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In Memoriam: The Junos Look Back On Those We Lost
The Juno Awards special in memoriam tribute to the artists and music professionals we lost, set to William Prince's Great Wide Open.
Jun 05, 2021
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Lyle Bell
Angine de Poitrine
MusicApril
Looking Ahead: A Release Calendar of New & Upcoming Canadian Albums In 2026
A regularly updating list of new and upcoming albums from Canadian artists. Keep checking back as artists announce new releases.
2h
Canadian artists have moved into 2026 with some big releases on the horizon.
Some have begun their album cycles, others have confirmed release dates and some have just teased that their records will be out this year. It has been a growing industry trend for major name artists to put out new music with little or even no advance notice, so coming out with a definitive and iron-clad release schedule is an ongoing process. That's why we will now be updating this calendar throughout the year. Check back each week to see the new additions.
Here is our current list of upcoming albums with some of the most highly anticipated singled out. Here, in chronological order, are our Billboard Canada picks, followed by the full calendar of new and upcoming Canadian releases.
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Albums to Look Forward to In 2026
The New Pornographers, The Former Site Of — March 27
Wintersleep, Wishing Moon (Dine Alone) — March 27
In March 2025, the veteran indie rockers released their first full band tracks since 2023, “Ballad of the Last Payphone” and “Ego Death For Beginners,” recorded with new drummer Charley Drayton, who replaced the disgraced Joe Seiders and re-recorded his parts. The group's 10th full-length, The Former Site Of will and help them move forward into a new era.Wintersleep, Wishing Moon (Dine Alone) — March 27
Another veteran Canadian rock band, Wintersleep, will put out a new full-length, Wishing Moon, on March 27. Since forming in Halifax, the they've been active for over 20 years, and this will be their eighth album. The fact that it is their first since 2019's In The Land Of is arousing new interest, as is news of a Canadian tour starting May 9, after a U.K./Europe tour. Itinerary here.
Angine de Poitrine, Vol. 11 — April 3
The biggest 'breaking out from the underground' story in Canadian music in 2026 so far is undoubtedly Angine de Poitrine. Comprising two masked and costumed musicians from Saguenay, Quebec, they have rapidly become a big deal internationally. Their viral moment came early last month when tastemaking Seattle station KEXP aired a Live on KEXP session that has quickly amassed over 3.3M views, while a show at the Trans Musicales festival in Rennes, France, has racked up more than 2.8 million views. They'll capitalize on the buzz with this now album of their signature offbeat and free-spirited sound that fuses elements of math and progressive rock. To date, the self-described "space-time voyagers" have remained anonymous, but will a Banksy-style unmasking be on the way? Both an extensive Quebec tour (April 3 to May 2) and a debut U.K. tour in May are already sold out and the duo seems unstoppable.
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Good Kid, Can We Hang Out Sometime? — April 3
Good Kid is a Toronto-based indie rock quintet that has built a huge indie following online, with 700 million streams across their catalogue, viral antics and a gold certification for their hit Laufey cover, “From The Start." That has helped fuel anticipation for their full-length debut record, Can We Hang Out Sometime? The band recently announced an extensive 2026 North American and EU/U.K. tour. Itinerary here.
Malinowski, Under A Landslide of Stars (Dine Alone) — April 3
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As leader of indie rock outfit Bedouin Soundclash, singer-songwriter Jay Malinowski earned Juno Awards and platinum sales, while his material has been covered by such major stars as Sturgill Simpson and Diplo. Now, under his surname, he has just released his first solo album in over a decade, Under a Landslide of Stars. This is certainly not a solo record in terms of the number of contributors, as Malinowski enlisted choirs from all over the continent; from gospel singers in New Orleans featuring the work of Rick Nelson (Afghan Whigs) and Clint Maedgen (Preservation Hall Jazz Band), to a 150 person community choir recorded live in a church in Victoria, B.C.. The album was primarily recorded at Vancouver's famed Armoury Studios and mixed in Los Angeles by Davey Badiuk (Liam Gallagher/Dragonette). “The album is about love and devotion,” Malinowski explains. “I was writing about the deep love I have for my wife Steph and my son Finn, and then juxtaposing that against pseudo-fanatical characters I conjured up in my mind that are expressing love for their god(s) in impossibly twisted and violent ways.”
