From April 1-4, 2027, Winnipeg is going to rock even harder.
For the first time in over a decade, the city will host the JUNO Awards –– the biggest night for Canada’s music scene, which also includes a weeks' worth of events that will shine a spotlight on both Winnipeg and the nation’s rich musical talents.
“We are incredibly proud to bring one of Canada’s most celebrated cultural events back to our city, demonstrating that Winnipeg can deliver world-class experiences on a national stage,” said Ryan Kuffner, President & CEO of Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism at the JUNO announcement on Thursday.
Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism, in concert with the City of Winnipeg and the Government of Manitoba, had been working to secure the 2027 JUNOS since last June.
“Our work started with bringing together leaders from across Winnipeg’s music, tourism and event industries — and the response from the community was incredible,” said Kuffner. “That spirit of collaboration is exactly what makes Winnipeg such a great host city.”
The announcement was made last night, Thursday, March 12 at a reception at The Metropolitan Event Centre.
“There’s a real sense of pride in this city and it was remarkable to see how much Winnipeg has evolved since I was last here,” said Allan Reid, president and CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, during the announcement.
“Winnipeg has always been a city with an outsized musical influence. It has shaped Canadian music in profound ways from icons like The Guess Who, BTO and Neil Young to the nominees for the 2026 JUNO Awards: William Prince, Begonia, Sebastian Gaskin and The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra,” continued Reid.
With an estimated 20,000 attendees expected and 4,000 room nights to be booked, the JUNOS should generate more than $17 million in total economic impact for the local economy.
To host and bid on this prestigious event, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg provided funding through the Special Event Tourism Fund (SETF), administered by Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism. The fund has helped attract some of the province’s largest recent events, including the 112th Grey Cup, which generated an estimated $90 million in total economic impact, and Rendez-vous Canada, which contributed an estimated $4.6 million in total economic impact.
"What excites me most is the collaboration ahead," said Reid, who was previously hosted by Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism during the Grey Cup Festival this past fall. "The JUNOS are at their best when they are built with a city, not simply brought to it. We have an opportunity to build a JUNO Week that reflects who Winnipeg is today - vibrant, creative, ambitious, and deeply connected to community."
On top of the marque awards show at Canada Life Centre on Sunday, April 2, 2027, the JUNOS also means JUNOS Week, which will electrify downtown Winnipeg with numerous events, concerts, workshops and parties leading up to and following the awards.
The live announcement at The MET featured performances by Indigenous singers Kashina Blacksmith-Seenie and Jaycee Seenie, along with local Cree artist Sebastian Gaskin –– the 2025 JUNO winner for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year, which he is once again nominated for in 2026. It was zestily hosted by MC Dave McLeod, and in true Winnipeg fashion featured an impromptu kazoo performance by Al Simmons.
After joking about finally making the Juno's stage –– alluding to his past career as a rapper –– Premier Wab Kinew made a powerful statement about music's place in this world.
"We're at a time in the world where little kids are being killed in a war for no reason. We are at a time where our country is under threat from what was supposed to be a long time friend. And we're at a time in the world where surveillance capitalism is trying to commodify the private moments that each of us have," said Kinew.
"At the end of the day, who is going to stand up and turn things around and mess things up for the better? I firmly believe it will be the artists. So thank you in advance, artists. You lead and we will follow."
This year’s JUNOS take place in Hamilton, ON, on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
There are five other Manitobans up for awards this year, including Begonia, who was nominated in both 2021 and 2024; two-time JUNO Award-winner William Prince; The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra — up for its first JUNO for Jazz Album of the Year; songwriter Hayley Gene Penner, who is up for Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer); Karen Kosowski for the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award; and Cassidy Mann, a songwriter up for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year.
