Victoria pop powerhouse Nelly Furtado is set to take her place among Canada’s music legends.
The 10-time JUNO Award winner will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the 2026 JUNO Awards, broadcasting live March 29th on CBC.
Furtado, who grew up in Victoria as the daughter of Portuguese immigrants, began her music journey in local churches and school stages before her songwriting and vocal talent carried her into global stardom.
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Her path from Vancouver Island to international charts has remained one of Canadian music’s most influential success stories.
She emerged in 2000 with her breakthrough debut album Whoa, Nelly!, featuring hits like I’m Like a Bird and Turn Off the Light. The record earned her international acclaim, including a GRAMMY Award, and introduced a fresh sound that blended pop with folk and worldbeat influences.
Her career took another major leap in 2006 with Loose, which produced global chart-toppers such as Promiscuous and Say It Right.
The album has since sold more than ten million copies worldwide.
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Despite her global reach, Furtado has often pointed back to her Vancouver Island roots as central to her identity and storytelling.
She has spoken about growing up in a working-class family in Victoria, once working locally as a chambermaid, and the values and influences she carried with her into mainstream success.
The induction comes only weeks after Furtado announced she’ll be stepping away from performing for the foreseeable future to focus on creative projects on her own terms.
In a message to fans, she reflected on her 25-year career with gratitude, saying she plans to always see herself first and foremost as a songwriter.
This year’s JUNO Awards will also honour Canadian icon Joni Mitchell with the Lifetime Achievement Award and include live performances by Arkells and The Beaches.
Tickets to the 2026 JUNO Awards go on sale to the public on November 28th.
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