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In support of the record, he plays solo April dates in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, and Los Angeles, following a March tour of Ontario (plus a Montreal show) with Bedouin Soundclash. Itinerary here.
Tenille Townes, The Acrobat — April 10
Albertan singer-songwriter Tenille Townes is one of Canada's most highly-decorated country artists, with a trophy case containing two Academy of Country Music Awards, two Junos and 17 Canadian Country Music Association Awards. In 2024, she exited Sony Nashville to become an independent artist and new album The Acrobat (her third) takes advantage of that freedom. Described as her most honestly personal and stripped back release to date, the album was completely recorded, produced and mixed by Townes, who also played every instrument on the record. Lori McKenna co-wrote and sings on the title track. Townes states that "Lori is a true hero of mine and has been a compass influence since I first moved to Nashville. Writing this song with her makes it an incredibly meaningful, full-circle moment for me.”
Townes has just begun a North American tour featuring solo headlining theatre dates that includes eight Ontario shows between March 18 and 26 and an album release concert in Nashville on April 9. Itinerary here.
Tiga, Hot Life (Turbo Recordings / Secret City) — April 17
Another eagerly-awaited spring release is Hot Life from Tiga, due out on April 17, on his Turbo Recordings imprint. The veteran electronic/dance music DJ and producer is a legend in that scene and this will be his first studio album in over a decade. It features artists such as Fcukers, Boys Noize, Maara and MRD.
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Arkells, Between Us (Universal Music Canada/Virgin Music Group) — April 17
One of Canada's most successful rock bands of the last decade, Arkells have confirmed that they will release a new album, Between Us, on April 17. The band will perform at this year's Juno Awards, held in their hometown of Hamilton (they are 9x winners) , following tour dates in Europe and the U.K.. The album was produced/recorded in L.A. with Grammy Award Winner John Congleton (St. Vincent, Death Cab for Cutie). A brand new single, "Next Summer," came out the first week of February. Recently, frontman Max Kerman shared his 2026 music industry resolution — "remember the people... the stagehands, the crowds, the invisible ecosystem... that allow the things we love to exist in the first place" — in a guest column for Billboard Canada.
Dallas Good & Richard Reed Parry, Were The Watchtowers (Yep Roc Records) — April 18
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This album is a posthumous offering from Canadian roots-rock hero Dallas Good, of The Sadies fame. He passed away prematurely four years ago, and prior to his death he worked extensively with a close friend, producer/musician Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire, who helmed The Sadies 2022 album Colder Streams. Were The Watchtowers was written and recorded over the course of a decade, and it features the duo probing cosmic, psychedelic Americana sounds. The 10-song album features a star-studded guest list, including Margaret Atwood, Neko Case, Kurt Vile, Yo La Tengo, Jim Jarmusch, John Doe, Jon Spencer, Scott McCaughey, Gary Louris and a 500-strong fan choir. Parry described the making of the album this way: "It has been the slowest moving musical endeavour of my entire life...Tiny, joyous flourishes of activity a couple times a year for over a decade." A limited edition vinyl run is being released on Record Store Day (April 18), with wider distribution to follow.
Cadence Weapon, Forager (Six Shooter) — April 24
Veteran hip-hop artist, poet and author, Cadence Weapon (a.k.a. Rollie Pemberton) returns with a new album, Forager, out on April 24. It's first album with completely live instrumentation, produced by acclaimed Toronto artist Junia-T. It's inspired by his love of vintage clothing. “True vintage is made from natural materials and was made with a higher standard of craftsmanship,” he explains. “It was built to last. This made me think of the classic hip-hop that I grew up listening." To help launch the record, Cadence Weapon has announced a series of Forager Markets which will bring his music and thrifting worlds together in free events that will include vintage pop-ups, exclusive vinyl and more. They'll take place in his home base of Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton. Tickets and details here.
