The Q Music Awards is a new awards platform celebrating queer musical excellence in Canada. Presented by INSPIRE Awards and The Q Musicale, the awards will recognize outstanding music creation by queer artists, through a juried, merit-based process.
In its founding year, The Q Music Awards will focus on artists based in the Greater Toronto Area, and surrounding regions throughout Ontario, who are able to travel to Toronto.
The awards operate on a “For Your Consideration” model, where artists submit eligible work directly for evaluation by an independent jury panel made up of music professionals, artists, and community representatives.
Submissions open on March 1, 2026, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2026.
Who Can Submit for Consideration?
Artists who meet the following criteria are invited to submit their work for consideration by The Jury of The Q Music Awards:
- Solo, duo, or group artists who identify as part of the Queer community, including strong, active allies.
- Artists based in Ontario who will be able to travel to Toronto for the Awards event.
- Artists who have officially release music on a recognized distribution platform between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.
Eligibility of submissions will be reviewed by the Awards Committee on a case-by-case basis.
Submissions are evaluated on artistic merit; popularity, follower count, or marketing reach are not part of the judging criteria.
Submissions open on March 1, 2026, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2026.
Before accessing the official submission form, artists are asked to complete a brief verification process.
You are asked to provide:
- The name under which your music has been released
- A link to one official social media profile
This step allows our team to confirm eligibility before sending you access to the official submission form.
Once verified, you will receive an email from The Q Music Awards team with instructions on how to complete your submission.