AHEAD of the 2027 staging of the JUNO Awards, Canada’s equivalent to the Grammys, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has introduced a series of category and eligibility updates.

These updates, according to CARAS in a press release shared with the Jamaica Observer, are designed to better reflect Canada’s music community and to provide clear, meaningful pathways for artistes to have their work recognised.

The category Reggae Recording of the Year has been renamed Reggae/Dancehall Recording of the Year. The reggae category was first instituted in 1985 as Best Reggae/Calypso Recording. For the 1994 staging, the category was renamed Best Reggae Recording, with the name Reggae Recording of the Year coming into effect in 2003.

Canada-based dancehall artiste Phenique is pleased with the evolution of the JUNO Awards.

ANTHONY… the inclusion of dancehall in the JUNO Awards’ Reggae/Dancehall Recording of the Year category is a significant and long overdue step forward for our community.

“I’m excited to see the JUNO Awards continuing to evolve and recognise the diversity within today’s music. I think these changes create more opportunities for artists across different genres to have their work recogniSed and celebrated. It’s definitely a positive step forward,” Phenique told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

Recording artiste, broadcaster and curator of the weekly Reggae North Canadian Reggae/Dancehall Top 20 chart, Tony Anthony, believes that the inclusion of dancehall is long overdue.

“The inclusion of Dancehall in the JUNO Awards’ Reggae/Dancehall Recording of the Year category is a significant and long-overdue step forward for our community. Industry professionals and supporters within the reggae and Dancehall community have advocated for Dancehall to be properly recognised on one of Canada’s biggest music stages. This announcement is not just a change in the name of a category—it is an acknowledgment of the cultural impact, creativity and contribution that Dancehall has made to Canadian music and to the broader music industry. This is an important milestone, but also a reminder that our community must continue to advocate for both genres and ensure that its artists receive the respect, visibility and opportunities that come with being recognized as a vital part of Canada’s music industry,” Tony Anthony disclosed.

2025 JUNO nominee dancehall artiste Skystar, who is originally from the Kingston 20 area, sees the revamping of the reggae category to include dancehall as a step forward.

“I’m excited to see the JUNOS expanding the conversation to officially recognise dancehall. Reggae is deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, but Dancehall has grown into a powerful global movement that continues to influence music, fashion, language and youth culture around the world,” he noted. “For artists like myself who represent the next generation of Jamaican music here in Canada, this recognition matters. It tells us that the sound, culture and evolution of our music are being seen and valued. I believe this is a great step forward, and I hope we continue creating space for the many different sounds and generations that make Reggae and Dancehall so powerful. Respect to the JUNOS for recognising the culture.”

Canada-based dancehall artiste Phenique.

However, Carrie Mullings, former chair of the Reggae Committee for the JUNO Awards, says dancehall music was always submitted for consideration.

“During my time with the JUNO’s (17 years, 12 as a chair) the category already consisted of dancehall submissions when you read the category description. As much as it is nice for the word Dancehall to be included in the category title it was never excluded. I feel these small steps are good but the bigger conversation in my opinion is the fact that an album body of work and a single can be submitted in the same category. We should be addressing the reason the category has not been split into 2, 1 for Reggae/Dancehall Recording of The Year (for single submissions) and 1 for Reggae/Dancehall Album/EP of the Year. As our music grows, collectively we should express our needs for expansion and recognition. Reggae/dancehall has walked the JUNO Red Carpet since 1985, please acknowledge our culture’s growth and award it accordingly,” said Mullings.

Other category changes for the 2027 JUNO Awards include:

Rap: Melodic Rap Recording of the Year and Rap Recording of the Year will replace Rap Album/EP of the Year and Rap Single of the Year.

MULLINGS…I feel these small steps are good but the bigger conversation, in my opinion, is the fact that an album body of work and a single can be submitted in the same category.

Electronic/Dance: Electronic/Dance Single of the Year and Electronic/Dance Album/EP of the Year will replace Electronic Album of the Year and Dance Recording of the Year.

Contemporary Christian/Gospel: Contemporary Christian/Gospel Recording of the Year will replace Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year, with singles, EPs and albums now eligible.

The submission for awards and songs for consideration for the 2027 staging of the JUNO Awards will open on September 21 with November 5 being the final submission date.

The 56th annual JUNO Awards will be broadcast live from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Sunday, April 4, 2027. JUNO Week runs from April 1 to 4, 2027.