Metric, Romanticize the Dive (Metric Music International/Thirty Tigers) — April 24
Veteran Toronto modern rock hitmakers Metric have announced their 10th studio album, Romanticize The Dive. The record's opener "Victim of Luck" doubles as a mission statement, tracing the band back to their early days and revisiting, re-examining the tension, vulnerability, and hunger of youth. The opening lines delivered by Emily Haines: “Let me take you back, it was the start of something, I was there not long before all the stardom. Now I'm in front of you and all I'm seeing is all my flaws." Metric recorded the album at Electric Lady in New York City with co-producers Gavin Brown ,Jimmy Shaw and Liam O’Neil. The band join Broken Social Scene and Stars on the All The Feelings tour this summer.
Whitehorse, All I Want Is All of It (Six Shooter) — May 8
This is the ninth full-length album from the prolific roots-meets-rock husband and wife duo of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland. Both acclaimed solo singer-songwriters prior to forming Whitehorse in 2010, they have forged a joint sound that is both musically adventurous and emotionally honest. All I Want Is All of It was recorded in a farmhouse studio, with guests including Jimmy Bowskill (Blue Rodeo), Little Jimi (Melissa and Luke’s son), Vincent Jones, John Obercian and Fred Eltringham. Their recording mandate this time was to stress one take over overdubs, instinct versus overthink. It can't have been easy for the pair to find time to write and record, as they've been in demand by a couple of Canadian superstars. They recently toured together in Sarah McLachlan's band and Doucet is now back on the road playing guitar with Bryan Adams, but they'll return to headline touring this spring with daughter Chloë Doucet in tow. Beginning in London, Ontario, on May 21, the tour concludes in Sherwood Park, Alberta, on June 17. Itinerary and tickets here.
Broken Social Scene, Remember The Humans (Arts & Crafts) — May 8
Indie rock heroes Broken Social Scene have announced the May 8 release of a new album Remember The Humans, their first new studio album in nearly a decade. This record reunites the Toronto-based collective with producer David Newfeld, who helmed their breakthrough You Forgot It in People (2002) and self-titled 2005 album. Expect these 12 new tracks to feature BSS' signature combination of rich musical atmospheres and melody, as showcased on the opening track and lead single “Not Around Anymore." Noted vocalists contributing include Feist, Hannah Georgas and Lisa Lobsinger. This summer, Broken Social Scene join close comrades Metric and Stars on a triple threat bill that has an extensive North American tour set, beginning in Austin on June 8. Tickets go on sale Feb. 6 here.
Abigail Lapell, Shadow Child (Outside Music) — May 8
Award-winning Toronto folk singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell returns with a new album, Shadow Child, out on Mother's Day. The album explores motherhood via nine songs, one for each month of gestation. Lapell worked with producer Colin Stewart (Dan Mangan, Black Mountain) and recruited three B.C. singers (all mothers), Frazey Ford, Jill Barber and Pharis Romero, to guest on the record. "They’re all people with unique, distinctive voices, which is what I’m drawn to," Lapell explains. She begins North American tour dates on Feb. 26. Tickets here.
Spencer Krug, Same Fangs — May 15
Veteran indie rocker Spencer Krug is striking while the iron is hot. The Montreal band he plays in, Wolf Parade, got a serious boost back in December when its 2005 song “I’ll Believe in Anything” was featured in the third episode of the fiery hot series Heated Rivalry. The song, written and sung by Krug, spiked 60% to over 23,000 official streams (Dec. 5-8), and, earlier this year, Krug then delivered a solo piano version. The song was initially featured on Apologies to the Queen Mary, the band's critically acclaimed debut album, and a vinyl deluxe reissue edition of that record comes out on Sub Pop on May 13. Two days later, Krug is putting out a new solo album, Same Fangs. But don't expect Wolf parade. "If Same Fangs sounds different, that’s because it is," a bio promises. "Built almost entirely around piano and voice, the record trades bombast for tension, clarity over chaos."
Wolf Parade will be one of the first acts to play new Ottawa venue History later this year.
Drake, Iceman (OVO Sound) — TBD
Then, there's Drake. The global superstar loves to surprise people by dropping albums without announcing a release date in advance but plenty of advance hype. Drake has been teasing Iceman for many months, and promised in a recent livestream that it is coming in 2026. “We’re focused. I know what you’re waiting on, so trust me. We’re cheffing," he said.
