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Gospel music nominees for Juno Awards 2026

16 March 2026 By Sammy Kyereme

Blog Post

Five nominations capture diverse artistry from across Canada

Collect Assembly Canadian music nominated in the Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album category at this year’s Juno Awards is diverse – there’s pop, afro gospel, country rock and worship. The awards show is March 29 in Hamilton.

Artists Elenee and Ryan Ofei have each been nominated before. Alongside them are three newcomers – Collect Assembly of Saskatchewan and Ottawa artists Kofi Dartey and Bridge Music.

“The band is honestly surprised,” says Joel Ivey of Collect Assembly (photo, right). “We kind of fall outside of your typical CCM genre, [although] we centre our writing and our style around honest faith.” The nomination has energized fans – “As far as the fans, we’ve never had this level of local support before coming out of Yorkton,” he says.

The pleasant surprise of national notice also rings true for the Ottawa-based label Minstrel Records, associated with two different nominees, Bridge Music (photo, left) and Kofi Dartey.

Minstrel Records features Gen Z and Millennial creatives and gospel ministers with vibrant sounds that pull from alternative R&B, hip-hop, worship and Ghanaian hi-life roots.

“The feeling around us is just gratitude,” says CEO Ralph Dartey II. “Every step of the way there wasn’t anyone to say, ‘Walk in these steps.’ ”

Ralph Dartey works alongside his brothers Pastor Kofi Dartey of Campus Rush Music and Reggie Dartey who is part of the nominated Bridge Music collective.

“It’s a privilege to represent Jesus anywhere,” says Reggie Dartey Kofi Dartey . “We’re ecstatic that we have this honour because darkness never knows what it needs until light appears.”

Bandmate Eben Kalenga adds, “We heavily lean on the Holy Spirit because we want to hear what God is saying.”

Kofi Dartey (photo, right) is also excited for the nomination on his solo project. “I was nervous releasing these songs, there was a vulnerability, I was exploring a lot of different sounds, and I didn’t think it was going to be accepted. To have these songs accepted by mainstream, it’s humbling; to see three friends rise, it’s crazy.”

For worship artist Elenee, who is of Metis background, moving away from her most popular ballad and introspective sound was a creative risk that honoured a journey of overcoming generational trauma. Elenee

“I look at my past lineage and all that they’ve been through, it’s close to home for me. I really want people to feel that that there really is a freedom when you totally surrender your life to Jesus.” She adds, “The entire project was experimental for me, I love pop, I’m super excited with how it turned out, this one feels fun and free.”

Elenee (photo, left) was surprised to be nominated again. “I knew there were a lot of really good projects submitted this year. The morning they announced the nominations I was working away on my computer. It was 9:07 a.m. and my publicist texted me, ‘Congratulations.’ Then it hit me that Oh my goodness, it’s Juno nomination day.”

Ryan Ofei, more popularly known from his time as part of Maverick City Music and Campus Rush Music is currently a worship pastor in Dallas, Texas. Ofei (photo, below right) says focus on Christ keeps him grounded as he travels to minister around the world.

“I’m excited. It’s a lot of hard work. Maintaining excellence is important for us, and representing for the gospel and the faith in this way is crucial. I believe the four walls has impact but stepping outside makes the gospel real for people.”

Ofei’s latest nominated project Jubilate speaks to his current season of joy, “Jubilate is just Ryan Ofei thanksgiving. I have a baby boy, and a lot of these songs were written before he was conceived, but I was like, ‘These are songs I’m going to play for him.’ It was created from a place of faith, saying Even though we don’t have everything we’re looking for, we’ll still embody this joy until the day that we can say God gave it to us if He decides to.”