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Jessie Reyez
Awards
Drake, Jessie Reyez, Peter Peter, Jade LeMac to Receive 2026 SOCAN Special Achievement Awards
A selection of Canada’s rising and established songwriters, composers and music publishers will be honoured on Oct. 26 at REBEL in Toronto.
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SOCAN has announced its 2026 Special Achievement Award winners. The awards will be handed out at the 2026 SOCAN Awards ceremony on Oct. 26 at Rebel in Toronto.
Drake will receive his fifth consecutive accolade for songwriter of the year – performer. In May, the famed Toronto star dropped three albums — Iceman, Maid of Honour and Habibti — breaking multiple records in his home country, and his hit “Janice STFU” became his longest-running No. 1 single in the 2020s. He will be honoured in the category “for his unmatched influence on music worldwide.” He won last year, but was not there to accept the award.
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Jessie Reyez will receive the international achievement award for “representing Canada on the global stage” and “influencing music and culture with her talent.” The Grammy-nominated, Juno-winning artist has amassed over four million streams and has collaborated with some of today’s biggest acts, including Dua Lipa and Beyoncé. Recently, she joined forces with Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna for the World Cup, and received her first-ever No. 1 Airplay song in the U.S. with Calvin Harris on “Ocean.”
The past year has been a whirlwind for Peter Peter, the primary songwriter and composer for hit series Heated Rivalry. He’ll receive the global impact award. At this year’s Canadian Screen Awards, the Quebec native took home awards for best original music, drama and best original song, while the show’s soundtrack reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 — the first TV soundtrack to achieve the feat this decade.
Hot on the heels of Jade LeMac’s summer opening slot for Hilary Duff, the Vancouver pop singer is being anointed with the breakout songwriter award. Earlier this year, LeMac earned her first entry on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 with “Running Home.”
Maestro Fresh Wes and producers Anthony Davis and Peter Davis will be honoured with the cultural impact award for their 1989 hit “Let Your Backbone Slide,” the first Canadian hip-hop single to go gold. Published by BMG Rights Management Canada, BMG Rights Management in the U.S. and Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd., the track is described as “one of the most groundbreaking and culturally significant recordings in hip hop and Canadian music history.”
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This year’s award statues will be tuned with notes from the lauded rap track. It’s the latest song to be encrusted on the industry trophy that doubles as a musical instrument with five custom bronze crotales. Last year’s trophies were tuned to Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.”
The 2026 recipients will be awarded alongside Andrew Lockington (screen composer of the year), Jenna Andrews (songwriter of the year – non-performer) and Nathan Micay (breakout composer award).
“Every year, the SOCAN Awards shine a light on the songwriters, composers and music publishers who define and elevate Canadian music,” says Jennifer Brown, CEO at SOCAN. “The 2026 honourees show the extraordinary range of talent shaping our culture, from global hitmakers to groundbreaking composers and exciting new voices.”
Last year’s winners included homegrown icon Mitchell, superstar producer Boi-1da, Punjabi act Shubh and songwriters Lowell, bülow and Nathan Ferraro.
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See below for the full list of recipients:
2026 SOCAN Special Achievement Winners
Jessie Reyez — International Achievement Award
Maestro Fresh Wes, Anthony Davis, Peter Davis — Cultural Impact Award
Peter Peter — Global Impact Award
Drake — Songwriter of the Year – Performer Award
Andrew Lockington – Screen Composer of the Year Award
Jenna Andrews — Songwriter of the Year – Non-Performer Award
Jade LeMac— Breakout Songwriter Award
Nathan Micay — Breakout Composer Award
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