Writing by Kerry Doole
Here is the full list of upcoming Canadian albums with confirmed release dates.
2026 Calendar of New and Upcoming Canadian Albums
January
Jan. 30:
- Softcult, When A Flower Doesn’t Grow (Easy Life Records)
- Gab Bouchard, Encore
- New Saint, Santo
- Luca Fogale, Challenger (Nettwerk Music Group)
- Geneviève Racette, Golden (Deluxe)
- Triples, Every Good Story (Bleak Enterprise)
- Lights, A6EXTENDED
- The Sling Sisters, What I Hope to Find
- Miarlequin, The Fool
February
Feb. 6:
- Beverly Glenn-Copeland & Elizabeth Copeland, Laughter In Summer (Transgressive)
- Nick Schofield, Blue Hour (Backward Music)
- Daphni, Butterfly (Jiaolong)
- Mars Aspen, Baby Teeth (Twin Fang)
Feb. 8
- Aquakulture, 1783
Feb. 11
- Mike Van Eyes, Ain’t That Loving You, Baby
Feb. 13:
- Boy Golden, Best of Our Possible Lives (Six Shooter Records)
- Pony, Clearly Cursed
- Larkk, Cinders
- Lauren Spencer Smith, The Art of Being A Mess (Deluxe) (Universal Music Canada)
- Colin Stetson, Greg Fox, Trevor Dunn, Nethering (Envision)
Feb. 20:
- NYSSA, Cursebreaker (Six Shooter)
- Peaches, No Lube So Rude (Kill Rock Stars)
- Dominique Fils-Aimé, My World Is The Sun (Ensoul)
- CVCHE, Get Fluffy
- John and Roy, I Can Dream
Feb. 27:
- Bibi Club, Amaro (Secret City)
- Gord Downie, The Sadies, and The Conquering Sun, Live At 6 O'Clock (Arts & Crafts)
- The Sheepdogs, Keep Out Of The Storm
- Garrett T. Willie, Bill's Cafe
- Donovan Woods, Squander Your Gifts EP (Warner Music Canada)
- Julianna Riolino, Echo In The Dust (Deluxe) (Moonwhistle Records)
- School House, Homeland
- The Sarandons, Long Way Home
- Elyse Aeryn, Everybody Loves You (Symphonic Distribution)
- Grievous Angels, Revolution
- Donovan Woods, Squander Your Gifts
March
Mar. 6:
- Motorists, Never Sing Alone (We Are Time)
- Jenn Grant, Queen of the Strait
- Tanya Tagaq, Saputjiji (Six Shooter)
- Status Non-Status, Big Changes (You'e Changed)
- Odd Marshall, Seconds
- Pinebarren, Arbutus
- Mise en Scene, Drive-Thru Confessional
- Ndidi O, It's About Time
Mar. 13:
- Marie Celeste, Tout ce qui brille
- Various Artists, Covered - A Tribute to Nash the Slash (We Are Busy Bodies)
- Suzie Ungerleider, Among the Evergreens (Deluxe) (MVKA)
- Cat Clyde, Mud Blood Bone (Concord)
- Pick a Piper, Dandelion (Halocline Trance)
- Marie Céleste, Tout ce qui brille (Bravo musique)
- PUP, Megacity Madness (The Official Live Recordings) vinyl only
- City Builders, Healing Revenge
- Aman Dhesi, The Restless Night (Zedd Records)
- The Darcys, Rendering Feelings (GOODTIME Edition)
- Rush, Grace Under Pressure (40th Anniversary edition) (Anthem)
Mar. 19:
- Gnarwhal, Lucid Machine
Mar. 20:
- Edwin Raphael, I Know A Garden
- Ariel Posen, Bannatyne (Dine Alone)
- Cinzia & The Eclipse, The Wax
- MIINA, Where The Light Goes
- Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade, Foolish Heart
- Bossanova Frankenstein, Heavy Relic
Mar. 27:
- Wintersleep, Wishing Moon (Dine Alone)
- Gentiane MG, Can You Hear the Birds?
