.

The revised rules state that for eligible releases in the rap single and rap album or EP categories, at least 50 per cent of the vocals must be performed by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025.

Report Error Submit a Tip