R&B superstar Daniel Caesar will both perform and receive the international achievement award at the 55th annual Juno Awards, set for Hamilton’s new TD Coliseum on Sunday, March 29.
Caesar’s Juno honor reflects the global impact of a career now encompassing four albums. He is still riding high from last year’s Son of Spergy, which became his third top 10 album on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Caesar recently returned to popular NPR performance series Tiny Desk.
Caesar, who was born in Toronto, won a Grammy for best R&B performance seven years ago as a featured artist on H.E.R.’s “Best Part.” He received four Grammy nods, including record and song of the year, as a featured artist on Justin Bieber’s “Peaches.” That 2021 pop/soul smash, which also featured GIVEON, became Caeser’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Caesar has since returned to the top 10 on that chart as a featured artist on Tyler, the Creator’s “St. Chroma” (No. 7 in 2024).
Caesar appeared on the cover of Billboard and Billboard Canada last year and performed an intimate hometown concert at NXNE in Toronto, returning to the site of his first ever headlining show, the Mod Club. In the story, he talks about moving to the United States and feeling caught between his Canadian upbringing and his entry into the music industry machine. This Junos moment follows the full-circle moment of embracing his past and the people who helped him turn into an international star.
That news leads the series of Juno announcements Thursday (Jan. 15) from The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and broadcaster CBC.
Mae Martin will host the televised broadcast on March 29. The multi-hyphenate is known for acclaimed Netflix shows Feel Good and Wayward, which they created and starred in, as well as multiple stand-up comedy specials, podcasts and their debut music album I’m a TV last year, which gained traction and Billboard chart success on Canadian radio.
Acclaimed Indigenous folk/roots singer-songwriter William Prince joins the lineup of performers alongside previously announced Canadian rock bands The Beaches and Arkells, who have deep ties to the city of Hamilton.
On the industry side, Sandy Pandya of ArtHaus, Vinny Cinquemani of Paquin (both recent Billboard Canada honorees) and the late Alexander Mair (Attic Records) are set to receive Walt Grealis special achievement awards, recognizing their significant and lasting influence on the Canadian music business. These will be handed out at the non-televised Juno Awards gala on Saturday, March 28, as will the Humanitarian Award, presented to hard rock favourites Billy Talent in recognition of their community work and philanthropy.
This follows the previous announcement that Canadian icon Joni Mitchell, who rarely travels, will receive the lifetime achievement award at the 2026 Junos. Also previously announced, Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Also announced Thursday were the first round of performers for JUNOfest Presented by CBC, a festival that presents a diverse grouping of Canadian artists in multiple Hamilton venues during Juno Week: Amelia Maxwell, Ammoye, Bells Larsen, Billianne, Burs, Cam Kahin, Carrie Clark, Computer, cootie catcher, Dumb Crush, Ebril, Falls for the Elderly, Feura, GRAE, Ivy Gardens, JayWood, Jordan Astra, Kali Horse, Katie Tupper, Lindsay Schoolcraft, LU KALA, Mattie Leon, Myst Milano, Nicolette & The Nobodies, poolblood, Puma June, Rachel Bobbitt, Ralph Nyoni, Shawnee Kish, Silverstein, Sister Ray, Status/Non-Status, Superstar Crush, Tedy and Ten Minute Detour.
Additional performers, presenters and Juno Week programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
This story was originally published by Billboard Canada.