- Sunglaciers, Spiritual Content (Mothland)
- Charlotte Cornfield, Hurts Like Hell (Next Door Records/Merge)
- Arielle Soucy, Passages (Bonbonbon)
- The New Pornographers, The Former Site Of (Merge Records)
April
Apr. 1
- Amanda Rheaume, The Truth We Hold (deluxe edition) (Ishkōdé Records)
Apr. 3:
- Malinowski, Under A Landslide of Stars (Dine Alone)
- Population II, Gimmicks (Bonsound)
- Good Kid, Can We Hang Out Sometime?
- Beatrice Deer, Inuit Legend
- Jon Mullane, The Road
- Jennifer Foster, Powerline
April. 9:
- Terry Gomes, 2 Open 3 Closed
Apr. 10:
- Les Louanges, Alouette! (Bonsound)
- Aysanabee, Timelines (Ishkōdé Records)
- The Fugitives, The Fugitives (Rhea Records)
- Kaeley Jade, The Great Unknown
- Flore Laurentienne, Volume 111 (Secret City)
- Rae Spoon, Assigned Country Singer At Birth (Coax Records)
- Maude Audet, May Your Light
- Nick Fraser, Areas (Elastic Recordings)
- Tenille Townes, The Acrobat
Apr. 15:
- Brass Camel, Brass Camel
Apr. 17:
- Tiga, Hot Life (Turbo Recordings / Secret City)
- LØLØ, god forbid a girl spits out her feelings! (Fearless Records)
- Arkells, Between Us (Universal Music Canada/Virgin Music Group)
- Chief State, Keep Your Friends Closer (Mutant League Records)
- Caroline Wiles , Just Be You
- Daniel Isaiah, Western Medicine
April 18:
- Dallas Good & Richard Reed Parry, Were The Watchtowers (Yep Roc Records)
- Kyp Harness, Lovely
April 24
- Elyssia Biro, Running From Nothing (Universal Music Canada)
- Atsuko Chiba, Atsuko Chiba (Mothland)
- Metric, Romanticize the Dive (Metric Music International/Thirty Tigers)
- Kelly Clipperton, I Am Your Distraction
- Cadence Weapon, Forager (Six Shooter)
- Pastel Blank, Unmade In Minutes (Paper Bag Records)
- Sea of Lettuce, Open Doors
- Bobby Dove, Fortune Teller
- Simon Boisseau, Les fausses illusions
May
May 1:
- Eden FM, Ataxia (Cursus Audio)
- Shub, Heritage (Part Two)
- Aaron Wylder, Brand New TV
- Geordie Gordon, River Round (Victory Pool)
- Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, Wilding Part One
- Faber Drive, Seven Second Surgery (19 ¼ Anniversary Edition) (604 Records)
May 8:
- Broken Social Scene, Remember The Humans (Arts & Crafts)
- Abigail Lapell, Shadow Child (Outside Music)
- Ellen Froese, Solitary Songs (Victory Pool)
- Whitehorse, All I Want Is All of It (Six Shooter)
- Leeroy Stagger, Pilgrimage (Cordova Bay)
- General Chaos, Can’t Please ’Em All ( Stomp Records)
- Alaskan Tapes, Blank Slate, Open Space
- The Flatliners, Cold World
- Laura Roy, Late Bloomer Season
May 13:
- Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary (vinyl deluxe reissue) (Sub Pop)
May 15:
- Spencer Krug, Same Fangs (Pronounced Kroog)
- Jont, Walk Right Through
May 29:
- Alex Hughes, Take Me Home (Phase Entertainment Group)
June
June 5:
- Bye Parula, Something Out Of Nothing (Secret City Records)
- Sherri Harding, Storyland (Instant Replay Music/Fontana North)
- Friendly Rich, A Bruised Sunset
June 12:
- La Sécurité, Bingo (Bella Union/Mothland)
June 19
- ZOON, Happy Thought School
July
July 10:
- Jacob Brodovsky, Tell The Kids We Tried
- Magi Merlin, Power House (Bonsound)
August
August 7:
- Corb Lund, Dark Horses (New West)
Aug. 28:
- Elephant Stone, ASHA (Little Cloud Records/Elephants On Parade)
October
October 23:
- Matt Lang, Ain't That Bad (River House Artists)
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