With Joni Mitchell’s return to Canada the big draw, Sunday night’s 2026 Juno Awards played to an overnight, estimated average minute audience of 765,000 CBC viewers.
The public broadcaster’s research department pegs that as up 11 per cent over 2025. Not bad considering multi-nominated Justin Bieber was a no-show.
Sunday’s two-hour-plus music industry showcase also generated 1.8 digital streams, up 150 per cent from 2025. Some of that, no doubt, featured prime minister Mark Carney’s fan-boy salute to Lifetime Achievement award winner Mitchell, who gallantly sung along with Sarah McLachlan and others on “Big Yellow Taxi.”
The gala broadcast kicked off with Rush performing publicly for the first time ever with new drummer Anika Nilles filling in for the legendary Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020.
The 55th Annual Juno Awards, which was hosted this year by Mae Martin, did not face a ton of broadcast competition Sunday night. In overnights, Sullivan’s Crossing drew 573,000 and import drama Tracker did 699,000 on CTV. Both dramas will boost their totals once Live+7 and other delayed and digital viewership is counted. Global saw Sunday night staple 60 Minutes clock 672,000 same day viewers while Family Law was litigated by an estimated 511,000.
The big draw Sunday was on in the afternoon as the gift that keeps on giving, The Toronto Blue Jays, drew an overnight, estimated 1,503,000 viewers to go 3-and-0 for the season. Just 159 more wins to go.
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