CBC Music has unveiled a list of 20 anticipated Canadian albums set for release in 2026, spotlighting diverse genres from soul and R&B to punk and electronic. Highlights include new projects from established names like Drake and Peaches, alongside emerging talents such as Baby Nova and Katie Tupper. The selections promise a rich year for Canadian music, addressing themes from personal reclamation to social justice.
The annual preview from CBC Music emphasizes the vibrancy of Canada's music scene heading into 2026, with releases spanning indie, soul, country, and more. Kicking off in January, Halifax singer-songwriter Baby Nova delivers her debut album Shhugar on January 16, a personal narrative blending influences from Lana Del Rey, Dusty Springfield, and Johnny Cash. It follows her overcoming a quarter-life crisis, featuring forthright tracks like "Great White Sharks," written after a psychiatric emergency in Toronto.
Soul artist Katie Tupper's Greyhound arrives January 21, exploring romance through emotive vocals on songs like "Disappear" and "Tennessee Heat," drawing nods to her Prairie roots. February brings multiple drops: Aquakultre's concept album 1783 on February 6, tracing Black Loyalist history with soul and gospel elements, including the haunting "Gallows" about his great-grandfather's execution. That same day, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, known for his rediscovered Keyboard Fantasies, releases Laughter in Summer with his wife Elizabeth, capturing their enduring love amid his dementia diagnosis. Daphni's Butterfly also lands February 6, featuring kinetic dance tracks and a rare Caribou vocal collaboration on "Waiting So Long."
March highlights include PUP's live album Megacity Madness (The Official Live Recordings) on March 13, capturing their Toronto tour, available exclusively on vinyl. Drake's ninth solo effort Iceman is slated for winter, teasing beefs from 2024's rap conflicts on singles like "What Did I Miss?" Peaches returns after a decade with No Lube, So Rude on February 20, a defiant rallying cry against suppression, as she states, "Now more than ever, there are so many forces that just want you to give up and be quiet."
Later releases feature Rae Spoon's country reclamation Assigned Country Singer at Birth on April 10, addressing trans experiences and colonial issues, and rumored projects like Deadmau5's untitled album embracing AI. The list underscores themes of resilience, identity, and innovation in Canadian music.
