AceShowbiz - Two of Canada's most celebrated voices, Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell, will join forces for a special tribute to the legendary Joni Mitchell at the 2026 Juno Awards. The ceremony will air live across Canada on Sunday, March 29, at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV and CBC Gem, and stream globally on CBC Music's YouTube channel.

The performance will be a centerpiece of an evening dedicated to honoring Joni Mitchell, who is slated to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the National Arts Centre. This adds to her remarkable collection of five previous Juno Awards, which includes her 1981 induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The tribute comes on the heels of another milestone for the 82-year-old icon. On February 1, Mitchell won her 11th career Grammy Award, sharing the prize for Best Historical Album for Joni Mitchell Archives – Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980). This win follows her poignant Grammy performance debut in 2024, where she sang her classic "Both Sides, Now" accompanied by a group that included Allison Russell.

Mitchell's recent years have been filled with top honors, including the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021 and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2023. Her foundational place in music history was secured earlier with her 1997 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2002.

The artists chosen to pay homage are fitting successors in the Canadian musical lineage. Sarah McLachlan, a 12-time Juno winner, is nominated again this year for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for Better Broken. Allison Russell, a two-time Juno winner, has seen her star rise dramatically, winning for Contemporary Roots Album in 2022 and Music Video of the Year in 2024.

The 2026 Juno broadcast, to be held at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, promises a vibrant showcase of Canadian talent. Hosted by comedian Mae Martin—the first non-binary host in the awards' history—the show will also feature performances by five-time nominee Cameron Whitcomb, alongside previously announced acts like Arkells, The Beaches, and William Prince.

In other major award announcements, Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, while Daniel Caesar will receive the Juno International Achievement Award. The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award will be presented to industry veterans Sandy Pandya of ArtHaus, Vinny Cinquemani of Paquin Entertainment, and Alexander Mair of Attic Records.

This tribute to Joni Mitchell is more than a performance; it is a symbolic passing of the torch and a celebration of an artist whose profound influence continues to shape generations of musicians. It ensures that an international audience will witness a heartfelt acknowledgment of one of popular music's most enduring and revolutionary figures.