The illustrious celebration of the innovators shaping the future of Canadian music is returning for a second edition on Nov. 20 at SOUNDSTAGE in Toronto.
Billboard Canada's celebration of the new generation of the Canadian music industry is back for a second year.
Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 is dedicated to recognizing the influential executives driving the Canadian music industry forward and shaping the global music business.
Following the inaugural list in 2025, Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 is returning to Toronto with a celebration at SOUNDSTAGE on Nov. 20.
The illustrious list recognizes people from all over the music industry, from live music to management, record labels to publishing. Nominations are open now.
The first-ever 40 Under 40 list in Canada included an impressive and diverse list of under-40 luminaries including Will Bracey of the Bieber Family Office, William Robillard Cole and Tamir Schlanger, the managers behind Kaytranada, Showpass founder Lucas McCarthy, Amazon Music's A. Harmony and more. Fellow honourees including SOCAN Foundation executive director Dr. Charlie Wall-Andrews, Warner Music Canada co-general manager Julia Hummel and Live Nation's director of Latin music, Ricky Taco, attended and mingled at the warm and celebratory event in Toronto.
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During the celebration, Elizabeth Crisante, CCO of Billboard Canada and its parent company AMG, explained the importance of bringing together the talented next generation of the industry and giving them a chance to reflect and recognize their impact together. “Tonight we are celebrating the next generation," she said. "We are celebrating the executives, the entrepreneurs and the creators that are shaping the future of music in Canada.”
La Mar Taylor, creative director for the Weeknd, co-founder of XO Records and the creative incubator HXOUSE, was honoured with the first-ever Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 Visionary Award for more than a decade of influence and success both in Canada and internationally.. That included his work on the After Hours Til Dawn tour, which shattered records in 2025 and is wrapping up its latest worldwide run.
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"Whenever we do anything, Toronto [and] Canada is always in our minds and hearts, so to be up here on the stage is humbling beyond words,” he said in his acceptance speech.
This year's ceremony will present the 2026 edition of the Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 Visionary Award to a Canadian who has made inroads internationally, all while proudly championing and representing the music industry back home.
Stay tuned this week for the reveal of this year's Visionary honouree.
The full Billboard Canada 40 Under 40 2026 class will be revealed in November.
