Media Advisory — Governor General to present Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards

Press Release

June 4, 2026

OTTAWA, Ontario—Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, will present the 2026 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA) to seven laureates during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, on Friday, June 5, 2026. She will then honour the laureates the following evening when she delivers remarks at the 2026 GGPAA Show at the National Arts Centre (NAC), in Ottawa.

Here are the 2026 laureates of Canada’s highest distinction in the performing arts:

• Susan Benson, C.M. – Set and costume designer and painter (Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award)
• James Cameron, C.C. – Filmmaker, explorer, inventor and environmental entrepreneur (Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award)
• Sylvain Émard – Dancer, choreographer and teacher (Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award)
• Daniel Lavoie, O.C. – Singer-songwriter, performer and poet (Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award)
• Tonya Williams, O.C. – Screen actor and producer, arts executive and activist (Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award)
• Sae Hoon (Stan) Chung – Writer, editor and consultant (Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts)
• Barbara Hannigan, C.M.– Soprano and conductor (National Arts Centre Award)

GGPAA Ceremony
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Rideau Hall Ballroom, 1 Sussex Dr., Ottawa

GGPAA Show
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 8 p.m. (red carpet begins at 7 p.m.)
Location: NAC, 1 Elgin St., Ottawa

About the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards
Created in 1992, by the late Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, then-Governor General, and his wife, Gerda, the awards are presented annually to Canadians whose extraordinary achievements have contributed significantly to the enrichment of Canada’s cultural life.

Learn more about the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.

Notes for media:

• To guarantee your access to the Rideau Hall ceremony, we ask that you please confirm your attendance with the Rideau Hall Press Office at media@gg.ca.
• Media are asked to arrive at the Princess Anne Entrance no later than 5:30 p.m. on the day of the ceremony.
• Photos of the ceremony taken by the Governor General’s official photographer will be made available upon request.

Media information:
To cover the awards ceremony at Rideau Hall:
Rideau Hall Press Office
media@gg.ca

For more information on the awards or to arrange interviews with the laureates:
Jessica Eritou
jeritou@compassrosegroup.org
(613) 558-0936

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