What to know
- Toronto’s Zale and Montreal’s Marie Céleste won the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 2026 Breakthrough Songwriter Award.
- Each recipient will receive $7,500 and a customized career development plan supported by TikTok.
- They’ll be honoured Sept. 26 during the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Massey Hall.
- This year’s inductees include The Tragically Hip, Leslie Feist, Roch Voisine and Loverboy songwriters Mike Reno and Paul Dean.
Toronto’s Zale and Montreal-based group Marie Céleste have just been declared winners of The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 2026 Breakthrough Songwriter Award.
They will be honoured during the induction ceremony at Massey Hall for legacy songwriters The Tragically Hip, Loverboy songwriters Mike Reno and Paul Dean, Leslie Feist and Roch Voisine, in Toronto on Sept. 26.
“Zale and Marie Céleste represent two remarkable voices, and we are proud to recognize their achievements as they join a growing community of songwriters helping shape the future of Canadian music,” said CSHF executive director Nick Fedor in a press statement.
Presented by TikTok, the award recognizes “emerging songwriters whose work reflects the strength, diversity and future of Canadian songwriting.”
They will each receive $7,500 cash “tied to a customized career development plan, along with global exposure and resources supported by TikTok,” the press release states.
“TikTok has become an important platform for songwriters, and we are committed to helping them connect with audiences in new and meaningful ways,” said Tik Tok’s Emily Mitchell, head of music publishing partnerships – Americas, in a statement.
Zane was selected as Non-French Language winner and Marie Céleste as the French language winner.
Tickets for the ceremony, which is presented by Amazon Music, are available through the Massey Hall web site.
Mentored by Boi-1da and Stephen Kozmeniuk, Toronto-born Zale Epstein has contributed to songs recorded by Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Childish Gambino and PARTYNEXTDOOR. His recent writing credits include releases by The Beaches, Johnny Orlando, Goldie Boutilier, Nelly Furtado and Jessie Reyez.
“I’m incredibly honoured to be recognized by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Zale in a statement.
“Music found me early, and songwriting has been the one constant through every chapter of my life. No matter how much the world or the industry changes, it’s still the place that makes the most sense to me. I’m grateful to every artist, writer, and collaborator who’s trusted me enough to walk into a room and make something from nothing together.”
Formed in 2010, five-piece band Marie Céleste, which blends folk, indie pop, art rock, electro and world music, have racked up more than 2.6 million Spotify streams of their 2024 debut album, Feux de joie , and follow-up, Tout ce qui brille, which tackles themes of love, healing, celebration and belonging.
In a collective statement, the band called the win an “immense honour,” adding, “Being recognized on a national scale with songs in French fills us with immense pride. We are committed to promoting Québec culture across Canada, and this award is a huge pat on the back from the entire industry. We are infinitely grateful to the selection jury and the public for your support and your love.”
Finalists in the “non-French” category were Eugene Tsai, Jade LeMac, Katie Tupper, Tia Wood and Zale, and in the French category Benjamin Nadeau, Benny Adam, Grand Eugène, Marco Ema and Marie Céleste.
Established in 2017, past recipients of the Breakthrough Songwriter Award are Aaron Paris, Jessie Reyez, Lowell, Charlotte Cardin, Mustafa, Les Louanges, Ariane Roy, Fredz, Lou Adriane Cassidy, Eli Brown, Nemahsis and Rau_Ze.
