TORONTO – Organizers of the Juno Awards say they’re postponing this year’s 50th anniversary show in Toronto until June 6 as COVID-19 cases rage across the country.
It’s the second time this year that Canada’s biggest night in music has been pushed as it contends with ever-changing rules meant to slow the spread of the virus.
Already the annual celebration had been delayed to May 16 from an originally planned date in mid-March with hopes that warmer weather would allow some performances to be held outdoors with safety precautions.
Out of an abundance of caution in response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 JUNO Awards have moved to a new date!
Celebrate 50 years of Canadian music with us on June 6th, 2021, broadcast nationwide on @CBC and globally at https://t.co/ORKYyA7mNM. pic.twitter.com/GkfO6qkSTs
— The JUNO Awards (@TheJUNOAwards) April 14, 2021
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said in a statement the latest move was made “out of an abundance of caution in response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.”
This year’s Junos was originally set to be a splashy event with some of the country’s biggest stars, but organizers have been forced to rein in expectations over the past year, and have yet to announce performers.
The Weeknd leads the Junos with six nominations while Toronto pop singer/songwriter JP Saxe, Justin Bieber and Jessie Reyez all have five nods.
Jeff Lawrence
