54 Surprising Facts You Need To Know About The 54th Annual JUNO Awards

You might think you know the JUNO Awards, but there’s a lot more than just red carpets and big performances. As the 54th annual JUNO Awards get ready to roll into Vancouver, we put on our best tux (well, a Canadian tuxedo) and did a deep dive into 54 fun, wild, and oh-so-Canadian facts you need to know about the biggest night in Canadian music.

Here we go, eh:

1. In 1964, the RPM Gold Leaf Awards were founded by RPM editor Walt Grealis and record exec Stan Klees as a simple reader poll.
2. The first official ceremony happened in 1970 at Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Hall.
3. In 1971, they were renamed the JUNO Awards, after Pierre Juneau, first chair of the CRTC.
4. The JUNOs were first televised in 1975, with Canadian music legends finally getting their due on TV.
5. That same year, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) was formed to manage the awards.
6. Before 1995, the show was more boardroom than big arena—but that all changed with its first stadium-style show.
7. Alanis Morissette’s 1996 performance is still considered one of the most unforgettable moments in JUNO history.
8. Michael Bublé has hosted the JUNOs multiple times, bringing charm, jokes, and a bit of swing to the stage.
9. The JUNOs have been held in cities across Canada, including Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, and St. John’s.
10. The 2025 JUNO Awards will be held in Vancouver, bringing the show back to the west coast.
11. The most JUNO Awards ever won by a single artist? That honour goes to Anne Murray, with 25.
12. Drake has received over 40 JUNO nominations in his career so far.
13. The Weeknd swept five awards in 2021, including Artist, Album, and Single of the Year.
14. Shawn Mendes received the JUNO Fan Choice Award three years in a row from 2018 to 2020.
15. Bryan Adams hosted the 2004 JUNO Awards and performed a medley of his biggest hits.
16. Carly Rae Jepsen won Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2013 after going viral with “Call Me Maybe.”
17. The first Hip Hop category was introduced in 1991, with Maestro Fresh Wes taking the win.
18. The Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year category was introduced in 1994.

19. Each year, the JUNOs hit the road and land in a different Canadian city, turning the spotlight on local talent and sharing the celebration coast-to-coast.

20. The 2018 JUNOs opened with a tribute to Gord Downie, featuring members of the Tragically Hip.
21. Justin Bieber received his first JUNO nomination in 2011.
22. Celine Dion has won multiple JUNOs, including Album of the Year for her English and French records.
23. Arcade Fire won Album of the Year in 2011 for “The Suburbs,” just weeks after their Grammy win.
24. The JUNO Songwriters’ Circle is often dubbed “The Jewel of the JUNOs” for its intimate performances.
25. The Allan Waters Humanitarian Award honours artists for their philanthropic work.
26. The first recipient of the Humanitarian Award? Bruce Cockburn, in 2006.
27. The Hall of Fame segment has honoured legends like Neil Young, Shania Twain, and Rush.
28. The JUNOs were cancelled in 1988 due to a CBC strike.
29. The JUNOs have their own official playlist on streaming platforms.
30. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the first-ever virtual JUNO Awards.
31. The trophy has changed design over the years—it’s now a sleek, modern statue.
32. In 2023, Nickelback was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
33. Sarah McLachlan hosted the 2019 JUNOs and gave a powerful performance.
34. Feist swept the 2008 JUNOs, winning five awards.
35. The event helps boost the local economy of host cities with tourism and music-related events.
36. Some JUNO Week events are free and open to the public, like JUNO Fan Fare.
37. The JUNOs have categories for every genre—from jazz to metal to electronic.
38. There’s even a category for Album Artwork of the Year, celebrating visual creativity.
39. CARAS also oversees MusiCounts, a charity that supports music education in Canada.
40. Every year, thousands of submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges across the industry.
41. There’s a strict Canadian content requirement to qualify for nomination.
42. JUNO TV, launched in 2013, gives fans behind-the-scenes access to performances and interviews.
43. Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo is a longtime JUNO favourite, winning numerous awards.
44. Avril Lavigne was just 17 when she won her first JUNO.
45. Barenaked Ladies won Group of the Year in 2001 and 2002.
46. Gordon Lightfoot has received lifetime achievement recognition from the JUNOs.
47. The JUNOs have honoured classical music since the very beginning.
48. They also recognize children’s music, comedy albums, and traditional roots.
49. Sometimes, the biggest surprises come from emerging artist categories.
50. Metric, Broken Social Scene, and City and Colour have all been indie darlings at the JUNOs.
51. The late Leonard Cohen was honoured posthumously at the 2017 JUNOs.
52. In 2022, Charlotte Cardin became the first female artist to win Artist, Album, and Pop Album of the Year all in one night.
53. Each year, the show tries to reflect the evolving soundscape of Canadian music.
54. And finally, if you think you’ve seen it all—just wait until next year. The JUNOs never stop surprising us.

So there you have it—54 things you (probably) didn’t know about the JUNO Awards. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a brand new convert to Canadian music, these facts prove that the JUNOs are more than a night of trophies—they’re a celebration of artistry, community, and Canada’s ever-evolving sound.

See you at the next one in Hamilton. Bring your toque and elbows up.